We all work together to advance the Gospel.
When Baptists in Indian Territory first began to work together in 1883, they declared their desire to “give the Gospel to destitute places.” They opened their eyes to the fields of Indian Territory and saw people and places that were dark and waiting for the Gospel light.
If we open our eyes, we would still see people who are dark and destitute. Think in terms of sociology instead of geography. There are a lot of broken people in Oklahoma. Jesus teaches us to embrace brokenness as an opportunity for the Gospel.
Jesus, when He called us to reach the “least of these,” said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matt. 25:35-36).
Think about the people mentioned by Jesus—the hungry, the captives, the oppressed. Every time you read about a social problem in Oklahoma, you are discovering an opportunity for the Gospel. We have a state filled with children facing food insecurity, prisoners yearning for a better way of life for themselves and their families, communities who are struggling due to family breakdown. And, let’s not forget, we are repeatedly a place of natural disasters, begging for relief.
We must embrace brokenness as an opportunity for the Gospel. One of the main ways we do this is through the Edna McMillan Oklahoma State Missions Offering, which funds more than 20 vital ministries taking the Gospel to destitute places. We strive to meet physical and emotional needs through these vital ministries, but we do not stop there. These are Gospel ministries. We are addressing the deep spiritual needs of people by pointing to forgiveness and new life in Christ.
Every dollar given through the State Missions Offering goes directly to the mission field right here in Oklahoma. As we give generously to the State Missions Offering, together, we are reaching the destitute places with the Gospel.
