Larry’s Lines. . . .
By Larry Murphy, Executive Director
This year our theme for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions (GOTM) is “See Tennessee, Go Harvest!” The scripture emphasis is found in John 4:35 – “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
The goal for the GOTM this year is $2,100,000. Steve Pierson, evangelism specialist for Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), always says: “Let’s make it hard for anyone to go to Hell from Tennessee.” One way to help is through your giving to GOTM. These dollars stay right here in Tennessee and are used for many ministries through our churches across the state of Tennessee. Let me share two or three ways your gift helps reach so many.
As I am writing this article, I am so tired. Why are you tired? Great question! I am tired because today I was allowed the privilege to minister to 350,000 plus college students on 23 Tennessee college/university campuses through Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Also, I helped 200 plus churches across the state seek God for direction on how their church could be healthy again through the process of church revitalization.
After a short lunch break, I saw ministry sites ministering to children, homeless, etc. from Memphis to Bristol. This happens through our states Compassion Ministries and Mississippi River Ministry.
So how did you go and do all of these ministries in one day? I did it by giving to the GOTM Offering.
Someone might say, “Well, our church is in Tennessee why would I give to that offering? We can keep that money here and do ministry.” Is that really a Kingdom mind set? Chances are it will be used on our own pleasure, put in a rainy day fund, or used but not as effectively. All of us together can do so much more and we can never out give God!
Please pray about your church goal to GOTM, and you personally see that you do your part to “make it hard to go to Hell from Tennessee.”
2019-2020 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions
Ministry Allocations
Associational Ministries (10% of receipts)……………………………………………………………. $210.000
Returning 10% of everything a church gives through GOTM to the association of which they are a member, to assist in reaching Tennessee for Christ.
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Ministries Evangelism and Baptism Objective……………………………………………………………………. $110,000
Impact Youth Camps, Journey Children’s Camps, Jesus Tent at Bonnaroo, Apologetics Conferences
Church Revitalization Objective……………………………………….. $234,000
Church Revitalization Initiatives, Theological Education Assistance, Black Church Development & Training, Discipleship Ministry, Worship & music ministry, Bivocational Ministers, Ministry Training Institute
New Churches Objective…………………………………………………… $561,000
Church Planting Fund, African American and Ethnic Harvest Field Planting, Church Planting
Development, Hispanic Evangelism Conferences, All Nations Camp, Ethnic Church Leadership Development
Church & Association Services………………………………………………………………………… $384,000
Disaster Relief Ministries, Compassion Ministry Coordination, Christmas Backpacks, Ministry to the Blind, SERVE Conferences, Serving Those Who Serve, Tennessee Hunger Fund, Association
Based Ministry Centers, Church Based Compassion Ministries, Mississippi River Ministry, Restorative Justice Ministry, City Reach Partnership
Baptist Collegiate Ministries…………………………………………….. $281,000
Campus Missionary Ministry, Send TN Missions, Student Leadership Development, Student Center Capital Needs
GOTM Promotion & Development…………………………………….. $100,000
Telling the story of GOTM ministries and how they impact the cause of Christ in Tennessee.
Tennessee WMU Ministries……………………………………………… $120,000
Christian Women’s/Men’s Job Corps, Literacy Missions, Refugee Ministry, Missionary Care, WMU Student Scholarships, RA Camp-O-Ree, JAM
Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes Ministries…………………………. $100,000
Special Friends Camp
Madison-Chester Association
Senior Adult Meeting
Tuesday, September 10 • 10:30 a.m.
Liberty Grove Baptist Church
1071 Harts Bridge Road, Jackson
See You at the Pole
It’s about one simple thing—STUDENTS in PRAYER.
Around the globe students meet at flagpoles to pray for their schools.
Crockett Baptist Association
Annual Meeting
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Cross Roads Baptist Church, Bells
5:30p.m. – Meal
6:30 p.m. – Service
Madison-Chester Association of Baptists
Annual Meeting
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Hillcrest Baptist Church, Jackson
5:45 p.m. – Meal
6:30 p.m. – Meeting