Excerpts from a letter sent to our minister from the BMS.
Dear friend,
Thank-you very much for the support your church fellowship has given to BMS World Mission in our last financial year which ended on 31 October 2012. Despite a challenging financial environment, I am pleased to say that we finished the year with only a small shortfall. This was due to the generosity of the churches and to our policy of constantly exploring ways to reduce UK costs, which has again resulted in 95p in every £1 donated being used for our core mission activities.
How have your gifts been used? To build up local churches, empower national partners, demonstrate Christ's compassion and, at the heart of all these activities, to make Jesus known:
Church: We believe that actively engaging to build up the World Church is one of the most important ways to share our faith.
National Partners: 'The highest goal of all we do is to bring people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, and an experience of the abundant life that Jesus described' This key phrase from our strategy document 'For God ...' confirms our commitment to integrated mission. The principles of local ownership, dignity and empowerment are at the heart of all our partnerships. BMS World Mission Church Partners Brochure
Compassion: Care for people in need drives our commitment to sending people and resources to help alleviate poverty, prevent sickness and respond in times of disaster.
Mission: Mission is at the heart of all BMS activities, and we support local churches in the UK in exploring their call to mission. For some this will mean sending mission workers or teams and for others developing Church Partner relationships with BMS personnel, ministries or regions..
We give thanks to God for the faithfulness of UK Baptist churches in supporting the work of BMS World Mission. With your support, we have been able to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard the gospel message. Please continue to share with us in mission this year, through prayer, giving and perhaps other ways, so that together we can take up the exciting opportunities that God is opening up to us.
We pray God's blessing on your fellowship,
Yours sincerely,
David Kerrigan, General Director.
