Treasurer's Home Mission message 

Baptists are being encouraged to review their giving to the Home Mission Appeal this year by Baptist Union treasurer Malcolm Broad MBE 

Home Mission is the Baptist family purse and has seen a gradual decline from a high point of £4.09m in 2012 to £3.94 in 2014.

With the 2015 Appeal currently slightly down on the previous year, Malcolm is encouraging churches to make an extra donation to this year’s giving.   

‘If every church in our Union gives at least an extra £100 to Home Mission this year we would again surpass the £4million mark,’ he said.

‘So my challenge to each of you is to give at least an extra £100 on top of what you have already agreed to give this year. If £100 is too much for some of our smaller churches aim to give at least £50 extra.’

He also repeated his challenge to churches to commit to giving at least five per cent of their General Fund to Home Mission. Malcolm first made this challenge when he became our Union’s treasurer nearly eight years ago.

‘We know that if every church gave at least five per cent of their General Fund income per annum, the Appeal would reach £7million,’ he said.

‘I ask you to hold that thought seriously in your minds because such an investment in the future would ensure our big vision becomes a reality.’

Home Mission is vital to our Union’s vision of “growing healthy churches in relationship for God’s mission”, he continued.  

It funds more than 200 grants to local churches, as well as the work of Associations and Specialist Teams. Or, to put it another way, noted General Secretary the Revd Lynn Green at the recent Baptist Union Council gathering, Home Mission is used in four main ways: Planting and pioneering; equipping our existing churches for mission; investing in Godly leadership; and having a voice in the “public square”.

Home Mission has been the subject of a review in the Loaves and Fishes Project, whose recommendations have been brought to the Baptist Steering Group and Council. The recommendations include a name change.

This autumn churches has seen a new Home Mission leaflet (pictured), which carries stories involving newly accredited ministers in West Bromwich, Ellesmere Port, Ramsbottom and New Mill.

For more examples of how Home Mission is used by Baptist churches and individuals to bring the love of God to their communities visit http://www.baptist.org.uk/hmstories

Malcolm added, ‘We do have a big vision, but 'thankfully our God is an awesome God.'

‘We all need to trust in Him that as we are faithful in our giving, particularly to help others to faith and to help those who yet have not experienced the love of Christ in their lives, being a part of the Baptists Together movement God's kingdom can indeed be brought about.’
 
Donate via your church or individually through the donate option at the top of the Baptists Together website.