In this issue
Iraq—Quotable: “We must respond ...” Ways you can respond
Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelism—A most precious gift

Resources—Quiz: Funding demystified
Churches on mission—Reaching the nations
Easter Bonus

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Iraq

Quotable: ‘We must respond ...’
“We must respond with a cup of cold water in Christ’s name and we must let the Iraqi people see Jesus in us so plainly that they will never thirst again. Even after the war is over, the Iraqi people will not know real peace unless they have God’s peace within their hearts.”—John Brady, who directs Southern Baptist work through the International Mission Board in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Read more

Ways you can respond
Southern Baptists may respond to needs in Iraq in a number of ways:

• Pray. Search CompassionNet for the latest prayer requests from Iraq.
• Assemble a box of dry food that will feed a family of five for a month.
• Give to help provide the water projects, blankets, tents and other help needed by Iraqis.
• Go as a volunteer to help meet needs in Iraq. Most needed: medical and dental workers, construction workers, agricultural and livestock workers, logistics workers, fish farm experts. For information, call the Iraqi Response Desk at the International Mission Board at (800) 999-3113, ext. 1641.

Six steps to get ready for Iraq ministry

Day of prayer and fasting for world evangelization

A most precious gift

The first time the young Chinese woman held a Bible in her hands, she trembled with excitement. Looking into the eyes of the giver, she timidly asked, “When do I have to give this back to you?” The Christian friend replied, “This is yours. You don’t have to give it back.” Tears rolled down the cheeks of the one who had received her own copy of the most precious book of all.

The people of China are hungry for God’s Word. Lead your church in praying they will receive it during the Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization, June 8. Learn more.

Resources

Quiz: Funding demystified

1. The largest source of income for the
International Mission Board is ...

a) Cooperative Program

b) Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®

c) endowment fund income

2. The Cooperative Program helps finance ...

a) state convention operations

b) the International Mission Board

c) the above and other Southern Baptist Convention entities including the North American Mission Board, six seminaries and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

3. The percentage of Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts used in the IMB’s overseas budget is ...

a) 100 percent

b) 78 percent

c) 53 percent

Find the answers on our new poster, Funding International Missions. Order this poster to help church members understand how their gifts are used.

Churches on mission

Reaching the nations

Cottonwood Baptist Church in Dublin, Texas, has adopted an unreached people group in China. They learn about them, pray for them and go to them on short-term trips. “A couple of years ago, there was no Christian witness. Now there are around 90 churches,” says a Cottonwood member. To other Southern Baptist churches, he says: “Pray not just for China or unreached people groups, but pray, ‘How can we as a body be involved in reaching the nations?’”

Your church can adopt an unreached people group too.

Easter bonus

Take a moment. Reflect on what Easter does and can mean for a busy world.

“A Southern Baptist Convention entity supported by the Cooperative Program
and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®.”

®Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.