Go YE therefore and TEACH all nations
Matthew 28:19
Faith Promise Missions is the program STBT uses to help it accomplish to goal of getting the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20).
The program starts with the premise that the church is given the responsibility to go into all the world to preach the gospel. Not everyone is called to physically go to all of the world, so how can the church get out the gospel to them world? It can do that by sending and supporting missionaries that are called to different parts of the world who will preach the gospel, make disciples, and start churches. That is the pattern set by the apostle Paul who was sent out of the church of Antioch, preached the gospel, and sought to start churches wherever he went (Acts 13). He also received gifts from other churches in order to fund his missionary endeavors (2 Corinthians 8, Philippians 4). This pattern is one that STBT follows by sending missionaries and supporting many others who are sent by like-minded churches.
To raise the funds to support these missionaries, the Sauk Trail Baptist Temple follows the Faith Promise Missions program. This program encourages people to give by faith, above their normal tithes and offerings, directly to the missions budget set by the pastor and voted on by the members at the Annual Business Meeting in January. Giving by faith requires the church to pray about what they are going to give and to commit to giving it with faith that the Lord will help them to accomplish the commitment. It is a promise or commitment to give a certain amount each week for missions. The promise is made before the Lord and communicated anonymously to the church so that the church can set a missions budget for the following year. The majority of missions dollars goes towards church planting missionaries and US church planters that the church has voted to support. Other funds are designated for missionaries and ministries that aid churches and missionaries that are getting out the gospel. Many dollars are committed to special needs or requests that we receive from missionaries from time to time and the church is able to help them with those needs or requests so they can do what they need to do to get the mission done.
This program for giving is one of the many ways believers can lay up for themselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). It is a great way among many to honor the Lord (Proverbs 3:9). It is hard to imagine something more worthwhile to give to than the advancing of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world that desperately needs it. He is worthy to be glorified, and people need the Lord.
The program starts with the premise that the church is given the responsibility to go into all the world to preach the gospel. Not everyone is called to physically go to all of the world, so how can the church get out the gospel to them world? It can do that by sending and supporting missionaries that are called to different parts of the world who will preach the gospel, make disciples, and start churches. That is the pattern set by the apostle Paul who was sent out of the church of Antioch, preached the gospel, and sought to start churches wherever he went (Acts 13). He also received gifts from other churches in order to fund his missionary endeavors (2 Corinthians 8, Philippians 4). This pattern is one that STBT follows by sending missionaries and supporting many others who are sent by like-minded churches.
To raise the funds to support these missionaries, the Sauk Trail Baptist Temple follows the Faith Promise Missions program. This program encourages people to give by faith, above their normal tithes and offerings, directly to the missions budget set by the pastor and voted on by the members at the Annual Business Meeting in January. Giving by faith requires the church to pray about what they are going to give and to commit to giving it with faith that the Lord will help them to accomplish the commitment. It is a promise or commitment to give a certain amount each week for missions. The promise is made before the Lord and communicated anonymously to the church so that the church can set a missions budget for the following year. The majority of missions dollars goes towards church planting missionaries and US church planters that the church has voted to support. Other funds are designated for missionaries and ministries that aid churches and missionaries that are getting out the gospel. Many dollars are committed to special needs or requests that we receive from missionaries from time to time and the church is able to help them with those needs or requests so they can do what they need to do to get the mission done.
This program for giving is one of the many ways believers can lay up for themselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). It is a great way among many to honor the Lord (Proverbs 3:9). It is hard to imagine something more worthwhile to give to than the advancing of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world that desperately needs it. He is worthy to be glorified, and people need the Lord.
