BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (KT) -- The coronavirus pandemic may have put a halt to a Bowling Green area church’s plan for short-term mission trips, but it didn’t lessen their passion for missions.
Missions is a priority at Living Hope, said the church's global impact pastor Clay Mullins.
“When COVID hit we had two teams on the ground on other continents. We had to completely reroute both teams’ return flights due to countries closing their borders,” Mullins said. Prior to March 15, they had sent 5 teams, but at that point, they had to cancel 16 trips to destinations across the globe through late July.
Church leaders began to hear from missionaries as they were being affected by the pandemic. “We found out about the need from our missionaries and then we reached out to the International Mission Board and they confirmed the massive expenses they had incurred,” Senior Pastor Jason Pettus said.
That’s when the church decided that if they couldn’t go physically, they could still go fiscally. They decided to take the funds that would have been used for the trips and give them to the IMB for relief efforts. It totaled around $70,000.
Paul Chitwood, IMB president, was grateful for their generosity, “Although their mission teams could not travel this summer, Living Hope is not without a witness among the nations and their support of their 3,600 IMB missionaries will ensure that witness remains even in the midst of a global pandemic.”
“If we can't go, we should send. So that's what we did," Mullins said. "We know that IMB is a trusted partner so we chose to invest this gift where we knew it would be used for making disciples of the nations."
Pettus says the church has been thrilled to be able to support missions in this unplanned way, “Our church family understands the importance of the IMB. They have been a great help to us enabling us to get many families to take the Gospel to unreached peoples.”
Todd Gray, Kentucky Baptist Convention executive director-treasurer, says he isn’t surprised by the church’s kindness.
“Living Hope Baptist Church, consistent with their pastor, Jason Pettus, is a leading Kentucky Baptist church," he said. "In their recent decision to send $70,000 to the IMB they are leading by example.”
He prays the Lord will bless for their generosity and “use them as a catalyst for sacrificial giving for the global spread of the gospel.”
Pettus agrees and encourages churches to consider doing what they can to help the IMB through this challenging season, “We hope other churches will do the same thing and help offset these costs.”
Living Hope is participating in a challenge by the IMB asking 70 churches to give $70,000 to help them make up for their coronavirus-related shortfall. Learn more at imb.org/70for70.
The Link LonkAugust 31, 2020 at 11:50PM
https://kentuckytoday.com/stories/if-you-cant-go-send-says-one-kentucky-church,27710
If you can't go, send help says one Kentucky Baptist church - Kentucky Today
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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