2010 BFM WINTER CONFERENCE
JANUARY 17, 18, 19, 20 [Sunday-Wednesday]
Conference Theme: “GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE”
Park Ridge Baptist Church, Gotha FL [Orlando area]
For more information:
Pastor Ben Glover / 407.719.9861 / bentonglover@aol.com
Plan to spend your Winter Break with us – sharing Missions fellowship and promoting the interests of our Missionaries!
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MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS / SOLVENCY
“WE RGENTLY NEED AN IMMEDIATE & CONSISTENT INCREASE OF AT LEAST $15,000 TO OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS!”
I hope you will read all our missionaries’ letters. They are not complaining – our missionaries never complain – but they do need to tell you how their ministry activities are suffering because we are having to reduce our monthly disbursements to them. THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING PORTIONS OF THEIR MONTHLY DEPOSITS TO HELP MAKE UP THE MONTHLY DEFICITS WE ARE INCURRING BETWEEN THE MONTHLY OFFERINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THE MONTHLY COMMITMENTS/DISBURSEMENTS WE MAKE TO OUR MISSIONARIES FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
It has reached a critical-mass point. For the past 3 months, we have made significant deductions from the very commitments we have made to our missionaries.
In other words, I HAVE CALCULATED THE STANDARD DISBURSEMENTS WE HAVE COMMITTED TO GIVE THEM BY THE MONTH…AND THEN, WHEN WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS TO MEET THOSE COMMITMENTS, WE TOOK BACK PART OF THE COMMITMENT TO MAKE IT BALANCE OUT!
HERE ARE THE COLD, HARD NUMBERS:
AUGUST: $5075.05
SEPTEMBER: $8465.99
OCTOBER: $6273.47
These amounts are the ADDITIONAL TOTAL DEDUCTIONS I TOOK FROM THEIR MONTHLY DEPOSIT CALCULATIONS BEFORE I MADE THEIR DISBURSEMENTS. Proportional amounts were deducted from each missionary’s deposit to make up the total amount.
Look again this month. The General Fund Offerings is $26,905.09.
THANK YOU, GIVING FRIENDS! FOR THIS OFFERING!
But, the Tier 1 [Essential Maintenance Transactions / EMT] disbursements we will make to our missionaries THIS MONTH are $47,065.58.
That is the STANDARD MONTHLY DISBURSEMENTS AMOUNT
EACH MONTH for:
salaries [$23,860.00]
standard expense allowances [$12,450.00]
hospitalization premiums [$9133.08]
and Mission Sheets publication [$1622.50].
WE MUST IMMEDIATELY AND CONSISTENTLY INCREASE OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS BY AT LEAST $15,000.00 to meet these every-month essential, standard commitment / disbursements.
DO WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THEM. NO GENERAL FUND OFFERING IS TOO SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT.
HERE’S WHAT EACH ONE OF US CAN DO!
I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY OF US THERE ARE OUT THERE – I’m talking about all of us GIVING FRIENDS.
Let’s just play with some numbers.
Let’s say there are 100 of us churches who are committed to helping our missionaries.
Let’s say that in each of these 100 churches there are 30 GIVING FRIENDS. [We are praying for many more.] That would be 3,000 GIVING FRIENDS.
Let’s say each of us 3,000 GIVING FRIENDS gave an extra $5.00 in December toward the General Fund offering – THAT’S RIGHT, OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS WOULD BE MET!
Some of us can give more. Our missionaries need all the help we can give them.
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HELP US MEET OUR $100,000 GOAL FOR OUR THANKSGIVING OFFERING
We are carefully budgeting last year’s Thanksgiving Offering to make it last through 2009. WE NEED AND USE THE THANKSGIVING OFFERING TO MEET ALL THE OTHER COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE TO OUR MISSIONARIES WHICH ARE SUPPLIED FROM GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS.
Every one of us should give as generous and sacrificial offering as we can to meet this goal.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
OCTOBER REPORT
THANK YOU, EVERY GIVING FRIEND!
I’M GOING TO BEGIN MY REPORT TO YOU THIS MONTH BY THANKING EVERY GIVING FRIEND WHO GIVES SACRIFICIALLY, LIBERALLY, FAITHFULLY, AND CHEERFULLY TO OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS.
Let me tell you what I do every month – and several times during every month. I THANK GOD FOR EACH OF YOUR GIFTS...and especially to you who give to our General Fund. You are those who are on the front line of giving and who are enabling us to meet the modest essential financial commitments we have made to our missionaries.
Each of our 14 missionary families is provided for equitably from the General Fund. And so, on behalf of every one of our missionaries, I want to thank you every one.
We don’t say it often enough, but you are the human means God uses to supply our missionaries’ needs. And you not only demonstrate the proof of your love to Christ and His Gospel and your obedience to His commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature – but you also provide very real, basic, and practical needs in our missionaries’ daily lives and ministries. For that, WE ALL THANK YOU – AND THANK GOD FOR YOU!
GENERAL FUND SHORTFALLS
Again, here at the beginning of October, we are encountering shortfalls in our monthly General Fund giving which supplies the Essential Maintenance Transactions. Our General Fund offerings keep our missionaries on their fields of service. You who have given have done so with commitment and sacrifice. I scan down through the monthly General Fund offerings, and your names and offerings are there – month after month.
Many of your names are included in your church’s name and offering. You are giving through your church. God knows who you are and keeps good accounts.
IF YOU ARE NOT GIVING MONTHLY TO THE GENERAL FUND, WOULD YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER DOING SO? That is our greatest, most urgent pressing need right now. If every one of our missionaries’ Giving Friends would give monthly offerings to the General Fund, not only would our missionaries’ essential maintenance needs be met, but WE COULD INCREASE THEM.
As it is, now in October, we will need to reduce our missionaries’ monthly deposits in order to break even on their Essential Maintenance Transactions. THIS IS THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW WE HAVE HAD TO DO THIS! [Please refer to the August issue of the Mission Sheets for a full explanation of EMT / Essential Maintenance Transactions and how they must be supplied by the monthly General Fund offerings we receive – also posted here under AUGUST]
WE WILL NEED TO REDUCE OUR MISSIONARIES’ OCTOBER TOTAL DEPOSITS BY ANOTHER $6275.00 TO MAKE OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUNDS ENDS MEET. We will make up this deficit by making a proportionate additional deduction from each missionary’s total monthly deposit for October.
We are carefully budgeting the remaining Thanksgiving Offering from 2008 to last until the end of the year. We use the Thanksgiving Offering to meet the other support services and more periodical “as-needed / PRN” commitments we have promised to provide for our missionaries “as the Lord provides”.
HELP US PROVIDE FOR OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS!
“TROUBLESOME TIMES ARE HERE!”
We are very sensitive to the troubled economic climate and environment in which we live. Many of you are hurting deeply and badly. Many of our churches are struggling financially also. We all feel it.
We are not asking anyone to neglect your first and primary responsibility to maintain the Gospel ministry of your own church and take care of your pastor.
“GOD IS AN EXPERT AT MULTI-TASKING!”
But, we also believe that God is able to make all grace abound toward us – so that we, having all sufficiency for all things, may have an abundance for every good work. [2 Corinthians 9.8] As one of the young men in our church told me the other day: “GOD IS AN EXPERT AT MULTI-TASKING!”
NOT “EITHER/OR” BUT “BOTH/AND”
The Lord Jesus doesn’t give us the option of choosing between giving to the mission of our own local churches OR giving to the mission He has given us to preach the Gospel to the whole world. Jesus Christ commands us to be His witnesses “BOTH IN JERUSALEM AND JUDEA – THEN TO SAMARIA – AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME...TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”. God help us – we must! God helping us – WE CAN...AND WE WILL!
GOD GIVES TO US WHAT HE WANTS US TO GIVE TO HIM!
We must ask God to give to us – so we can give to His Gospel, His Kingdom, His servants, and His Glory. We know He is able. We believe He will if we ask Him and trust Him. [2 Corinthians 9.10-11]
2009 THANKSGIVING OFFERING GOAL: $100,000.00
Many of you have been planning your 2009 Thanksgiving Offering since you gave your 2008 Thanksgiving Offering. God bless you for your commitment to giving.
IF YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN OUR THANKSGIVING OFFERING, WOULD YOU BEGIN THIS YEAR? No one should think that just because you can’t give what you would like to give – or what someone else is able to give – that your offering is insignificant. IF EVERYONE OF US GIVES WITH PURPOSE, GENEROSITY, AND CHEERFULNESS – THEN GOD WILL MAKE IT GROW INTO MISSIONARY OUTREACH OF THE GOSPEL INTO ALL THE WORLD – TO THE GLORY OF GOD!
GIVE TO THE GLORY OF GOD! GIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
“Grace be with you all. Amen.” Hebrews 13.25
I’M GOING TO BEGIN MY REPORT TO YOU THIS MONTH BY THANKING EVERY GIVING FRIEND WHO GIVES SACRIFICIALLY, LIBERALLY, FAITHFULLY, AND CHEERFULLY TO OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS.
Let me tell you what I do every month – and several times during every month. I THANK GOD FOR EACH OF YOUR GIFTS...and especially to you who give to our General Fund. You are those who are on the front line of giving and who are enabling us to meet the modest essential financial commitments we have made to our missionaries.
Each of our 14 missionary families is provided for equitably from the General Fund. And so, on behalf of every one of our missionaries, I want to thank you every one.
We don’t say it often enough, but you are the human means God uses to supply our missionaries’ needs. And you not only demonstrate the proof of your love to Christ and His Gospel and your obedience to His commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature – but you also provide very real, basic, and practical needs in our missionaries’ daily lives and ministries. For that, WE ALL THANK YOU – AND THANK GOD FOR YOU!
GENERAL FUND SHORTFALLS
Again, here at the beginning of October, we are encountering shortfalls in our monthly General Fund giving which supplies the Essential Maintenance Transactions. Our General Fund offerings keep our missionaries on their fields of service. You who have given have done so with commitment and sacrifice. I scan down through the monthly General Fund offerings, and your names and offerings are there – month after month.
Many of your names are included in your church’s name and offering. You are giving through your church. God knows who you are and keeps good accounts.
IF YOU ARE NOT GIVING MONTHLY TO THE GENERAL FUND, WOULD YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER DOING SO? That is our greatest, most urgent pressing need right now. If every one of our missionaries’ Giving Friends would give monthly offerings to the General Fund, not only would our missionaries’ essential maintenance needs be met, but WE COULD INCREASE THEM.
As it is, now in October, we will need to reduce our missionaries’ monthly deposits in order to break even on their Essential Maintenance Transactions. THIS IS THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW WE HAVE HAD TO DO THIS! [Please refer to the August issue of the Mission Sheets for a full explanation of EMT / Essential Maintenance Transactions and how they must be supplied by the monthly General Fund offerings we receive – also posted here under AUGUST]
WE WILL NEED TO REDUCE OUR MISSIONARIES’ OCTOBER TOTAL DEPOSITS BY ANOTHER $6275.00 TO MAKE OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUNDS ENDS MEET. We will make up this deficit by making a proportionate additional deduction from each missionary’s total monthly deposit for October.
We are carefully budgeting the remaining Thanksgiving Offering from 2008 to last until the end of the year. We use the Thanksgiving Offering to meet the other support services and more periodical “as-needed / PRN” commitments we have promised to provide for our missionaries “as the Lord provides”.
HELP US PROVIDE FOR OUR MISSIONARIES’ NEEDS!
“TROUBLESOME TIMES ARE HERE!”
We are very sensitive to the troubled economic climate and environment in which we live. Many of you are hurting deeply and badly. Many of our churches are struggling financially also. We all feel it.
We are not asking anyone to neglect your first and primary responsibility to maintain the Gospel ministry of your own church and take care of your pastor.
“GOD IS AN EXPERT AT MULTI-TASKING!”
But, we also believe that God is able to make all grace abound toward us – so that we, having all sufficiency for all things, may have an abundance for every good work. [2 Corinthians 9.8] As one of the young men in our church told me the other day: “GOD IS AN EXPERT AT MULTI-TASKING!”
NOT “EITHER/OR” BUT “BOTH/AND”
The Lord Jesus doesn’t give us the option of choosing between giving to the mission of our own local churches OR giving to the mission He has given us to preach the Gospel to the whole world. Jesus Christ commands us to be His witnesses “BOTH IN JERUSALEM AND JUDEA – THEN TO SAMARIA – AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME...TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”. God help us – we must! God helping us – WE CAN...AND WE WILL!
GOD GIVES TO US WHAT HE WANTS US TO GIVE TO HIM!
We must ask God to give to us – so we can give to His Gospel, His Kingdom, His servants, and His Glory. We know He is able. We believe He will if we ask Him and trust Him. [2 Corinthians 9.10-11]
2009 THANKSGIVING OFFERING GOAL: $100,000.00
Many of you have been planning your 2009 Thanksgiving Offering since you gave your 2008 Thanksgiving Offering. God bless you for your commitment to giving.
IF YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN OUR THANKSGIVING OFFERING, WOULD YOU BEGIN THIS YEAR? No one should think that just because you can’t give what you would like to give – or what someone else is able to give – that your offering is insignificant. IF EVERYONE OF US GIVES WITH PURPOSE, GENEROSITY, AND CHEERFULNESS – THEN GOD WILL MAKE IT GROW INTO MISSIONARY OUTREACH OF THE GOSPEL INTO ALL THE WORLD – TO THE GLORY OF GOD!
GIVE TO THE GLORY OF GOD! GIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
“Grace be with you all. Amen.” Hebrews 13.25
Saturday, September 26, 2009
HAROLD DRAPER'S SISTER GOES HOME TO HEAVEN
HAROLD DRAPER’S SISTER GOES HOME TO HEAVEN
Many of you are aware that Brother Harold Draper’s sister, Una Jean Richards, has been battling leukemia for many months and has been in critical condition for the past few weeks.
She went home to be with our Lord early Friday morning.
A short obituary may be found at:
http://www.paducahsun.com/articles/stories/public/200909/26/aLLb_obituari.html
Her arrangements are through Milner and Orr Funeral Home in Arlington KY
http://www.milnerandorrfuneralhomes.com/
All of her services will be conducted at Beulah Baptist Church in Fancy Farm KY:
8037 State Route 307 North,
Fancy Farm, KY, 42039
[270-623-8493]
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fancy-Farm-KY/Beulah-Baptist-Church/93168094862
Friends may call after 5:00 pm CST at the church and Brother Draper will be conducting the memorial service at 11:00 am CST at Beulah.
Please continue your prayers for Brother Draper and all their family during these times.
Here are the ways you can correspond with Brother Draper:
P.O. Box 395, Bardwell KY 42023
270.628.9517
hmdubdbr@yahoo.com
Monday / 28 September 2009 / 11:00 pm
NEWS ABOUT UNA RICHARDS’S FUNERAL
Dear Bro. Parks,
All went well at the funeral of my sister Una Richards. On Sunday evening more than 700 people filed past the casket to pay respects to her and comfort the family. Today the Lord gave me grace, and I was able to preach the Gospel to hundreds of people. Many there were saved, and no doubt not a few were not saved. Ursula and I are very tired tonight. We appreciate so much the E-mails and phone calls offering condolences.
Harold & Ursula Draper
Many of you are aware that Brother Harold Draper’s sister, Una Jean Richards, has been battling leukemia for many months and has been in critical condition for the past few weeks.
She went home to be with our Lord early Friday morning.
A short obituary may be found at:
http://www.paducahsun.com/articles/stories/public/200909/26/aLLb_obituari.html
Her arrangements are through Milner and Orr Funeral Home in Arlington KY
http://www.milnerandorrfuneralhomes.com/
All of her services will be conducted at Beulah Baptist Church in Fancy Farm KY:
8037 State Route 307 North,
Fancy Farm, KY, 42039
[270-623-8493]
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fancy-Farm-KY/Beulah-Baptist-Church/93168094862
Friends may call after 5:00 pm CST at the church and Brother Draper will be conducting the memorial service at 11:00 am CST at Beulah.
Please continue your prayers for Brother Draper and all their family during these times.
Here are the ways you can correspond with Brother Draper:
P.O. Box 395, Bardwell KY 42023
270.628.9517
hmdubdbr@yahoo.com
Monday / 28 September 2009 / 11:00 pm
NEWS ABOUT UNA RICHARDS’S FUNERAL
Dear Bro. Parks,
All went well at the funeral of my sister Una Richards. On Sunday evening more than 700 people filed past the casket to pay respects to her and comfort the family. Today the Lord gave me grace, and I was able to preach the Gospel to hundreds of people. Many there were saved, and no doubt not a few were not saved. Ursula and I are very tired tonight. We appreciate so much the E-mails and phone calls offering condolences.
Harold & Ursula Draper
Saturday, September 12, 2009
URGENT APPEAL ON BEHALF OF OUR MISSIONARIES
URGENT NEEDS AND APPEALS TO EVERY GIVING FRIEND
OF BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS MISSIONARIES
I must make an urgent appeal to you on behalf of our missionaries.
Please read this carefully and prayerfully and respond immediately.
WE HAVE TWO URGENT NEEDS
REQUIRING IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
[1] INCREASED MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS
I have received the report of the August offerings and am processing our missionaries’ monthly deposits as I write. FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW [August and September], WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT DEDUCTIONS FROM EACH OF THEIR SEPTEMBER DEPOSITS.
I have detailed in the August issue of the Mission Sheets [and posting here] how we must balance our Essential Maintenance Transactions [EMT, or TIER 1] disbursements to our missionaries each month with our General Fund Offerings for that month. We call this MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SOLVENCY.
If the General Fund Offerings for that month don’t supply the Essential Maintenance Transactions disbursements for that month, then we must reduce the missionaries’ total deposits for that month by the amount we lack.
Let me give you some ‘bottom lines’ for September’s deposits: after I have calculated ALL the General Fund receipts from August’s offerings [including offerings which are given to the missionaries by name designated ‘salary’ or ‘support’] THERE IS STILL A DEFICIT OF $8465.99 WHICH MUST BE MADE UP BY MAKING ADDITIONAL PROPORTIONAL DEDUCTIONS FROM EACH MISSIONARY’S TOTAL DEPOSIT FOR THAT MONTH. This way, each missionary makes the same PROPORTIONAL contribution, but not the same AMOUNT of contribution.
So, just by using September as an example, IF WE – ALL OF US TOGETHER - HAD GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL $8500.00 TO THE GENERAL FUND DURING AUGUST, OUR MISSIONARIES WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEIR STANDARD MODEST COMMITMENTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THE OTHER COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE TO THEM [PRN or ‘AS NEEDED’ / TIER 2 COMMITMENTS] ARE SUPPLIED FROM WHATEVER IS LEFT IN THE THANKSGIVING OFFERING FUNDS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR’S OFFERING. This is the only way we can make it through the year with the funds we have to work with. I think we will make it through the next 3 months with what we have left in last year’s Thanksgiving Offering.
[2] $100,000.00 THANKSGIVING OFFERING
EACH OF OUR GIVING FRIENDS IN ALL OF OUR CHURCHES MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE LORD AND OUR MISSIONARIES TO GIVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS THANKSGIVING OFFERING. If everyone of us will ask the Lord of the Harvest what portion He wants us to do and give – I am confident HE WILL SUPPLY THROUGH US WHAT HE WANTS OUR MISSIONARIES TO HAVE TO DO THE PORTION OF THE WORKS THEY ARE DOING.
We can do this by the Grace God will supply us – but each one of us must make the commitment to:
[1] PARTICIPATE, 2 Cor 8.1-5, 12; 9.7
[2] PRAY to God to supply you with an offering, 2 Cor 9.8-15. You can be sure that those who are receiving the benefit of your offerings are certainly praying on your behalf!
[3] PLAN how you will lay it aside, 1 Cor 16.1-2
[4] PREPARE your offerings according to your plan. In other words, ‘PLAN your work and WORK your plan’, 2 Cor 9.5.
[5] PERFORM THE DOING OF IT. Follow through! 2 Cor 8.10-11.
NIKE! You know the NIKE footwear’s familiar sales slogan: ‘JUST DO IT!’ That’s what we need to do: ‘JUST DO IT!’ By the way, NIKE is a Greek word that means VICTORY. This form of the word is found one time in the New Testament, in 1 John 5.4: ‘And this is the VICTORY that has overcome the world – OUR FAITH!’ We can – and will – enjoy VICTORY over all these needs if we will JUST DO WHAT WE KNOW TO DO TO ACHIEVE THE VICTORY...TRUSTING GOD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!
ONE MORE APPEAL FOR OUR
GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY GOAL
Each one of us should either begin giving to the MONTHLY GENERAL FUND according to these same steps – or, if you are already a MONTHLY GIVING FRIEND, follow these steps to INCREASE YOUR MONTHLY GIVING TO THE GENERAL FUND.
OF BAPTIST FAITH MISSIONS MISSIONARIES
I must make an urgent appeal to you on behalf of our missionaries.
Please read this carefully and prayerfully and respond immediately.
WE HAVE TWO URGENT NEEDS
REQUIRING IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
[1] INCREASED MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS
I have received the report of the August offerings and am processing our missionaries’ monthly deposits as I write. FOR THE SECOND MONTH IN A ROW [August and September], WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT DEDUCTIONS FROM EACH OF THEIR SEPTEMBER DEPOSITS.
I have detailed in the August issue of the Mission Sheets [and posting here] how we must balance our Essential Maintenance Transactions [EMT, or TIER 1] disbursements to our missionaries each month with our General Fund Offerings for that month. We call this MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SOLVENCY.
If the General Fund Offerings for that month don’t supply the Essential Maintenance Transactions disbursements for that month, then we must reduce the missionaries’ total deposits for that month by the amount we lack.
Let me give you some ‘bottom lines’ for September’s deposits: after I have calculated ALL the General Fund receipts from August’s offerings [including offerings which are given to the missionaries by name designated ‘salary’ or ‘support’] THERE IS STILL A DEFICIT OF $8465.99 WHICH MUST BE MADE UP BY MAKING ADDITIONAL PROPORTIONAL DEDUCTIONS FROM EACH MISSIONARY’S TOTAL DEPOSIT FOR THAT MONTH. This way, each missionary makes the same PROPORTIONAL contribution, but not the same AMOUNT of contribution.
So, just by using September as an example, IF WE – ALL OF US TOGETHER - HAD GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL $8500.00 TO THE GENERAL FUND DURING AUGUST, OUR MISSIONARIES WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEIR STANDARD MODEST COMMITMENTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THE OTHER COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE TO THEM [PRN or ‘AS NEEDED’ / TIER 2 COMMITMENTS] ARE SUPPLIED FROM WHATEVER IS LEFT IN THE THANKSGIVING OFFERING FUNDS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR’S OFFERING. This is the only way we can make it through the year with the funds we have to work with. I think we will make it through the next 3 months with what we have left in last year’s Thanksgiving Offering.
[2] $100,000.00 THANKSGIVING OFFERING
EACH OF OUR GIVING FRIENDS IN ALL OF OUR CHURCHES MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT TO THE LORD AND OUR MISSIONARIES TO GIVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS THANKSGIVING OFFERING. If everyone of us will ask the Lord of the Harvest what portion He wants us to do and give – I am confident HE WILL SUPPLY THROUGH US WHAT HE WANTS OUR MISSIONARIES TO HAVE TO DO THE PORTION OF THE WORKS THEY ARE DOING.
We can do this by the Grace God will supply us – but each one of us must make the commitment to:
[1] PARTICIPATE, 2 Cor 8.1-5, 12; 9.7
[2] PRAY to God to supply you with an offering, 2 Cor 9.8-15. You can be sure that those who are receiving the benefit of your offerings are certainly praying on your behalf!
[3] PLAN how you will lay it aside, 1 Cor 16.1-2
[4] PREPARE your offerings according to your plan. In other words, ‘PLAN your work and WORK your plan’, 2 Cor 9.5.
[5] PERFORM THE DOING OF IT. Follow through! 2 Cor 8.10-11.
NIKE! You know the NIKE footwear’s familiar sales slogan: ‘JUST DO IT!’ That’s what we need to do: ‘JUST DO IT!’ By the way, NIKE is a Greek word that means VICTORY. This form of the word is found one time in the New Testament, in 1 John 5.4: ‘And this is the VICTORY that has overcome the world – OUR FAITH!’ We can – and will – enjoy VICTORY over all these needs if we will JUST DO WHAT WE KNOW TO DO TO ACHIEVE THE VICTORY...TRUSTING GOD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!
ONE MORE APPEAL FOR OUR
GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY GOAL
Each one of us should either begin giving to the MONTHLY GENERAL FUND according to these same steps – or, if you are already a MONTHLY GIVING FRIEND, follow these steps to INCREASE YOUR MONTHLY GIVING TO THE GENERAL FUND.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
2009 THANKSGIVING OFFERING
Every year, we make as direct and personal an appeal as we can to every one of our GIVING FRIENDS to give as generous an offering as you can to our THANKSGIVING OFFERING.
CHANGING OUR CULTURE OF THINKING
We have changed the direction of our culture of thinking with respect to our THANKSGIVING OFFERING and MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS. We used to say: “We need your THANKSGIVING OFFERING because we incur deficits every month between our giving to the General Fund offerings and the disbursements for the services and benefits we have committed to our missionaries which are supplied from the General Fund. We need the THANKSGIVING OFFERING to make up those monthly deficits.”
We cannot operate that way any longer. So, this year, we have revised our financial operating model to balance each month between our GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS and our GENERAL FUND DISBURSEMENTS. We call it: GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY.
This is how it works:
We have divided up the General Fund disbursements we make to our missionaries into two groups.
TIER 1 / EMT DISBURSEMENTS
The first disbursement group is ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS [EMT] – or TIER 1 DISBURSEMENTS. These are the disbursements which are most directly given to the missionaries each month for their essential maintenance. They include: salary [$23,860.00], standard expense allowances for housing and ministry [$12,450.00], hospitalization premiums [$9151.00], and Mission Sheets publishing and mailing [$1623.00]. All of these services are provided each month to the missionaries from the General Fund.
THESE DISBURSEMENTS MUST BE SUPPLIED BY THE MONTHLY GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS FOR THAT MONTH. That's why we call this model ‘GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY’. This is the only way we can continue to operate fiscally.
TIER 1 RECEIPTS
These EMT / TIER 1 disbursements must be supplied from [1] MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS, [2] MEMORIAL OFFERINGS, and [3] from your offerings given to specific missionaries by name designated for ‘salary’ or ‘support’. All of these offerings go toward supplying our missionaries’ ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS for that month.
What if our Monthly General Fund offerings from all these sources do not cover that month’s Essential Maintenance Transactions disbursements?
IF OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS DO NOT COVER THE ABOVE-LISTED EMT DISBURSEMENTS, THEN WE MUST GO BACK TO THE MISSIONARIES’ MONTHLY DEPOSITS AND MAKE A FURTHER PROPORTIONATE DEDUCTION FROM EACH MISSIONARY’S TOTAL DEPOSIT TO COVER THE DEFICIT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE UP.
When this happens, our missionaries must make further sacrificial personal contributions to their own Essential Maintenance for that month.
We had to do that last November and December 2008, but the monthly General Fund offerings increased during the first months of 2009, so that I have not had to make any further reductions from their monthly deposits during 2009...UNTIL THIS MONTH [August].
What if we receive MORE Tier 1 receipts during any month than we need for that month’s EMT disbursements?
IF WE INCUR OVERAGES IN ANY ONE MONTH, THEN I WILL CARRY OVER THAT OVERAGE INTO THE FOLLOWING MONTHS TO COVER ANY DEFICITS THAT MAY OCCUR LATER ON.
AUGUST DEPOSITS
I am preparing the monthly deposits for August right now as I write this article. July’s General Funds offerings were down. I will apply the remaining overages from previous months’ TIER 1 RECEIPTS to this month’s deficit, BUT THERE WILL STILL BE THE NEED FOR FURTHER DEDUCTIONS FROM THE MISSIONARIES’ MONTHLY DEPOSITS.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING
So, what are we doing with the THANKSGIVING OFFERING?
TIER 2 / PRN [AS NEEDED] GENERAL FUND DISBURSEMENTS
Besides the Essential Maintenance Transactions we disburse to our missionaries regularly each month, there are other services and benefits we give them which are also supplied from the General Fund receipts. For example: the expenses related to the daily operations of administration, furlough transportation, maintaining the furlough home, 4-year $8000 Auto Allowance [if we have it to give]...and other benefits.
We call these services PRN DISBURSEMENTS [they are disbursed ‘AS NEEDED’]. The ‘overhead’ operating expenses are monthly, but the other benefits are provided during the year as they are needed – IF WE HAVE IT TO GIVE.
WE SUPPLY THESE TIER 2 / PRN SERVICES FROM THE THANKSGIVING OFFERING. We are now in the month of August and are sort of ‘limping’ and ‘eking out’ our way to the end of November when we begin to receive our 2009 THANKSGIVING OFFERING.
But, THE MISSIONARIES’ MONTHLY ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS MUST STILL BE SUPPLIED FROM OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SOLVENCY FUNDS...EACH AND EVERY MONTH.
TWO URGENT APPEALS
So – again we must make TWO URGENT APPEALS to EVERY GIVING FRIEND:
[1] INCREASE YOUR PERSONAL OR CHURCH’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SO WE CAN SUPPLY OUR MISSIONARIES’ ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE.
[2] PRAY...PLAN...AND PREPARE FOR AS LIBERAL AND GENEROUS A THANKSGIVING OFFERING AS THE LORD ENABLES YOU TO GIVE. We hope you have already been laying aside your 2009 Thanksgiving Offering since giving your 2008 Offering. But, if you have not, THEN DO SO RIGHT NOW!
Ask the Lord what He wants you to give. Then, ask the Lord to give you what He wants you to give. 2 Corinthians, chapter 9.
-___________________-
THANKSGIVING MISSIONS CONFERENCE / NOVEMBER 23, 24, 25
PLAN TO ATTEND!
CHANGING OUR CULTURE OF THINKING
We have changed the direction of our culture of thinking with respect to our THANKSGIVING OFFERING and MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS. We used to say: “We need your THANKSGIVING OFFERING because we incur deficits every month between our giving to the General Fund offerings and the disbursements for the services and benefits we have committed to our missionaries which are supplied from the General Fund. We need the THANKSGIVING OFFERING to make up those monthly deficits.”
We cannot operate that way any longer. So, this year, we have revised our financial operating model to balance each month between our GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS and our GENERAL FUND DISBURSEMENTS. We call it: GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY.
This is how it works:
We have divided up the General Fund disbursements we make to our missionaries into two groups.
TIER 1 / EMT DISBURSEMENTS
The first disbursement group is ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS [EMT] – or TIER 1 DISBURSEMENTS. These are the disbursements which are most directly given to the missionaries each month for their essential maintenance. They include: salary [$23,860.00], standard expense allowances for housing and ministry [$12,450.00], hospitalization premiums [$9151.00], and Mission Sheets publishing and mailing [$1623.00]. All of these services are provided each month to the missionaries from the General Fund.
THESE DISBURSEMENTS MUST BE SUPPLIED BY THE MONTHLY GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS FOR THAT MONTH. That's why we call this model ‘GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY’. This is the only way we can continue to operate fiscally.
TIER 1 RECEIPTS
These EMT / TIER 1 disbursements must be supplied from [1] MONTHLY GENERAL FUND OFFERINGS, [2] MEMORIAL OFFERINGS, and [3] from your offerings given to specific missionaries by name designated for ‘salary’ or ‘support’. All of these offerings go toward supplying our missionaries’ ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS for that month.
What if our Monthly General Fund offerings from all these sources do not cover that month’s Essential Maintenance Transactions disbursements?
IF OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS DO NOT COVER THE ABOVE-LISTED EMT DISBURSEMENTS, THEN WE MUST GO BACK TO THE MISSIONARIES’ MONTHLY DEPOSITS AND MAKE A FURTHER PROPORTIONATE DEDUCTION FROM EACH MISSIONARY’S TOTAL DEPOSIT TO COVER THE DEFICIT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE UP.
When this happens, our missionaries must make further sacrificial personal contributions to their own Essential Maintenance for that month.
We had to do that last November and December 2008, but the monthly General Fund offerings increased during the first months of 2009, so that I have not had to make any further reductions from their monthly deposits during 2009...UNTIL THIS MONTH [August].
What if we receive MORE Tier 1 receipts during any month than we need for that month’s EMT disbursements?
IF WE INCUR OVERAGES IN ANY ONE MONTH, THEN I WILL CARRY OVER THAT OVERAGE INTO THE FOLLOWING MONTHS TO COVER ANY DEFICITS THAT MAY OCCUR LATER ON.
AUGUST DEPOSITS
I am preparing the monthly deposits for August right now as I write this article. July’s General Funds offerings were down. I will apply the remaining overages from previous months’ TIER 1 RECEIPTS to this month’s deficit, BUT THERE WILL STILL BE THE NEED FOR FURTHER DEDUCTIONS FROM THE MISSIONARIES’ MONTHLY DEPOSITS.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING
So, what are we doing with the THANKSGIVING OFFERING?
TIER 2 / PRN [AS NEEDED] GENERAL FUND DISBURSEMENTS
Besides the Essential Maintenance Transactions we disburse to our missionaries regularly each month, there are other services and benefits we give them which are also supplied from the General Fund receipts. For example: the expenses related to the daily operations of administration, furlough transportation, maintaining the furlough home, 4-year $8000 Auto Allowance [if we have it to give]...and other benefits.
We call these services PRN DISBURSEMENTS [they are disbursed ‘AS NEEDED’]. The ‘overhead’ operating expenses are monthly, but the other benefits are provided during the year as they are needed – IF WE HAVE IT TO GIVE.
WE SUPPLY THESE TIER 2 / PRN SERVICES FROM THE THANKSGIVING OFFERING. We are now in the month of August and are sort of ‘limping’ and ‘eking out’ our way to the end of November when we begin to receive our 2009 THANKSGIVING OFFERING.
But, THE MISSIONARIES’ MONTHLY ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS MUST STILL BE SUPPLIED FROM OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SOLVENCY FUNDS...EACH AND EVERY MONTH.
TWO URGENT APPEALS
So – again we must make TWO URGENT APPEALS to EVERY GIVING FRIEND:
[1] INCREASE YOUR PERSONAL OR CHURCH’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR MONTHLY GENERAL FUND SO WE CAN SUPPLY OUR MISSIONARIES’ ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE.
[2] PRAY...PLAN...AND PREPARE FOR AS LIBERAL AND GENEROUS A THANKSGIVING OFFERING AS THE LORD ENABLES YOU TO GIVE. We hope you have already been laying aside your 2009 Thanksgiving Offering since giving your 2008 Offering. But, if you have not, THEN DO SO RIGHT NOW!
Ask the Lord what He wants you to give. Then, ask the Lord to give you what He wants you to give. 2 Corinthians, chapter 9.
-___________________-
THANKSGIVING MISSIONS CONFERENCE / NOVEMBER 23, 24, 25
PLAN TO ATTEND!
Friday, June 26, 2009
MARGUERITE HALLUM
MARGUERITE HALLUM UPDATES
steveandteeter@bellsouth.net
NOTE:
Marguerite Hallum is the unmarried daughter of the first missionaries BFM supported for missions in Peru. She served with them during all the years of their ministry in Peru, and then cared for them until their deaths after they returned to the States.
She lived and worked for several years in Louisiana, but for the past few years has been living in DeLand FL in an assisted-living retirement center. Her niece, Teeter Mauldin, and her husband, Steve, brought her to DeLand so they can care for her just a few minutes from where they live – and they have done so faithfully and lovingly. [Marguerite is pictured above with the Mauldins]
We had the opportunity to visit with Sister Marguerite during our BFM Winter Conference at Park Ridge Baptist Church in Orlando-area back in January 2009, and she delighted us with her company, fellowship, and her many, many exciting stories of their ministry experiences in Peru.
Here are some updates I have received from her niece, Teeter Mauldin, concerning some of the latest developments in her health condition.
We encourage you to pray for Sister Marguerite, and for Steve and Teeter Mauldin. The Mauldins’ email address is: steveandteeter@bellsouth.net
You may address written correspondences for Sister Marguerite to:
Teeter Mauldin
432 Rich Avenue
DeLand FL 32724-4315
Thursday, 16 July
Dear Friends,
Good news...just went to the hospital and they released Marguerite this afternoon. She is now back at the Florida Lutheran Retirement Center and they were so very happy to have her 'home'...she's happy to be home.
The blockage is gone and hopefully will stay gone for a while. Her oxygen levels have improved and she seems to be fine today.
A sad note is her roommate Dorothy is in her last days...she has hospice round the clock now. I'm sure this will affect Marguerite greatly...they were 'fun' roommates.
Thank you for your prayers...the Lord's timing is perfect and we trust Him in all things.
Love to all, Teeter
TUESDAY, 14 JULY
MARGUERITE IS IN THE HOSPITAL
Dear Friends,
Just to update you on the current situation.
Marguerite was admitted to the hospital Sunday night...midnight...for an abdominal blockage. We do not know what kind of blockage it is but she had been vomiting since Wednesday and not eating. She was dehydrated but showed no signs on infection.
She is not in pain, other than the tube down her nose and throat, she is comfortable.
She knows where she is but does not know why because as she says, "No body tells me anything and I haven't even seen a doctor or nurse since I've been here." Her dementia is a wonderful thing in these situations...the doctors and nurses have seen her and been wonderful.
Her kidneys had stopped due to the dehydration but now are working again. We are taking one day at a time and just pray hard for her comfort and peace of mind.
Rob Poynor and his son Christopher visited yesterday and that perked up her spirits a great deal.
We have a 'work party' this week with our Sunday School class and we are really torn between being here...since we're in charge and it is for us that they are working so hard...and being with Marguerite. I go and come.
After two weeks of 'granny camp' and another week coming up next week of 'camp,' this was the only week we had to get organized for our class to help us rehab the house next door we just purchased...the wonderful part it was their idea to do this!
We went into this project exhausted but the Lord is faithful and I can do 'all things through Him who gives me strength.'
Pray for Marguerite's recovery, peace of mind, comfort, and our ability to meet her needs and get everything else done too! Strength for today...we are taking one day at a time!
Love to all, Teeter
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 26 JUNE 2009
Dear Brother Dave,
We have placed Marguerite with Hospice. She is in no pain and her sweet spirit is still present. Our Lord's timing is perfect and He has her in His hands. For that we give praise and thanks. We're trusting Him in all things. Thank you for your prayers for us all.
Love, Teeter
22 June 2009
Dear Friends,
Just a quick update on Marguerite for today. We are taking one day at a time right now. She has congestive heart failure and is on oxygen 24/7. They have it on the highest level and it can go no higher...still her oxygen levels are in the low 80's. The nurses are amazed that she wakes up and converses with the levels that low. She also has an irregular heart beat and rapid heart beat...the combination of the two is not good. One of the reasons, they think, the oxygen levels read so low is because of the irregular heartbeat...seems it can throw off the monitoring device. In reality she might be getting more oxygen that what they think. One of the nurses just 'happened' to read an article on that little know fact!) On Friday she was really bad, not eating, and slept most of Saturday...yesterday she was alert and talking and coherent! That's why I say it is one day at a time. She had stopped eating but yesterday ate well! We never know what we will find when we go. She is in no pain, doesn't feel badly, does not have labored breathing...so my prayers for her have been answered. She is not suffering in any way. The nurses and aides are wonderfully attentive and keep me posted on any change or new development. We are blessed to have her in such a beautiful, caring facility. I'm asking for prayers for her continued comfort and when the time comes for the Lord just to let her go to sleep. Think that's what I'd like to do too, when the time comes:) I'm not rushing it but know it is not far off for her....or she could rally and last for years like her father did! It is not in our hands or our control and we take comfort in that fact! God's timing is perfect and we trust that fact! Thank you for all of your concern and prayers.
Love to all, Teeter
PS I have lost a lot of email addresses from the list I usually send updates to...pass it on to others that you think might be interested and send me their addresses so I can add them. I am not a technical whiz...in fact, I could be considered 'challenged' in that area:) Thanks for your help on this.
19 May 2009
Dear Friends and Family,
We so appreciate your calls and emails about Marguerite. She is really loved! I've just been to the Center to check on her and she is still very ill. A little improvement from yesterday but a long way to go. I spoke with the doctor as he was making his rounds and he was to check her for me. She had improved at the end of last week but by Sunday was worse than ever. Her cough is deep and long but she says 'not productive.' I say it's 'missing a good chance' because she is coughing from her toes! Her foot is infected still and is on antibiotics for that, too. She is not eating anything but tea, toast, and soup on occasion so she is getting weaker. Today I sat with her while she ate her breakfast of tea and one piece of toast...couldn't coax her to eat more. Kept her up for over an hour and she was ready for her bed and a nap. Please continue to pray for her. She is in no pain and isn't complaining at all, in fact, doesn't think her cough is bad at all...just amazing.
Love to all, Teeter
13 May 2009
Dear Friends,
Please pray for Marguerite. She is really sick. A bronchial bug has swept through the nursing center and everyone is coughing, running fever, etc. I took her to the foot doctor yesterday thinking her foot would be better since she hasn't been walking on it...wrong...it is infected again and draining. It is about as bad as we've seen it. She just started crying in the doctor's office and said, 'it is always something!' Never seen her at the 'giving up' point before. She was very quiet and didn't talk...I was so busy trying to engage her in conversation I missed two turns off the interstate and ended up going to Daytona...the scenic route! They have her on antibiotics and maybe by today they have kicked in. They did a culture on her foot and we go back next week to see the doctor...he is very concerned. They also did xrays to see if the infection was in the bone...there are some changes but it is not definitive yet.
We were gone last week on a mission's trip to South Carolina. She did not have a good week...she didn't eat because her stomach hurt. When we took her to dinner on Mother's Day she said she was fine and ate everything in sight. Even though we didn't tell her we were out of town, friends visited, etc. she knows when I'm not here. Pray she heals quickly and she won't remember she's been so sick and so depressed. Her roommate Dorothy is not doing well at all either.
I know she's in the Lord's hands and He loves her so much! We all do! Thank you for your prayers,
Love, Teeter
4 April 2009
Dear Brother Dave,
I'm reporting on Marguerite Hallum She fell last week and broke her hip. She has surgery and is back in her retirement center undergoing rehab. She has been remarkable...her spirit is good, her humor is intact, and the prognosis is good. Please pray that she will be up on her feet and gardening again soon.
Blessings, Teeter Mauldin
Monday, June 22, 2009
HOMER CRAIN FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Brother Crain's family will be receiving friends Tuesday evening 6-8 pm CST.
Funeral Service will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 am CST.
All services will be located at:
LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME
12950 AL HIGHWAY 157
MOULTON AL 35850
256.974.0685
Written correspondences and condolences may be addressed to their son, Mike, at the Crain's residence:
Mike Crain
13177 Highway 101
Town Creek AL 35672
Mike's cell phone number: 256.227.6011
Funeral Service will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 am CST.
All services will be located at:
LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME
12950 AL HIGHWAY 157
MOULTON AL 35850
256.974.0685
Written correspondences and condolences may be addressed to their son, Mike, at the Crain's residence:
Mike Crain
13177 Highway 101
Town Creek AL 35672
Mike's cell phone number: 256.227.6011
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