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 Faith Promise Missions

 



Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

All of our missionaries are supported through Faith Promise giving.  All of our missionaries also have been sent out by a local church.  Every year,  usually the first part of March, the First Baptist Church of Woodridge hosts an annual Faith Promise Missions Conference.  The conference normally runs from Friday through Sunday, and typically includes some of our own missionaries, along with other missionaries on deputation.  During the week we each pray that God would show us what He would have us to give in the area of Faith Promise Missions for this coming year, and then we turn in anonymous cards that indicate what we will give during the coming calendar year.  Our Faith Promise calendar year is from April of the current calendar year through March the following year.  The amount on the card is not an in any way an agreement with the church, pastor, deacons or any other person but is a personal covenant with God that we promise to keep. This is a serious matter for in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 we are warned about making a vow to God and not honoring it.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools.  Pay that which thou has vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

We cannot vindicated ourselves by not giving and thus relieving ourselves of the responsibility for we know from the Word of God that supporting missions is the Will of God.  And so by not supporting missions places us outside the Will of God.

An example of Faith Promise Giving is illustrated for us by the Christians in Macedonia in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9.

In 2 Corinthians 8 we observe the following:

8:2 — we observe that God’s givers were poor but they gave plentifully, generously and joyfully.

8:3 — they gave "to their power" (which is as much as they were able) and "beyond their power" (which is beyond their immediate ability). "To their power" refers to the regular means of their giving such as tithes and offerings.  "Beyond their ability" addresses the issues that we are speaking to in Faith Promise Giving.  They gave looking to the Lord in faith for the way that He would enable them to give. Also by giving beyond their ability means they gave of their resources that they could not afford placing their faith in God to replenish their resources to meet their needs.

In verse 4, they were pleading for the privilege of giving more.

8:5 tells us that they were personally involved in the effort.  This must have made sacrificial support much more logical for them.

As we see above that a persons financial stature does not exclude them from the responsibility of Faith Promise Giving.

In 2 Corinthians 9 some we observe some other principles.

9:5 indicates that we should consider, ahead of time, the amount which will be pledged.

9:7 indicates that this deliberation is a heart deliberation.  It should be cheerful and yet reflect obedience to God’s leading.

9:8 reminds us that God is quite capable of meeting and exceeding our present needs.

9:6,10,11 clarify the principle of sowing and reaping. God not only can increase the present fruit, but also the future seed that might be available. Sow first and without a vision for future harvests. Purity of motive is emphasized.

9:12 reminds us that this form of giving meets very real needs.
 

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First Baptist Church of Woodridge
6613 Taylor Dr.
Woodridge, Illinois  60517
"Exalting Christ, Loving People"
 Phone (630) 964-0221/(630) 901-2626


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