The Baptist Digest

Start Planning Now For North American Missions Emphasis

By Vashti Jones

February 2009

This year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) for North American Missions is just around the corner. The 2009 theme is “Live with Urgency: Sowing Together for a Harvest.” It’s time we got started preparing for the upcoming North American Missions Emphasis.

Any farmer will tell you that if you don’t prepare the land, you won’t get a good harvest. It’s been years since I was a farm worker. In truth, we quit farming in Georgia when I was just 9 years old.

I still remember Daddy “harrowing” the ground, turning under last year’s field to prepare for the next year’s crop. Some of my best memories are going to town to get seed, fertilizer and any necessary equipment. I couldn’t tell you what we bought or why, I just knew we needed it to raise a good crop. Daddy could hardly wait to go get the supplies and get started. Daddy purchased what we needed, but it was really my Mama who was the farmer. She could grow anything. She took what Daddy had prepared and raised what was needed to take care of her family while my father was away working for the railroad.

We all have different jobs in our “work world,” but we also have different jobs in our “spiritual world.” Some prepare the ground, some purchase the materials, some pray, some teach, and the list goes on and on.

What is your job? Is your church ready for the Spring planning, looking forward to the harvest? Yes, I said “PLANNING” not “PLANTING.” The planning materials for the AAEO for North American Missions will be in your churches soon. Pastors, be on the look out for the Planning Guide, which will have great ideas and resources. Other resources are available from:

• The Annie Armstrong Web site at http://www.anniearmstrong.com/site/
• The North American Mission Board Web site at http://www.namb.net/
• Woman’s Missionary Union Web site at http://wmu.com/
• Printed media such as the WMU Yearbook and Missions Leader

In February each church will receive a package from KNCSB. It should contain posters, prayer guides and envelopes in quantity enough for your church. Should you need more, contact KNCSB at (800) 984-9092 so you can be ready to start “sowing.”

Send this Article to a Friend

Your Email:

Your Name:

To:

Subject:

Message:
I thought you might like this article I read at baptistdigest.com. "Start Planning Now For North American Missions Emphasis" This year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) for North American Missions is just around the corner. The 2009 theme is “Live with Urgency: Sowing Together for a Harvest.” It’s time we got started preparing for the upcoming North American Missions Emphasis. You can read the rest here: http://www.baptistdigest.com/archive/article/start_planning_now_for_north_american_missions_emphasis/