Do you want an exciting and meaningful boost for your church in 2021? Would you like for your church or small group to be more involved in missions in the new year? Do you want to get to know a “real live” missionary? Then check out Kentucky’s “Adopt-a-Missionary” program.
Currently 107 Mission Service Corps missionaries serve in Kentucky and are looking for churches, WMU groups or other small groups to “adopt” them. Missionaries are not orphans, but adoption is a beautiful word that helps describe the strong relationship between missionaries and the churches and friends who pray and encourage them in their ministries. The church at Antioch, in a sense, adopted Paul and Barnabas as special messengers of the gospel to Asia and Europe (Acts 13:1-3).
These adoptions mean so much. KY-MSC Missionaries Dean & Melissa Branscum have been adopted by Freedom Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. Melissa said, “They have brought donations for our clothing ministry, and have sent encouraging cards and gift cards. It is a blessing to us. It is wonderful to be adopted.” Teresa Vanzant and few other ladies from Freedom Baptist Church met Dean & Melissa at the Kentucky WMU Annual Meeting when the Branscums were commissioned. “We just knew in our hearts we had a connection with them,” she said.
Jill Boddy, with HR Ministries in Princeton, says just knowing that prayers are going up for her is all she needs. “People that I don’t even know, and that don’t know me, are praying for me.” Jill was invited to share about her ministry to the Coffee Talk group from Lexington, led by Marilyn Creighton, the group that has adopted her.
KY-MSC Missionary Dottie Gebhart, with Mission Hope for Kids in Elizabethtown, said it was nice to get a card every now and then to let you know that someone is thinking of you. Dottie and her husband Chuck have been adopted by Parkland Baptist Church in Louisville.
Bobbi & Josh Chesser with Unit 2:17 Ministry in Whitley City have been adopted by Ephesus Baptist Church WMU in Winchester. Bobbi says their adoption has been wonderful. They were invited to a church service at Ephesus and were taken to lunch. The church has also given love offerings to their ministry. “They have been fantastic. We have formed relationships, more than just acquaintances.”
But the churches and groups that adopt these missionaries are blessed as well. An adopting church or group will experience:
- A personal relationship with an active missionary.
- A strengthened commitment to missions.
- A heightened awareness of missions opportunities.
- A fresh, outwardly focused ministry perspective.
- Group building and bonding through service to others.
- An opportunity to see God at work and an invitation to join Him in it.
There are still several missionaries that have not yet been adopted. Can they count on you? For more information on how connect with a KY-MSC missionary go to www.kybaptist.org/adoptmissionary or email [email protected]. You will be glad you did.
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