United Mission Matters

United Mission Matters "A Dancing Calf" Written By: Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley Executive Minister American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York “And you sniff at it,” says Adonai. “So you bring plunder, the lame and the sick. Then you bring them as the offering. Should I accept this from your hand?” (Malachi 1:13) Leftovers are often good. Depending on the type of leftovers they are, some will continue to marinate in their seasonings - seeping to the far reaches of what remains and surface something even more delicious than when it was first served. A discerning eater or cook knows what kind of food tastes best the first day, and what somehow tastes better the next day. Some leftovers are for the trash heap when not eaten right away: that which was once savory has deteriorated or defiled. Defiled offerings, declared the Prophet, are what priests brought to God! God’s admonition must have been astonishingly embarrassing to hear declared in the hearing of others. Nevertheless, these words written in the last book of the Old Testament could easily be misconstrued. God was not pointing out the imperfections of the ones who were being offered up, but the hearts of the ones offering them up as a sacrifice. God’s complaint is with the ones who were thought to be upright and healthy, who had fallen short: they were not fooling anyone - especially God. A perfect and worthy sacrifice is understood as valuable to the one giving it and the One to whom it is given. Priests were commissioned instead to transmit the attributes of peace, reverence, and love of others – not transactionalism, “animal trading” or projecting the appearance of religion in order to hide one’s true character.  God is saying to us: when our motives are revealed – the imperfections we are trying to disguise, are revealed for what they are. The famous words. “Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” are spoken after God has read those priests the riot act. (Malachi 3:8) Epilogue 2 But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:2) Whatever it may be, whatever the amount, let us bring our best and most treasured offerings of service, obedience, and our lives to God, and rejoice in it! I love to think about us dancing like a calf in the sun, for because of God’s mercy, we are whole and fully alive! "Mission in our DNA" Written By: Rev. Mark Mahserjian-Smith Executive Minister American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware It has been said of Baptists, "Mission is in our DNA." For American Baptists, mission remains a top priority. Our vision in the American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware (ABCOPAD) is "To build healthy partnerships with churches, pastoral leaders, and our wider ABC family, to fulfill Christ's mission in our world." By supporting United Mission, you enable partners within our denomination to be Christ's hands and feet. United Mission supports regions that can work collaboratively on hands-on disaster relief. Following Superstorm Sandy in 2012, ABCOPAD partnered with the ABC of New Jersey and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) to help those in need. Later, in 2017, ABCOPAD partnered with ABC of Puerto Rico and ABHMS to rebuild the island, which had been devastated by Hurricane Maria. ABCOPAD has partnered with sister regions, all supported by United Mission, to provide disaster relief in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina, following the violent storms. ABCOPAD has also partnered with sister regions and International Ministries to carry out foreign missions. For three years, ABCOPAD collaborated with ABC of New York and International Ministries to undertake mission work in Nicaragua, working alongside AMOS Health and Hope. Mission teams traveled to rural villages to provide access to clean water and share the Gospel message. Additionally, ABCOPAD partnered with International Ministries and sister regions to deliver earthquake disaster relief in Haiti, start new church planting efforts in Mexico, and engage in evangelism in the Dominican Republic.  United Mission supports Regions, International Ministries, and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, enabling congregations to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus both locally and globally. Your gifts help Baptists stay true to our identity as people committed to mission and ministry. What is United Mission? United Mission is a simple yet intentional way that American Baptists contribute to a shared financial fund that is designed and used for mission and ministry that has an impact across the whole American Baptist family. With a large portion of United Mission funds contributing directly to the mission efforts and ministries of the 33 ABC regional entities, the Office of the General Secretary, and the Board of General Ministries, all of which are accountable to and informed by our member congregations, United Mission funding supports efforts on all levels of our denomination as well on our shared mission fields. Portions of United Mission also support services provided by our national ABC partners. United Mission Toolkit Check out all of the resources at the United Mission Toolkit. You can find it on our website at www.abc-usa.org or follow this link: www.abc-usa.org/united-mission-toolkit How to Participate in United Mission: United Mission Basics are undesignated contributions from local churches to the vital mission and ministry of American Baptists. Basics provide support for the extensive foundation of American Baptist missions. United Mission Love Gifts are contributions from American Baptist women in support of American Baptist ministry, given over and above United Mission Basics. Whether congregations and individuals give to United Mission via regularly scheduled contributions throughout the year or annual one-time gifts, through church budgets or special offerings, your faithfulness shows your commitment to being United in Christ, Together in Mission as an entire American Baptist denominational family. Explore the Resources at the Lake Institute We have had several of our Regional Executive Ministers as well as pastors and leaders attend the Religious Fund Raising cohort through the Lake Institute. Check out what resources they offer. (used with permission from the Lake Institute) https://lakeinstitute.org/

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