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BY
DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION
Reflecting
the heart of the King
Only God knows the full impact the Maguire State Mission Offering
has made, is making and will continue to make in His Kingdom.
The King’s heart is always glad when His followers and
servants do right things. This does reflect his grace and
love.
How
many times in history have I been asked of a newborn, “Brother
John, who do you think he looks like?” It is always an
excitingly awkward moment--exciting because God gives new
life; awkward because most babies look like babies! But bound
by tradition and common sense, you must give an answer. I
have discovered that all baby girls are the “spitting-image”
of their mother; boys look like their fathers. But if a grandmother
is present, then the new baby favors both parents. While this
is a safe approach for dealing with look-alikes in humanity,
for heavenly comparisons, we must embrace a different rationale.
How
do we reflect the heart of the King? Simple. We look and act
like the King.
Can
you imagine how much we look like our Lord when we give resources
to change people’s lives? We believe our evangelism emphasis,
Consumed With Hope, will be one of the most effective ways
found to reach people for Christ. Because it is underwritten
by gifts to the Maguire State Mission Offering, more churches
will have the opportunity to teach, train and model evangelism.
Winning people to faith in Jesus Christ is a great way to
reflect the heart of our King.
The
great New Testament strategy for Kingdom expansion is planting
new churches. Florida Baptists are committed to starting new
churches, not because it is one of the State Convention’s
strategies, but because it is a strategy of the New Testament.
We take it seriously and do it well. Surely, the King’s
heart was at a fevered pitch when He declared, “Go into
the world, make disciples, baptize them and teach them to
go into all the world with the same purpose.” The Maguire
State Mission Offering gives resources to plant new churches.
By participating in the offering, we are reflecting the heart
of our King as He uses us to build His Kingdom.
The
Maguire State Mission Offering underwrites the cost of developing
our next generation of believers through camping experiences.
If indeed many of our future missionaries make their missions
commitment at camp, financially supporting this endeavor certainly
reflects the heart of the King. Molding, strengthening and
cultivating the life of a young person is critical to all
we do as Christians and as Southern Baptists. God has seen
fit to raise up the largest vocational missions force in Christianity
among Southern Baptist churches. We must constantly celebrate
that fact as we reflect the heart of the King.
The
Maguire State Mission Offering is helping Florida Baptists
extend the Kingdom of God. Let’s give generously as we
reflect on what our King has done for us and how we can participate
in Kingdom work. You always do well—you are the finest
folks I know.
SULLIVAN'S
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You
may contact Dr. John Sullivan at
1-800-226-8584, ext. 3015, or by e-mail.
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