Maguire State Mission Offering Promotion

Maguire State Mission Offering for Florida

2011 Goal: $1,405,455

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptists look to the month of September as a time of awareness, reflection and prayer for the great opportunities God has presented them in the state.

The Week of Prayer for State Missions, most often observed during the first week of September, concludes with Florida Baptists giving to support these missionary needs through the Maguire State Mission Offering.

The offering is named for Clyde and John Maguire, whose visionary leadership guided the Florida Baptist Convention through one of its greatest period of growth and Great Commission outreach. He served as the sixth executive secretary-treasurer from 1945-67.

Understanding that the growing missionary needs in Florida cannot be met by Cooperative Program gifts alone, the offering complements Florida Baptists’ commitment to the Great Commission and their mission field.

The offering has a missionary purpose—helping new congregations through no-interest church site loans, supporting partnership pastors and spreading the gospel through evangelistic ministries.

The theme for 2011, Compelled by Christ's Compassion, is taken from the passage found in Matthew 9:36 "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."

The 25 ministries supported by the Maguire State Mission Offering help Florida Baptists meet the needs of hurting people in the name of Jesus Christ. They are providing compassionate ministries to the hurting, sick, the needy and the hopeless. God's people in Florida are stretching out their hands in love and goodness, reflecting the nature of God as demonstrated by Jesus here on earth.

Through the Maguire State Mission Offering, Florida Baptists are Compelled by Christ's Compassion to be thoroughly evangelistic and mission-minded while at the same time meeting the spiritual and physical needs of hurting people.

If Jesus came to the cities and towns in Florida today, He would see a multi-cultural crowd of people speaking many languages. They have flocked to the Sunshine State seeking a better life, yet are still weary because they do not know Him. He would see people with desperate physical needs and no place to go. He would see people lost without a Shepherd to give them purpose, direction and hope. He would touch them in the name of the Risen Lord.

During this Season of Prayer for State Missions ask God to bless the work of Florida Baptists and their efforts to change the hearts and lives of those they touch in the name of Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Pray that Florida Baptists will be Compelled by Christ's Compassion to reach their state and their mission partners with the Good News of their Savior.

The 2011 Planning Guide to help churches promote the week of prayer and offering will be sent to pastors and mission leaders during the last week of July. Posters and prayer guides are available in four languages—English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. For additional resources, use the postcard included in the guide, or call the Florida Baptist Convention at 800-226-8584, ext. 3151.