Missions offerings have been a major focus for members of Dogwood Grove Baptist Church, Montevallo, in Shelby Baptist Association for nearly 20 years.
With about 200 people attending two morning worship services, the church has developed a legacy of not only reaching but also surpassing its three annual missions offerings. It is rare the church doesn’t make its goal for its offerings: the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO), the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) and the Kathleen Mallory State Missions offering.
“I’ve encouraged our folks to give sacrificially to missions,” said Todd Burr, pastor since 1998. “I suggest that they ought not spend more on a single Christmas gift than they give to the Lottie Moon Offering or spend more on an Easter outfit than they give to the Annie Armstrong Offering. I remind them we have an awesome God and we can’t out give Him.”
Burr said though the promotion procedure used in the church was an idea he and his wife, Kari, honed in a previous pastorate, the members of Dogwood Grove Baptist have been wonderfully supportive in the process. Kari Burr currently serves as Woman’s Missionary Union director and gives leadership to the church’s missionary giving.
Offering goals
The church’s current LMCO goal is $9,600. The congregation’s AAEO goal last spring was $9,500 and more than $10,000 was given.
Vicki Greenhill serves on the church’s publicity committee that plays a large role in helping the church reach its goals.
“We work intentionally and regularly to increase awareness,” she said. “We ask our members for suggestions when we set our goals. Our people have been very generous in spite of the bad economy we’ve known in recent years.”
Greenhill, a Dogwood Grove member since 1995, said the church customarily establishes the same goal amount for the Christmas and Easter offerings.
“We think both are important,” she said. “We believe our state missions work is important too. Our Kathleen Mallory goal last spring was $2,500 and we received nearly $4,000.”
Greenhill said her committee uses posters provided by the missionary agencies and includes information in the Sunday bulletins and on the church’s website to inform the congregation. Videos are used in worship services leading up to the target dates.
“The videos give us a window into [the missionaries’] work and show images that make an impact,” she said, noting the church also uses other creative ways to promote the offerings.
One year the church hosted a Wednesday night Lottie Moon banquet, she said.
Dogwood Grove sets aside three special days each year to receive the gifts of its members.
“We make one Sunday ‘Victory Sunday’ and work toward reaching our goal that day,” Greenhill said. “People can and do give prior to that day but we encourage our members to bring their offerings on Victory Sunday. It’s a day of celebration for us.”
The church normally receives its weekly offerings at the conclusion of worship services but the process is reversed on Victory Sunday, she added. At the conclusion of morning worship on that day the children lead the way and everyone is encouraged to follow. They place their missions gifts in whatever special container is set up near the pulpit area.
Setting an example
Burr believes he must set the pace as pastor.
“I heard Dr. Rick Lance several years ago challenge us at a pastors conference to step up and lead our churches to do great things,” Burr said. “He said we set an example by what we’re passionate about. I’m grateful our church has supported me in this commitment to our missionaries.”
Burr said Dogwood Grove also gives generously to Southern Baptist’s unified plan for missions giving.
“The Cooperative Program is the greatest system ever developed to fund missions,” he said. “We believe giving to the Cooperative Program as well as to these three special offerings is part of our ministry for the Lord.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — The church’s Victory Sunday, Dec. 14, raised $10,500.
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