NAMB Annie Armstrong Theme Interpretation

“26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: ‘Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud. 29 The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go and join that chariot.’ 30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you’re reading?’ 31 ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone guides me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:26-31 (HCSB)

   NAMB Annie Armstrong Theme Interpretation: Philip’s obedience to God’s call to do whatever it takes sparked a divine appointment. The Ethiopian, eager for understanding the words of Isaiah, encountered Philip, equally eager to share the good news of Jesus Christ. These men needed each other in those critical moments, and before they parted company, Philip had a new brother in Christ. That intentional commitment to connect the one who has the good news to the one who needs to receive it is embraced by North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionaries every moment of the day all across the United States and Canada.

   Southern Baptist missionaries are like Philip, who faithfully and obediently respond to God’s call to go wherever they are needed to share the gospel. They understand they have the message of love and hope, and that each lost individual they encounter needs to know and understand the love of Christ. They are eager to share and explain God’s message of salvation. They strategically seek out areas where there are few or no Southern Baptist churches reaching out and teaching the gospel, knowing that each new church multiplies disciples, who in turn multiply the influence and spread of the gospel throughout the world.

   Just like God’s angel tells Philip to travel the desert road to Gaza, we are called by God to travel and seek out the lost. Our mission should be to “get up and go,” looking for opportunities to tell people about Jesus no matter where they are. Our Southern Baptist missionaries are fellow travelers on that journey and need our help.

   Through your church’s gifts to the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, you are making a difference in spreading the gospel in North America—one person at a time. People are hearing the gospel and growing in their commitment to Christ, and churches are being started in areas where Southern Baptist presence has been limited.

   During the Week of Prayer for North American Missions, consider how you are doing “whatever it takes” to impact the Kingdom of God through your continued prayers, giving, and going in the task God has called us to passionately embrace. Pray for the spotlighted missionaries who represent the dedicated work of thousands like them.

WILL ROWLETTS BAPTIST DO, WHATEVER IT TAKES? AND YOU?

More info can be found at http://www.anniearmstrong.com/ or http://www.namb.net/