Editorial: Mission Georgia emphasis month shines light on need to reach the Peach State

SUWANEE, Ga. — Georgia Baptists are a generous people, giving millions of dollars through their local churches each year to share the gospel around the world.

During September, they’ll have the opportunity to focus their financial resources on their home state.

September has been set aside as the Mission Georgia emphasis month, a time for church leaders to educate their congregations about the spiritual needs in their home state and to receive special offerings to support missions and ministries within the state.

Here's a stark reality: Georgia has an estimated 7 million residents who have no personal relationship with Jesus. It behooves us to do everything we can to remedy that.

Mission Georgia is a time-tested and proven means of getting the gospel to the state’s unreached.

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board has produced a series of videos that attempt to explain some of the work of Mission Georgia. Those videos are available for churches to download from the Mission Georgia website.

Beth Ann Williams, the Mission Board strategist who oversees Mission Georgia, said the videos can be used in a variety of ways.

“They can be used in Sunday morning services,” she said. “They can be used in small group settings. They’re short. They’re concise. And they tell a great story.”

Acts 1:8 churches make sure they’re sharing the gospel in their local communities as well as the state, nation, and world.

Mission Georgia is a fantastic way for churches to be engaged in reaching people at the state level.

Churches should consider showing the Mission Georgia videos during September. They tell real stories of real people who are on the frontlines sharing the gospel through ministries aimed at the state’s most vulnerable populations. That includes ministries involving foster care, human trafficking, refugees, literacy, and pre- and post-natal care.

The Mission Board also has an assortment of other promotional materials available for Mission Georgia, including a poster and prayer guide that can be downloaded from the Mission Georgia website or requested by calling 770-936-5320. Mission Georgia offering envelopes also are available upon request.