The most recent NBA Home Mission Video features Beacon Lough Baptist Church.

We in the NBA are so grateful for your generosity which has enabled us to send a total of £113,053  to support Home Mission through our Baptist Union. Churches Home Mission Giving Certificates for 2013 will soon be arriving so please encourage your church by displaying it prominently.

Your Blessed Generosity has enabled others to be blessed.

Thanks have been expressed Nationally for the 2013 Home Mission appeal, which has clocked in at just below £4m. Home Mission is the Baptist family purse which enables Baptist churches and individuals to reach their mission potential and demonstrate the love of God to their communities.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to each Fellowship for their continued sacrificial support of their Home Mission Fund, which expresses our common vision of Baptists in the UK.

There was a mixed picture in giving across the Associations, with four showing an increase on their 2012 figure (Northern, Yorkshire, Southern Counties and Heart of England).

David Locke, Support Services team leader said ‘This is a result that we give God thanks for. We are very grateful to our churches and members who have given sacrificially in 2013. We also give our thanks to all the Association staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to promote Home Mission in 2013.

Mr Locke’s thoughts were echoed both by the Revd Lynn Green, general secretary of our Baptist Union, and treasurer Malcolm Broad.

‘We are excited by the new missional opportunities this will enable – work that has the potential to be transformational in local communities around the UK.’

Mrs Green said, ‘God is faithful! I am very fortunate to be able to see how our giving is invested in people and communities and making a difference all around the country.’

1 John 3 v 1 says ' How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!' If God has so lavished His love on us we should in turn seek ways of demonstration our love for Him.

One way is through our prayerful support of God's work through Home Mission

recognising that as we all give we are all blessed.

So: Let us Pray:

1. for all the Churches in the NBA who Receive grants for Ministry and the Mission Projects (Darlington: Corporation Road, Durham City, East Cleveland: Loftus Church Plant, Gateshead: Beacon Lough, Glendale: Crossing Places, Hartlepool: Headland, Hartlepool: Owton Manor,

Hartlepool: West View, Middlesbrough: Coubly Newham, Thornaby and Wallend.

2. for our NBA staff members as they seek to serve us who are supported by Home Mission.

3. for all our NBA churches that give so generously year on year and those who work to raise money to support all our Baptist work.

4. for wisdom and grace in the giving of grants to churches.

5. for the life of our national Baptist family recognising that the Union and Associations are also supported by Home Mission

Gracious and loving Heavenly Father out of our love for You, help us to continue to be generous in our giving and gracious in our receiving of Home Mission money and resources. Help us to see Your blessing in all we seek to do as a Mission People and to respond appropriately to Your call on our Time, Talents and Finances, for Jesus sake and Glory. Amen  

Suggestions for fundraising:

1. Social events where tickets are sold or an entrance fee charged. Examples: line dancing, firework display, quiz night, treasure hunt, karaoke evening, board games night, concert, art exhibition, barn dance, pantomime.

2. Events involving food – money can be raised by charging for the food Examples: big brunch, barbecue, pancake evening, teddy bears picnic, cake sales, candlelight supper, cheese and wine evening, cream-tea, curry night.

3. Sponsored events Examples: marathon, bible reading, hymn singing, aerobics, bike-ride, losing weight, silence, abseiling, walk and toddle

4. Buying and selling Examples: auction (items and/or promises, bring and buy sale, ‘home-made’ sale, car boot sale, second-hand bookstall, nearly-new clothes

5. Competitions – entrants pay a fee and a small prize is awarded Examples: fancy-dress, cake-baking, races, flower-arranging or how about ‘worst-tie’?

6. Other ideas face-painting, Easter-egg/Christmas gift hunt, arts and crafts afternoon (have a go at something new), car-washing, fancy-dress football, open-gardens, mile of coins.

7. Many churches meet as house groups. If you don't already do it, why not have a coffee jar in the middle of the table, where people can drop in change when they take their tea and coffee. The money collected can be added to your church's contribution.

8. "Children are a gift from the Lord". Why not invite parents in your church to join a Birthday scheme. Each year you send their child a birthday card and invite the parents to make a small (say £5) gift to Home Mission as an expression of thanks. (Check people want to join the scheme before sending a card!)

9. Home Mission supports a whole raft of youth officers and other youth activities. Why not invite your young people to arrange sponsored events to help support these vital ministries.

10. Some people prefer to manage their money through a bank account. If twenty people set up a standing order for just £5 per month -this would raise £1,200 for Home Mission in a year even more if it was Gift Aided. The church then pays this EXTRA amount to Home Mission.

You can also find more information about Home Mission here

NBA Home Mission Co-ordinator

Ray Richardson, 18 Hemsley Road, South Shields, NE34 6HW

0191 4543432