Mission Possible: Building God's Kingdom

FBC Agent #1

 

Around the world there are billions of people who have never heard that Jesus loves them and desires to transform their lives.

A passion to see many more of these people have the opportunity to receive the Good News led Agent #1 to give the $100 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.  Every penny given to this offering is directly used for mission work.

 

FBC Agent #2

 

This agent felt led to do several things, so the agent used the $100 plus personal money to build God's Kingdom in the following ways...

1) Assisted some of FBC's senior adults with food, medications, housing, and other financial needs

2) Gave a love offering to aid victims of Hurricane Ike

3) Purchased food for FBC's Brown Bag Ministry - which gives food to the needy

4) Gave an amount to the church's building fund to help FBC pay off our remaining building debt

 

FBC Agent #3

 

As this agent prayed for direction, God led in certain directions.  But each time God also provided what was needed to make it happen.

Finally, this agent felt led to use the $100 to purchase memorial Bibles in the name of the church (through the Gideons) in memory of a very young child who died.  There is no telling how many people will pick up, read, and be changed by God's Word - given to bring hope and life in the face of physical death.

FBC Agent #4

 

One of the least likely places you will find many Christians willing to go and minister within is the jail system.  Yet God desires us to minister to ALL people and share His message with ALL people.  And there are some groups who have taken on the responsibility of reaching this group of "forgotten" people.  One such group is Good News Jail & Prison Ministry - and one of FBC's members (Joe Collins) serves as a chaplain in this ministry on the Mississippi Coast.

Agent #4 felt led to support his ministry (especially because they were trying to bring a second chaplain to the area to help with the overwhelming numbers of convicts).  May these men and women who have lost hope - find hope - find THE hope, Jesus.

 

FBC Agent #5

 

The New Testament tells us that one of the groups of people that the church must keep a ministering eye on is the widows of the church.  Most churches seem to forget this and just expect or wish for people to take care of the needs of widows - without actually doing anything to ensure that their needs are cared for.  First Baptist has recently begun to focus more on our widows - knowing that they are so special to us.

Along with this resurgence of care, this agent felt led to begn a "Widow's Fund" so that any needs that would require financial assistance would be taken care of.  The seed for this fund came from this agent's $100, and all church members can donate to the fund to help our precious widows.

 

FBC Agent #6

 

While praying about how God would want this agent to build His Kingdom, this agent felt a pressing need to reach Pascagoula High School Seniors.  The agent, our Minister to Students, and the principle came up with a plan...

Every graduating student (in 2009) will receive a CD called "A Life God Rewards for Teens" by Bruce Wilkinson (who also authored The Prayer of Jabez).  Not only did the agent use the $100 to do this, but the agent also felt led to use a large amount of personal money to accomplish this task with the prayer that lives will be eternally impacted.

To find out more about the "parent" resource for the CD given to the High School Graduates, click the link below...

 

 

 

FBC Agent #7

 

In praying and seeking God's direction on how to build God's Kingdom, this agent felt led to do two projects...

First - the agent discovered that a local nursing home was in need of some hymnals because not all of the patients had access to one, though they wanted to worship.  So this agent purchased ten hymnals for them to be able to worship.

Second - the agent knew that First Baptist operates a food pantry but felt that a simple card should be included in all of our help-boxes that clearly and easily explained how one can become a Christian.  So the agent used the remaining money to have five hundred cards printed to include in our food pantry gifts.

 

FBC Agent #8

 

While praying for God to show a need, this agent ran across a family in true need.  A lady is caring for her 6-year-old grandson, but shortly before Christmas her boyfriend kicked her out of the house and burned all of her and the boy's belongings - they only had the clothes on their backs.  With the additional help of several others, this agent used the $100 to buy some toys, a Children's Devotional Bible , a Veggie Tales book , and a gift card to Wal-Mart (to help with Christmas dinner - since the grandmother didn't know how they would even be able to have a Christmas).  The grandmother said that she can't believe that there are still people like us in the world - willing to give to people that they don't know but who are in need.  This agent has also pledged to keep tabs on this family, sharing God's love with them however possible.

 

FBC Agent #9

 

This agent discovered that a husband and wife within our church were in need (she is their sole provider, and he is terminally ill).  One of our Sunday School classes helped them with a need recently, and this agent's class donated almost $300 plus the agent's $100 to help them.  They were astonished at the generosity and care.  Also, this agent's class has now pledged to help the couple each month with $50.

 

FBC Agent #10

 

This agent felt led to donate the $100 to the Voice of the Martyrs - through a ministry of theirs called "Bibles to Captive Nations" - under their program called "Bibles Unbound."  This ministry smuggles Bibles into lands where Bibles are not openly admitted.  Certain Christians with a heart for those locked in lands that are hostile towards Christianity risk their freedom and their lives to carry God's Word to hungry people.

 

FBC Agent #11

 

This agent felt led to do something that would enhance a ministry within First Baptist.  In checking with our outstanding church library (which I hope you frequent - you'd be impressed) - this agent discovered that one thing that would really help the "feel" of our already-great library would be the addition of two gorgeous flags (American & Christian).  The flags were purchased (using the $100 plus some of the agent's personal money) and look wonderful!

 

FBC Agent #12

 

FBC's Acteens do a monthly project to help underprivileged children in our area - called "Backpack Buddies".  To receive help, a child's family must receive some form of financial aid, and a school nurse observes the student to see how needy he/she is.  When it is discovered that a student doesn't get enough food at home - every week they receive a bag packed with juices, box cereal, crackers, pudding, pop-top canned goods, etc. - enough food for the student to eat over the weekend.  It takes $400 to sponsor one student for a year.  This agent saw the process in action and felt led to use the $100 & an additional, personal $100 to sponsor one child for half a year.

FBC Agent #13

 

As this agent prayed about where to use the $100, one ministry stood out - PROMISS - Pregnancy Resources of Mississippi.  While many "enlightened" (or so they think of themselves) people use misleading information and words to convince thousands and thousands of people to murder unborn children - PROMISS helps mothers understand the beauty and gift of each life and helps them discover what can be done instead of murdering innocent children.

 

FBC Agent #14

 

This agent made two separate investments in Kingdom Work.  During the Christmas holidays, the agent purchased and gave small gifts to the children on the pediatric floor of Singing River Hospital - including the message of Good News that God sent Jesus because He loves them very much.  Also, the agent purchased special supplies for First Baptist's Children's Church ministry.

 

FBC Agent #15

 

As this agent prayed for direction, God led the agent to add a personal $100 (doubling the amount).  Then God directed the agent to a new ministry called Hellfighters.  Hellfighters (located in Laurel, MS) is a ministry to "house men and women who are down on their luck, broken-hearted, abused, drunk, and drugged out or have encountered some type of bump in the road and need help for a day or so."  The ministry seeks to reach those with the hope of Christ - when those people may be at their lowest point.

 

FBC Agent #16

 

This agent, while praying for direction, met a grandmother who is raising her three grandchildren (their mother not only is a drug addict but also was using while pregnant leaving all the children with dissabilities).  This agent was able to care for the grandmother, and then worked with a number of other people to help her with bills, clothes, toys, etc.

 

FBC Agent #17

 

This agent felt led to use the $100 to support First Baptist's student ministry.  The money will help a needy student attend summer camp.

 

FBC Agent #18

 

This agent is working with a few others to reach out to parents of infants.  They are discovering families with newborns and then writing to them - inviting them to visit First Baptist or encouraging them to be involved in church.  This project is ongoing.