The Ohio Independent Baptist, August 1966

Concern ing Missionary Giving By Rev. Kenneth R. Smelser Introduction: Many dear Chri tian feel led and have a heart to give an extra gift to ome needy mi ionary. Thu . they bypa the local church and end their gift direct to a Mi - ion for the mi ionary. Thi di - ct1 ion is to show that the san1e gift to the an1e n1i ionary can do a far greater job, if ent THROUGH the Local Chttrch. Points of con ideration: 1. . end the gift to the local cht1rch de ignated to the mi ionary. The church will end it to them and thu , the church is placed ABOVE elf. The channel of giving is throt1gh the local church. 2. Se]f can be completely hid. However, there may be a de- ire on the part of the donor to expre s their love by a gift to a particular mis ionary and in thi ca e, it would be an un- el fi h communication. In that circum tance, the church reports to the missionary who the in- Rev. Kenneth R. Smelser d ividual giver or group who gave, is. The mi ionary an wer. both the church and the donor. Thi make a double tie anci real trength for al] three; the donor n1i ionary, and the church. 3. The gift through the church help many in the church to get intere ted in your missionary intere t. Thi mean many more prayers. It can lead to other. l£T'S HIT THE TRUE BALANCE I £have not:J because ye ASK AIOJ. ~esR,end rec-eive not, TH OHIO If D PEND NT BAPllS TAU£ GOD· HONOAING PR,i.\VER PQAY£Rl because ye ASK AMt •'S I-hat -- - ., gi\ing al C) a gilt . .. f<1re n1one~ anLl 111ore pra}Cr\. -+ . ·1 he 111orc gift\ l hrot1gh l he l<Jca I cht1 rch~ the greater the te ti– mony of that church. Thi i a trength and a drawing power. 5. The more n1i ionarie . who re– ceive n1oney throt1gh a partict1- lar cht1rch, the more prayer bv tho e mi ionarie for that J church. Prayer i power. 6. lfainly becau e it i criptt1ral. It i the body of believer, working together to evangelize the world. It doe away with ' 'hit or mi ' ' giving to n1i ion– arie many tin1e . Scriptt1re : I Cor. 3: 16: 16: 1,2~ Act 11 :22: ph. 5:23-32· ol. 1:18. 7. Tt i a AFE GUARD on rare occa ions when a per on or any church-related group, give to an LI nworthy n1i ionary and the cht1rch n1t1 t reft1 e to end it and return the gift. Thi of cour e the cht1rch alway ha the right to do. Therefore we ot1ght to reqt1ire all grot1p f the church to channel their mi '- ionary giving through the Mi - ionary Trea urer of the Church. What bu ine firm would al– low other than central giving b)' it ariou department ? ee illt1- tra lion o. 1. 8. The local church get the gl r)' for Chri t and the n1i ~ i nary n1ay get far greater h lp. ~ ec illt1 tration o. 2. 9. [ t n1t1 t be remen1bered th,1t this 1'ind f giving i to be be)'Ond the f aithft1l tipport of the n1i"- ionary progran1 of the cht1rch. The local cht1rch·~ n1i~ 1onar) progr ,1n1 1 to be the pr1r11ar\' I c p O11 i b i I it\ () r eac 11 an Li \ cr\ 111c111her. ct.: tllt1 .... tr,1tio11 (.1. 3. lilt, trat1on · • • 1. rl here \\ ,l\ a r,er'°\<.)tl g1, 1 111g tt) ~, 11a1 t 1ct1la1 1111\\t()tl~d \ \\ hl) h .. lli l)ecn J)t l:\ tL)lt\l\ c pcllcti fr ,111 111" f111c 8 <.) .. tt<..i lhe Ll1t11cl1 1~ ..,r11ctl t>f it lit ,t :2. 1\ 111ar1 \\ .. t" g1, 111~ 5 a 111 )t1tl1 regt1larl, ll) a 1111""1t)11al')' l)t1t 11 ,, tl1rt)t1gl1 l1i s cl1t1rcl1. Hi ' J) ' tsllr ask'-~ I l1i111 t(l gi\ tht ·, 111c bill tlll'l)llgl1 }1is l1ttr\.:ll . I \\ast1't I l, ng t 1111 i l t 11 c: 11 t Ir 11 I tit t 11 =- 111 is io11a1 >11 t 11 l,t1 l~i.: t f I . ()().()l) a11ll t tte1 r·1is l it t -{ 0.()(). l fl lllll' ]1 Ill)\ . ,, I lld I'\ . a 11 I l I • I ()1 I 11 11 i t l r 1ng 1 c I In ,1 l ir t Bdl t1 t 11 ti r 11 s tHillis t illtl ll ll t l11s nt tr J) 1g • AUGUST 1966 PAGE 11