How can we help? What are our beliefs? Have you listened to our sermons? Where are we located? Most importantly, are you repenting of your sins and trusting in Christ alone for forgiveness?

Purpose Statement for International Missions

“To glorify God by hastening the spread of the gospel to all peoples”

In accordance with God’s promise to bless all peoples through Jesus Christ, in accordance with our Lord’s command to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and in accordance with our promise to glorify God in the church by “hastening the spread of the gospel to all peoples,” we as a church purpose to:

• Pray that God will call out from our local church men and women who will go to the various peoples of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Send those whom God calls from among us in a manner worthy of Him by supporting them with our prayers, money, and regular correspondence.
• Learn more about God’s work among the various peoples of the world.
• Pray regularly for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ among the various peoples of the world, especially among those peoples who have yet to hear.

Philosophy Statement for International Missions

Our philosophy of international missions at First Baptist Church of St. Peters will be driven by God’s Word. We believe it is the eternal intention of God to redeem for Himself a people from all of the peoples of the world. This is the teaching of Scripture from beginning ( Gen 12:3 ) to end (Rev 5:9). Having been redeemed ourselves by God’s grace through the person and work of Jesus Christ, we as a church believe it is our privilege and responsibility to proclaim the gospel to all peoples (Matt 28:18-20; 1 Pet 2:9-10).

Our priority will be participation in evangelism, which results in the establishment of churches that are indigenous to the respective cultures of peoples and governed by the sole authority of Scripture. We recognize that the Word of God did not originate with us, yet we trust it has found appropriate expression within our own culture. Therefore, we believe that the same Spirit who is at work in us is able to work equally in all peoples to express the worship of God, which is both biblical and diverse. With these truths in mind, we will strive to use and support only those means, which are conducive to planting churches that, under the headship of Christ, are self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing. (Eph 4:4-6; Rom 15:14; 1 John 2:27)

Our focus will be on people groups. We understand nations or peoples in Scripture not merely to mean people who live within geo-political boundaries but to mean distinct peoples who are identified by race, language, religious heritage, or other cultural factors. We are especially concerned with those people groups who presently have little or no witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Strategy for International Missions

1. Identify focus areas, people groups & missionaries
2. Financial Support
   1. International Mission Board through Cooperative Program
   2. International Mission Board through Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
   3. Career missionaries raising own support
   4. Specific projects
      1. Bible projects and/or distribution
      2. World A evangelism/church planting projects
      3. World A theological education projects
3. Communications
   1. E-mail updates from focus area missionaries
   2. Hard copies for church members without e-mail
   3. Regular correspondence with missionaries
4. Missions Awareness & Education
   1. Seek opportunities for service on mission trips, beginning with focus areas
      1. Evangelism - Participating in church planting with missionaries and indigenous church leaders.
      2. Theological education - Teaching indigenous church leaders.
   2. Missions display
      1. Focus areas, people groups, and missionaries
      2. IMB work around the world
   3. Invite furloughing and visiting missionaries to speak to the church.
   4. Annual Missions Conference
   5. Mission trips by FBC members - allow time in services prior to and after project for intercession and thanksgiving.
5. Prayer Support
   1. Encourage submitting of monthly prayer requests from missionaries.
   2. Send out missionary updates and prayer requests to church members via email.
   3. Print monthly prayer sheet with prayer requests from focus areas and hand out at Wednesday evening prayer time.