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Click on the logo to
learn more about the Mississippi River Ministry and the current list
of projects.
It Was Spectacular!
Missions
Spectacular was a hands-on missions experience in the Metro East
St. Louis area. This one-day Mississippi River Ministry event
was designed to get more church members involved in "doing"
missions. Over 200 Baptists, representing 32 Southern Baptist
churches, participated in this first time event.
After an orientation and prayer time, 25 teams dispersed to their
assigned ministry sites. Ministry groups included prayerwalking,
sports camps, health fairs, a dental clinic, senior adult
visitation, church and home repair, Backyard Bible Clubs, and
more.
So was Missions
Spectacular a success? Was it worth getting up before the sun,
driving hours, giving away a Saturday? Did it make a difference?
Just ask Tony, a man in jail, who encountered Missions
Spectacular volunteers. John Brewer shared the Good News of
Jesus Christ with Tony. Tony accepted Jesus as Savior because a
Prayerwalking team came his way.
What about playing with kids at a Backyard Bible Club -- does it
make a difference? Jordan Clutts, of Cobden First Baptist
Church, would say "YES!" Four children, ages 6, 9, 10, and 12
were adopted into God's family as our new brothers and sisters
in Christ because this team from rural Southern Illinois was
willing to go to the inner-city streets and hold a Backyard
Bible Club.
Ask Charlotte Bickers. God gave her the boldness to witness to
Hell's Angels. Just talk to Linda Gonzales as she observed
first-time missions participant teenager Erin Boyd at a Backyard
Bible Club. Linda watched as Erin left the group and went to
another room and wept for the children with Christ-like
compassion.
The day ended with a candlelight Celebration Service. Participants
were challenged to let their Light shine in the darkness and to
take the Light with them wherever they go.
Medical Missions In St. Louis
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Bridges of Hope
The Mississippi
River Ministry Region is within a days drive of much of the United
States. Right here in our own backyard, there is extreme poverty
and illiteracy. In some counties along the River, infant mortality
rates rival those of the third world. The area has the highest
infant mortality rate in the United States and the lowest ratio of
doctors and nurses. People of the region suffer from poor housing
and homelessness. One poor family in three lives in substandard or
deteriorating housing. Divorce and single parent families are
prevalent. Alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions are rampant. An
estimated 50% of the people are lost and without the hope of
Christ.
Come with me to the
River and you will see hurt, you will see pain, you will see great
need, you will see despair. But today that's not all you will see
thanks to Southern Baptists. Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, the North American
Mission Board and Woman's Missionary Union have all joined
together to do ministry along the River. Mississippi River
Ministry exists to help churches mobilize volunteers to do
missions ministries with people living in poverty.
 Today you will find Southern Baptists building bridges of hope all
across the land. You will find people just like you giving out
food and sorting clothes, leading Backyard Bible Clubs, taking
community surveys. You will find Southern Baptist ministry teams
fixing roofs and weatherizing homes. You will find health care
professionals take vacation from their own practices and providing
free health and dental care. You will find Southern Baptists being
the hands and feet and Jesus. Last year 13,000 volunteers helped
with Mississippi River Ministry and more than 3.000 people
accepted Christ. Lives are being changed.
Would you like to
have a part in building bridge of hope? For a free Mississippi
River Ministry video or Mississippi River Ministry Project
Directory, call 217-786-2600, ext. 138. You can also request
information by email. Just write
sandywisdommartin@ibsa.org.
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