Designated Ministry: Oblation—May 4, 2008

Suggested worship service for this day.
PowerPoint presentation to support the story.

For stories about what’s happening in Apostle Linda Booth’s Southern USA Mission Field, read the May Herald “Sharing in the Field” section.

A. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: World

Gulf USA Mission Center—Immeasurable Joy

Each Sunday we are invited to “share equally” with Mission Tithes for local and world ministries. These stories are provided to keep us in touch with how your contributions to Mission Tithes are spreading the peace of Jesus Christ.

This story, Immeasurable Joy, takes us to the Gulf USA Mission Center, part of Apostle Linda Booth’s Southern USA Mission Field. Linda relates: Eighteen months ago at the Gulf Mission Center reunion, I shared a story about true generosity from an African ministry trip I had taken in 2002. The Malawai pastor stood and asked that we take his congregation’s thanks back to those who contributed to the Oblation Fund because the church had sent money to buy corn during their yearly drought. He said that he had shared the corn with his congregation and no one had died. And the congregation then decided to share the corn with the whole village and no one died.

A retired widow, Helen, came up to me following that story and told me that since her husband had died, she had been careful with her money. But the story of that village’s generosity had inspired her to try to give more. About six months later I saw Helen again. Her face shown as she shared her favorite time on Sunday morning when she sat at her kitchen table and prayed, asking God to help her be generous. Helen said that when she placed her offering envelope in the basket, much more than she previously thought possible to give equally to her congregation and world ministries—including the Oblation Fund, she felt an immeasurable joy. She said before she was afraid to give because of the circumstances of her life. Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing so very generously.—Linda Booth, apostle, Southern USA Mission Field

B. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: Local

What is happening to you or in your congregation as a result of giving to local ministries through Mission Tithes? Share those experiences as part of your congregation’s Disciples’ Generous Response.

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C. Blessing on Our Offering

From John 17: 6 – 8 (NRSV) we read: I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Sharing our Mission Tithes equally between local and world ministries changes lives locally and around the world. Let us share in the prayer of blessing for our offering.