Wednesday 31 May
Celebrating May Mission Month 2023.
What a great month we have had as a mission community, celebrating partnership across our movement and raising awareness of what God is doing across Africa, Asia and Australia through our teams and ministry partners.
Thank you to all churches, pastors, mission teams and small groups that have hosted Baptist Mission Australia team members during May Mission 2023. It has been our privilege to engage with you as together we have unpacked what does it look like for followers of Jesus to live as
alongsiders in local communities across the world.
Over the past four weeks I have visited five states and spoken in six cities, joining national and intercultural team members who have been busy engaging with our valued partners across the nation.
It’s been great to hear so much encouraging feedback and we will welcome hearing your thoughts. If you have any
feedback on May Mission Month 2023 or suggestions as to how we can strengthen relationship with your church community please
complete this form or contact us on info@baptistmissionaustralia.org.
And while we come to the end of May, we recognise that some churches will take up our Alongsiders theme in the months ahead. The wonderful suite of resources will remain available for churches and other groups to access from our website
here >>
In the coming days you will receive our
May Mission Month 2023 appeal letter. Our team members and ministry partners can only come alongside people in their local communities, across the globe, through the generous and faithful financial and prayerful support of partners across Australia.
As alongsiders our team members and ministry partners seek to live a people of love. They express in a myriad of practical ways, what the Apostle John describes as, “real love, a love marked by Christ-like action”. I find the words in 1 John 3:17 very challenging. John calls on followers of Jesus not to
“just talk about love” but
“practice it”. And we practice it by modelling Jesus’ humble, courageous, sacrificial, active love.
Our teams and ministry partners – with your support - will practice Christ-like love across the world this week. Here’s just three quick examples from Africa.
- “Real love” is being experienced in Malawi as women in impoverished communities experience the hope of Jesus, as well as learn tailoring skills so they can establish income-generating micro businesses.
- In Mozambique, fresh water is flowing for the first time in a Yawo village and thousands of trees are being planted, as we partner with local people in creation care initiatives. As we model the practical love of Jesus, we also see “living water” flowing among the Yawo.
- In Zambia, construction of a skills training centre is well underway. The centre, to be operated by our partner, the Central Baptist Association of Zambia [CBAZ], will provide much-needed income-generating, vocational and trade skills to vulnerable youth and women. The vision for the centre is part of CBAZ’ holistic mission strategy, which includes church planting and leadership development.
“Real love” stories are being echoed across Asia and Australia, as we see God’s Spirit using alongsiders to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their local communities.
Let me encourage you to think about what living as an alongsider looks like for you in your neighbourhood? What does it mean for your church? How can we model
“the real love” of Jesus to people around us this week?
As we consider these practical questions, let’s remind ourselves that God’s Spirit is already at work in our streets, communities, nation and world. And we’re graciously invited – with our eyes, ears and hearts open – to join God this week in his shalom vision for the world. What a beautiful invitation! What a wonderful opportunity.
And as we celebrate this amazing invitation, can I ask you – if you haven’t already made a May Mission Month gift – to prayerfully consider financially investing in God’s vision through Baptist Mission Australia.
You can make a gift here. If you have already partnered with us during May or you’re a regular supporter, thank you! We can only do what we do with your support.
And through your generous partnership, our team members are coming alongside people in their neighbourhoods, in their language, in ways that make sense to them, with the message of Jesus. And as people experience this hope, we continue to step towards the cosmic vision of Revelation 7:9:
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Grace and peace
Scott
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