Grateful for Your Presents, Greater with Your Presence

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)

At your Dover Baptist Association’s Annual Meeting last October, we announced something unprecedented. In a struggling economy with an uncertain future, you blessed our ministry & mission partners with record giving. More food insecure folks were fed and given drink. More homeless people were provided with shelter. Those sick and in prison were aided by our Christian jail, rehab, and medical ministry partners.

As the Executive Director of Missions for your Dover Baptist Association, I am grateful for your presents, i.e. those generous gifts, donations and love offerings you and your churches poured out to love those Jesus referred to in Matthew’s Gospel as “the least of these.”

This October 14 and 26, and in the coming year, Dover can be even greater with your presence—the eyes, ears and voice of your church, and the head, heart and hands of your association. At these key meetings, and beyond, you will help discern our budget and give feedback on new investments. You will nominate key leaders who direct Dover assets into funding our scholarships, new works, mission trip support and more. You will learn more about your association’s newest ministry and mission initiatives and learn firsthand how our ministry partners and your churches can serve together. You will acquire essential information on preparing for aging, including how to effectively steward your and/or your loved one’s finances to address the ever-increasing cost of long-term Christian care. Most importantly your prayerful participation will help protect our children and raise up new pastors, churches and church leaders through continuing education.

Your Dover Baptist Association is “Grateful for Your Presents” of financial support, but we are even “Greater with your Presence” and participation! Thank you for the privilege of serving your Dover Baptist Association. God Bless.