Welcome And Introduce the Program (5 minutes)

Welcome the group and have an opening prayer.

Explain that the purpose of the evening is to highlight the ministries and missions supported by the North Carolina Missions Offering and Week of Prayer and to ask ourselves “Are we listening” and obeying when the Lord calls us to personal involvement in His missions work across our community, state, and world. Our Heavenly Father desires children who choose to love and obey Him as He calls our names. Just as the first man and woman faced the choice of obedience, we also must choose between God’s way and our own.

Across our state, North Carolina Baptists are listening—and obeying. We have heard Christ’s call to serve the needs of our world, both physically and spiritually through the missions and ministries supported by the North Carolina Missions Offering.

“Pray” (10 Minutes)

Consider the following ideas to remind church members of the value of praying constantly for the missions and ministries supported by the NCMO and Week of Prayer:

1. Distribute photocopies of the Prayer Guide 2007 page in your Coordinator’s Guide. Ask participants to pray each day during the week of emphasis for the prayer requests listed.
2. Pray specifically for the North Carolina Baptist Men volunteers and on-site coordinators who serve in the re-building effort in Gulfport, Mississippi. Challenge church members to place a hammer or nail somewhere in their home as a reminder to lift up this vital ministry every day for the next 30 days.
3. Show one of the video segments from the North Carolina Missions Offering and Week of Prayer DVD. Afterwards, ask your group how we can pray for this ministry or person specifically. Enlist a volunteer to lead the group in prayer.

“Teaching” (10-15 minutes)

Acts 1:8 is clear and to the point. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” North Carolina Baptists are listening and obeying when the Lord calls them to mission work. Teaching and training the next generation of missionaries means we must teach our children to listen and respond to God’s call. We must also train adults to use their gifts to reach a lost world with the Good News through ministries of physical and spiritual hope and healing.

Consider one of the following ideas for your program:

1. Invite a State Missionary Speaker to address the theme “Are You Listening.” (A State Missionary Speaker is available by calling the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina at 800.395.5102, ext. 5547) Let the speaker know a basic outline of your service. They need to know if you plan to show the video segments, so they can prepare in advance and be familiar with the video stories (each Speaker will have a copy of the video).
2. Play the Gulfport, Mississippi, segment of the Week of Prayer DVD and discuss how your church can contribute to this ministry. Participating in North Carolina missions sets a good example for our youth and new members who want to learn more about putting their faith into action. Could you organize a volunteer team of adults and youth for a mission trip to Gulfport? Could you sponsor a fundraiser this fall to purchase construction material? How can you be faithful to pray for this ministry during the upcoming year?
3. Talk about getting NiC and MO a mile toward Gulfport with their truckload of supplies. NCMO gifts support Baptist Men, which coordinates the disaster relief response for North Carolina Baptists.
4. Training new missionaries begins in the local church through missions education programs and projects. Ask one of your church’s youth leaders, RA or GA directors, or Sunday School teachers to share how they teach the next generation about the importance of listening and obeying God’s call. Invite a church member who is involved in North Carolina missions to share ideas about inspiring Christians of all ages to get involved in missions.

“Giving” (10 minutes)

Your sacrificial gifts to the North Carolina Missions travel great distances and accomplish much for the Kingdom of God. This year our giving emphasis has a fun, new focus as “NiC” and “MO,” our cartoon character North Carolina Baptist Men disaster relief volunteers, chart fundraising efforts as we “Get ‘em to Gulfport.” Encourage your church members to give toward North Carolina missions this year.

Consider one of the following ideas for your program:

1. Make a transparency or distribute photocopies of the “Allocations” page in your Coordinator’s Guide. Discuss where the offering money is spent. Remind church members that the Woman’s Missionary Union and North Carolina Baptist Men fund their total budget and salaries (with the exception of employee benefits) from the NCMO.
2. Church members can contribute to NiC and MO’s progress toward Gulfport with a fun family challenge. Ask church members, “How far is it from your home round-trip to our church?” 10 miles? 20 miles? Challenge each family to raise one dollar or five dollars for every mile they travel to and from church. Maybe they could even accept a greater challenge to raise that much PER family member.
3. Remind your congregation to check NiC and MO’s progress online at www.ncmissionsoffering.org

“Going” (10-15 minutes)

“Are you Listening?” This year’s theme for the North Carolina Missions Offering and Week of Prayer focuses on a heart attitude of obedience to the Lord. He has called us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Actively participating in ministry reflects a life willingly responding to that call. Use this opportunity to encourage your church members to ask God where He would have them serve.

Consider one of the following ideas for your program:

1. Ask church members to share how they became involved in a mission or ministry supported by the North Carolina Missions Offering, or how they plan to become involved this year. Ask them to explain how the mission work impacted their life.
2. Show one of the video segments on the North Carolina Missions Offering DVD and discuss how your church could become involved in this ministry. Does the ministry need volunteers, financial support, or prayer? Brainstorm together how your church members can use their talents to advance the ministry.
3. “Are you Listening?” Often the Lord calls and it takes us a while to answer. Has God called you and you aren’t listening yet? Have church members write down a ministry they feel called toward or several ministries they could pray about. Write this information down on a “My Ministry: Am I Listening?” paper, and lift it to the Lord in prayer each day. (In advance, prepare slips of paper with “My Ministry: Am I Listening?” printed across the top. Have ushers pass them out before the service.)

Closing (2-3 minutes)

Encourage church members to visit the offering website at www.ncmissionsoffering.org for a multitude of mission opportunities. Highlight a few, such disaster relief, church planting, chaplaincy, and special ministries. The site is in English and Spanish, and includes links to other NCMO-supported ministries like Baptist Men and WMU.

Thank the group for coming and close with prayer. Remind them to bring their offering envelopes back on the following Sunday.