To all of you who stand alongside us in ministry,

A week ago, the World Mission Conference ended with a challenge.A vast spiritual battle rages around us.Dark forces seek to destroy individuals and nations.They shatter security and confidence, corrupt and twist goodness, throttle hope and sow despair.Christ calls us:stand as goodness and light in the midst of brokenness and suffering.Be peace and reconciliation in the midst of violence and alienation.Love, heal, contribute wholeness and hope until the Father reconciles the world unto Himself at the end of time.

For two centuries, American Baptist churches have been at the center of the action, proclaiming the Good News in difficult places often at great sacrifice for both missionaries and those who send them.Today 137 missionaries serve around the world from Congo to Thailand, from Chile to the Middle East, from Bulgaria to Japan.We embrace forgotten AIDS babies and international prostitutes with Jesus' love.We work with indigenous peoples in South America, finding the true worth of their unique cultural heritage in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We train pastors, literacy teachers, doctors and agricultural technicians in order to enhance the church's effective outreach.We assist American Christians to participate in short-term international cross-cultural missionary opportunities with Baptist partners, building hospitals, schools, and church buildings, teaching, proclaiming the Gospel, or providing compassionate medical assistance.God is out ahead of us, urging us on to participate in His transforming mission.God won't change.But will WE still be with Him at the forefront?

Missionaries depend on people to send them, believers with a passion for mission.International Ministries faces a dilemma: a passion to send but an estimated $1.5 million budget shortfall for 2005.All the easy cuts have been made already.Pressed to the wall, the Board faces the prospect over the next 6 months of calling home up to 36 missionaries (over 25% of our force.)The only response that can forestall this is a dramatic, unprecedented turn-around in support, a widespread movement of the Spirit that turns passive givers into intentional partners and draws non-givers into active participation in world mission.

Can God do something new in our hearts?Two weeks ago some missionaries agreed to give back part of their salary to cover the deficit.Other missionaries, IM staff and board members pledged to increase their World Mission Offering.Just 30-40 committed people gave $125,000 dollars - 8% of the extra needed for the coming year.A week later, participants in the World Mission Conference (less than 400 people) mobilized another $85,000.

God CAN do spectacular things with people willing to listen.This looks for all the world like He wants to shake us up, refill our reservoirs of love, and renew our resolve to serve wherever He leads.I for one don't want to miss out.

What do we need to do?

• Raise at least 36% more for the World Mission Offering than we ever have.If you gave $10 last year, can you give $14 this year?If you gave $50 can you give $68?If you gave $200, can you push to $275?Wishful thinking won't make that happen.
• Promote the World Mission Offering enthusiastically.Explain what is at stake: 36 missionaries may have to abandon their ministries and our Baptist partners.Think about those BIM missionaries you know.People have to know what THEY do and the difference it makes in human lives.
• Invite everyone in the church to play a part - children, youth, young adults, working adults, retired members, rich and poor.We can no longer assume that an endowment or some richer church members will carry the load.After all this is OUR mission, not the mission of our grandparents and great-grandparents.This is OUR time.

Coming back to the US, we find that there are literally millions of opportunities to spend money.Many make no difference at all in eternity. The World Mission Offering is different.It is a chance to participate in Christ's mission with us and with the other IM missionaries you know.It holds out the prospect of saving a life, molding a character, building a future, or redeeming another human being, all to the glory of God.It is almost entirely about eternity.It is all about partnering with Jesus Christ to change the world.

We pray that you may know the full measure of God's love in Christ and draw from that reservoir to touch the world.

Ed and Miriam Noyes

If your church doesn't take the World Mission Offering, you can make out a check to International Ministries with the note "WMO 2004" on the memo line. Send it to International Ministries, Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851.