Missouri Baptists donated more than $900,000 to state missions through the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO) for the second consecutive year. MMO receipts in 2023, which are disbursed in 2024, totaled $926,010, far outpacing the goal of $750,000, “The Pathway” reported.
“In a year of lingering inflation, high interest rates and a roller-coaster stock market ride, Missouri Baptists kept the Great Commission in focus, giving steadfastly, trusting in the providence of God and sacrificially supporting the Lord’s work across our state,” said Wes Fowler, executive director and treasurer of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
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MMO supports statewide missions projects that help fulfill the Great Commission. The annual offering in 2023 focused on five areas of ministry that define the convention’s mission:
- Making disciples — sports evangelism; VBS ministry training and resource development; youth evangelism and missions; and the state fair ministry of the Missouri DOM Fellowship.
- Collegiate ministries — a summer missions mentoring initiative; and ministry to international students studying on Missouri campuses.
- Multiplying churches — next–step requests for church multipliers; partnership missions in Mexico, Italy, Minnesota/Wisconsin, and Montana; strategic missionary development; and Missouri WMU.
- Developing leaders — disaster relief readiness, including collegiate DR internships; Resound Network training and development; the Leader Care Network; a conference for new pastors; hunger relief; Baptist Builders; and a journalism retreat.
- Synergy (MBC–affiliated institutions) — moral injury training, a workshop for senior citizens, recreational discipleship for seniors, and a Certified Nursing Assistants Program (Baptist Homes); a four-year biblical studies degree for inmates; the Center for Global Connections, and church-and-state pastoral reading groups; and the Center for Global Engagement (MBU).
In addition, 17 percent of MMO receipts go to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, which provides spiritual guidance, counseling and a safe haven from abuse and neglect at five state campuses. Ten percent of gifts go back to the associations of contributing churches, where the funds support regional mission projects.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice