Global Missions
Global Reach -
PRAY – GIVE – GO
First O’Fallon seeks to glorify God by praying, giving, and going, starting at home and around the globe.
Here you will discover our philosophy on missions concerning why we go, how we go, and where we go.
Why We Go –
For our church, we believe that serving others is of great importance and we need to be reaching beyond the walls of the church to reach the world for Jesus Christ. It’s not really an option as to whether you should serve but more a question of where you should serve.
Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus is saying, “as you are going,” or “since you are going,” do these things. It is His Great Commission to us, His followers.
How We Go –
Our Strategy for Missions: Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Here is how we go:
Our Jerusalem – O’Fallon, St. Charles County, St. Louis County, our local mission field.
Our Judea and Samaria – The USA and Canada, the area served by our North American Mission Board.
Our Ends of the Earth – Outside of the USA and Canada, the area served by our International Mission Board.
In many of these places we have grown strong partnerships through which we work. Partnerships are aimed at meeting both physical and spiritual needs. We see in Scripture how Jesus ministered to the needs of people in addition to providing salvation. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ while caring for people and sometimes providing for physical needs, taking care not to create dependency.
Our Partnerships for Mission: We have found ongoing partnerships to be a great way to give and receive. We partner with local and national churches and organizations as well as churches or missionaries internationally. Our desire is to develop these kinds of partnerships which require a deep level of commitment on our part as well as that of our partners.
We will also partner with an individual, church, or organization for a shorter term of service, possibly even a one-time event. If we can provide assistance to another to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, knowing that work can result in a life-changing commitment to the Lord, we want to be part of what God is doing in this world. He is at work all around us and we need to join Him in many places. We are always looking for where He is working and taking vision trips to see where more opportunities are and where our folks from O’Fallon could make a difference.
Where We Go –
Jerusalem:
The Oasis – (www.theoasisonline.net) a local church plant in north O’Fallon/St. Paul area. Tom & Vicky Simmons are the Church Planter couple there, and we support them with prayer, people, and financial assistance.
Iglesia Bautista Pueblo de Dios – This church meets in our Annex. We support them with prayer, people, meeting space, printing and financial assistance.
CrossHaven Church – (www.crosshavenchurch.com) a local church plant that is now 5 years old in the Winghaven area. Pastor Jeremy Plymale leads this work and the church is growing steadily. We support them with prayer and printing support.
Hope Food Pantry – This pantry serves our community every Wednesday (7-10 a.m.) from Elm Street in O’Fallon. We have many from our church who volunteer there each week.
Wheels of Hope – (www.wheelsofhopeSTL.org) a car donation ministry in partnership with Hart Automotive, where the primary focus is to provide affordable cars to those who need them most. Scott & Melanie McRoberts head up this ministry, and we support them with prayer, cars, and financial assistance to help get the donated cars in shape to be passed on to others. Your donation goes directly towards providing much-needed transportation to someone who otherwise could not afford it.
World Impact – (www.worldimpactstl.org) a Christian organization that ministers Christ’s love in inner-city St. Louis. They are incarnational, evangelical, discipleship oriented, and compassionate. We support them with prayer and people for projects.
Judea & Samaria:
Alaska, Wasilla – Church Planter/Pastor Jim Hearn and Brenda are our partners at Settlers Bay Community Church. We support them with prayer, giving, and going.
Colorado, Fowler – Pastor BJ Ballard is our partner at Solid Rock Baptist Church. We support them with prayer, giving, and going. Our partnership in Colorado is also with the Missouri Valley Baptist Association, where Church Planter/DOM Frank Cornelius helps us know where to send volunteer teams from year to year.
Massachusetts, Cape Cod – (www.midcapechurch.org) Workplace Missionaries Mike and Trisha Alford are our partners on the Cape. We support them with prayer, giving, and going. They live in Centerville.
Illinois, Chicagoland – We have completed 2 trips to Chicagoland to see the potential opportunities present there, both in the suburbs as well as the city. We’re praying how we might assist a church plant, Crosswinds Church in Plainfield, to connect with their community.
Ends of Earth:
Canada - Our new partners there are Clay and Cinnamon Hilton, living and planting Connection Church in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The Hilton’s have 4 children. We support them with prayer and financial support, and hope to send a volunteer team to them in 2012.
East Asia – Partners working there are Clive and Kathryn Gray, former members of FBCO. The Gray’s work with Wycliffe organization. Clive is a pilot. We support them with prayer and financial support.
El Salvador – Our partners there are the folks who make up the Jiquilisco Baptist Church and their 3 mission points. We support them with prayer, giving, and going.
Haiti - Wild House of Hope – Our partners there are Randy and Tiffany Wild (members of our church) and their orphanage work in Haiti. We support them with prayer and hope to take some mission trips to assist them in their work there.
The Wild House of Hope is an orphanage to be located in Source de la Grace Village West, in Port Au Prince, Haiti. The orphanage will house, feed, clothe, educate and most importantly, teach the sacrificial love of Jesus to 24 orphaned and abandoned children. Since the earthquake, there have been delays in land acquisition in/around the church the Wild House of Hope has been partnered with…so we are patiently waiting for the red tape to be cut. As soon as the land has been definitively secured, building will commence. The school associated with the church that the orphans will attend is almost complete. Until then, we continue to fundraise, visit and carry in supplies to the Global Orphan Project children all over Haiti that so desperately need our love and support. (www.globalorphanproject.org)
Mexico – (www.focusonmissions.org) Our partners there are Steve & Judy Smith of Focus on Missions. They work in the Matamoros area of northeast Mexico. We support them with prayer, giving, and going.
In John 20:21, Jesus says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” We believe we are to live our lives as ones sent into the world – “Living Sent!”
As with any ministry, it takes financial contributions to operate! Please consider helping to support our Faith Promise Missions Budget. Just check the “Missions” blank on the offering envelope found in the chair pockets or use the blue envelope in your packet, add your offering, and drop envelope in the offering plate or the boxes near the back of the auditorium.
10% of all money given through Faith Promise Missions Budget goes to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
5% of all money given through Faith Promise Missions Budget goes to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
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Our Affiliations:
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International Mission Board
The IMB, an agency of the Southern Baptist Convention, is committed to presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to lead individuals to saving faith in Him and helping to start churches among all the peoples of the world. Richmond, VA -
North American Mission Board
The NAMB is the domestic mission agency of the Southern Baptist Convention. Their defined mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, start New Testament congregations, minister to persons in the name of Christ, and assist churches in the United States, Canada and U.S. territories in effectively performing these functions. Atlanta, GA -
Southern Baptist Convention - @43,465 churches made up of over 16 million members, cooperating together in a worldwide missions effort. Nashville, TN
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Missouri Baptist Convention - @1993 churches and missions that fellowship together with the goal of evangelizing the state of Missouri and partnering with others around the globe to do the same. Jefferson City, MO
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Twin Rivers Baptist Association - 41 churches and missions that fellowship together and work to reach the county areas of Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Charles, and Warren, and partner with others around the globe to do the same. Wright City, MO
International Missionary Partner Photos:
El Salvador – Jiquilisco Baptist Church and it’s 3 Missions
Mexico - Matamoros – Steve Smith, Focus on Missions
Southeast Asia - Clive & Kathryn Gray, Wycliffe – Aviation Missions
National Missonary Partner Photos:
ALASKA – Wasilla – Pastor Jim Hearn (red shirt), Settlers Bay Community Church
COLORADO – Las Animas – Arkansas Valley Baptist Association – Frank Cornelius
MASSACHUSETTS – Cape Cod – Pastor Mike & Trisha Alford (red shirts), Mid-Cape Church
See information on upcoming trips in the Church Lobby. Trips/Projects currently on the calendar include:
Mission Trips/Projects are on display board in West Lobby! Check it out!
