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Reasons We Believe In Missions
God’s Command, Our Pleasure
Throughout Scripture, the command of love is prevalent. Part of the command
includes sharing our hope, resources, testimony, and prayers with the world
around us. That is the reason we do missions, plain and simple. Our love for
others. It is so easy to get “locked” into our own worlds and forget about the
suffering and needs of those here in our city and cross the globe. To truly love
another person means to stand with them in time of need. Another reason we reach
out to others is our love for God. If God’s children are in need, then it is
like God is in need. In need for us to step out of our routines and our comfort
zones and risk ourselves a little for another person. Check out these
Scriptures: Phil. 2:1-4, Romans 13:8, Matthew 22:37-38, John 14:15, John
13:34-35, and Ephesians 3:18-19.
A History of Service
First Baptist Church, one of the first churches in Richmond to have a social ministry
program, established its Community Missions ministry over fifty years ago. Since that time,
we have existed to assist individuals with the basic needs of life. These needs include
food, hygiene, financial assistance, clothing, spiritual nurture, health care, and prayer.
Our program also seeks to provide individuals with accurate information and referrals when their
needs cannot be met through our available resources.
The Community Missions program is a direct reflection of our church's mission statement, which reads,
"First Baptist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ through joyful worship,
caring fellowship, spiritual nurture, faithful service, and compassionate outreach in the Richmond area and throughout the world."
Our Missions Mandate
“This is my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for lands afar
and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my
dreams, my holy shrine; but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes
and dreams as true and high as mine.” - A Song Of Peace
“Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything that I have commanded you” - Matthew 28:19-20
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good
news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and
recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favor.” - Luke 4:18-19
“Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before
you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come
near to you” - Luke 10:8-9
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of
you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8
“For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” - Galatians 5:14
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” - Proverbs 19:17
“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore
command you, Open your hand to the poor and needy in your land.” - Deuteronomy 15:11
“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a
stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe
me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” - Matthew 25:42-43
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
“How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of
salvation and call on the name of the Lord in the presence of all His people...
O Lord, truly I am your servant...you have freed me from my chains.” - Psalm 116:12-14, 16
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his
glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace
and truth.” - John 1:14
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