Weekly Update – March 6th, 2025
Every year at First Baptist Church, we participate in what is called, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The purpose of this offering is to give to missions all across North America. So while we make a big push towards our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions at Christmas time, so too, we also make a push for stateside missions every spring. The theme of this year’s offering is “Step Into the Story.” The idea for this theme is based off of 3 John 1:7-8 which says, “For they have gone out for the sake of the name… Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” What this means is that just as the hearers of John the apostle supported fellow workers for the sake of the gospel, so too, we have an opportunity to hold the rope as we send out workers all over this continent to make Christ known.
This offering was started in 1895 by the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) to benefit the work of the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board). In 1934, it was named in honor of Annie Armstrong, a bold missions advocate and WMU’s first national executive leader. Today, more than $2 billion has been donated by Southern Baptist churches and individuals to support thousands of missionaries in church planting and compassion ministries. Because of this sacrificial giving, millions of lives have been and continue to be transformed by the power of the gospel.
Along with us, churches throughout the Southern Baptist Convention observe the Week of Prayer for North American Missions by praying for missionaries, their families, and their ministries. These missionaries need you to step into their stories through your prayers as they often face opposition, discouragement and battle loneliness. This year, the official date for the Week of Prayer is March 2-9. North American missionaries take the gospel to unreached communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. They need your prayers to open hearts and help them disciple new believers. To fuel their work, missionaries also need your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
The national goal for this offering is 78 million dollars. Our goal as a church is to raise $8,500. One aspect that particularly excites me about this offering is that 80% of it goes towards the work of planting new churches. This includes financial funding and benefits for planting missionaries, training, recruitment, ministry assistance for equipment and outreach, missionary housing, missionary care. All throughout the New Testament you see the gospel expanding through people going, but when these people go, what they do is they plant churches in every town, so that as people come to Christ, they can begin to gather and make further spread the good news of the gospel. In other words, the church is the centerpiece of gospel expansion into the world. Therefore, through giving to the Annie Armstong Easter offering, you and I are enabled to be at the forefront of gospel expansion right here in North America.
Currently there are right around 3,000 missionaries being supported through the North American Mission Board. The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering accounts for 50% of their support. Therefore as we emphasize North American Missions this month, I want to encourage you to pray for the work that God is doing around us through the missionaries that we support, but also consider giving to the effort of gospel expansion all over North America. As a result of our prayers and giving, we can become part of the story of what God is doing.
Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson
Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson
Fighter Verse for the Week
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
-Romans 8:31-32
Announcements:
Sunday Evening Service: Our next Sunday evening service will be this Sunday, March 9th at 6:00pm. On this evening we will pray together and hear from David Hutchison as he preaches from 1 John 2:18-25.
Men’s Study: On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, from 8:00-9:15pm, a men’s study through the book, The Measure of a Man, takes place. See Clint Blankenship for more information.
Membership Matters Class: Beginning Sunday, February 23rd, there will be a Membership Matters Class for those interested in joining FBC. This will be a 4 week class (2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16), meeting at 9:15am during our Equipping/Sunday School hour. You can find out more about our membership process HERE.
Ladies Bible Study: On Tuesday, February 25th, a seven week Bible study through the book of Esther will begin. There will be two sessions, one at 9:30am and another at 6:00pm. Sign up in the hall to join! You can check out more information about this Bible study, HERE.
Farewell to the Snodgrasses: On Sunday, March 16th, immediately following the morning service, we will have a farewell reception to say good-bye to the Snodgrasses. They will return home Monday, March 17th.
Snodgrasses: If you are interested in supporting Simon and Hannah, you can talk with them or give to them directly HERE (make sure to designate their name for the gift). Additionally, consider praying for them if you don’t already. To get put on monthly update and bi-annual prayer sheet, you can email Simon at Simonsn@cefireland.
Prom Dress Giveaway: The prom dress giveaway is in need of volunteers. See Amy Blankenship or sign up on the bulletin board in the hall. Click HERE for more details.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over North America who are serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This year, our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $8500. You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Annie.” Or you can give online HERE and choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.
Worship Jam Night: On the last Friday of each month, at 6:30pm, there will be a worship jam night for all who are interested. The purpose of this event is to have fun and develop musical skill here at FBC for the glory of God. You don’t have to be a part of the praise team to participate. Bring any worship, hymn, or CCM song in a format that can be shared with the other musicians (like a chord chart or a lead sheet). See Martin for more details.
Food Pantry: The food pantry is currently in need of spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned tuna, boxes of macaroni and cheese, cereal, and oatmeal. For a complete list of food pantry needs, click HERE.
Awana Bible Club
Awana is held at 6:30pm on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Dinner is at 6:00pm. Children can be registered HERE.
Equipping Hour
We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” meets in the Sanctuary, a study in Isaiah in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament meets in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.
Giving
To Give Online, Go HERE.
You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030
Home Groups
Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.
Prayer
An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE.
Prepare for Sunday
Guide for Worship can be found HERE.
Worship Service
Worship Service begins at 10:30am on Sunday mornings. Nursery care for children ages 0-4 years is available during the worship hour.
Livestream
Continue to join us at 10:30am on Sunday mornings.
Facebook live: HERE.
YouTube: HERE.
Join us and invite a friend or family member to watch with you.
Sunday School
Children and Youth Sunday School take place at 9:15am on Sunday mornings.
Ages 0-2 and 3–k meet in the nursery suite.
Grades 1-3rd meet upstairs in U-5.
Grades 4th-6th meet upstairs in U-6.
Grades 7th-12th meet downstairs in the youth room.