At a recent Church Meeting we were invited to spend some time considering where MBC’s tithe should go.
Having read through a list of Bible verses relating to tithing (the practice of giving one-tenth of one’s income or produce to God as an act of worship and gratitude) we then listened to representatives from eight of the different projects and missions that MBC supports as they each gave an update on precisely when, where and how the contribution the church makes to their work helps to keep them going.
You can see from the images in the picture gallery above just how varied these projects are: from part funding a one to one counselling service (Pathways) to (MAF) keeping aircraft in the sky as they give support, including much needed medical aid to people living in some of the world’s most inaccessible regions.
Here in a bit more detail are descriptions of them all.
BMS World Mission – MBC has supported the Baptist Missionary Society from the very start; not only financially but also by seeing a number of its members serve overseas. In addition, it’s been a long tradition here at Moortown to partner with individual missionaries; currently we are linked with Mark and Andrea Hotchkin, doctors based in Chad. BMS runs a wide range of support schemes, each one of benefit to over 300 mission workers – details of which are available via their website bmsworldmission.org
The Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store – L&MFS was formed at MBC in 1986. Today, with its fortieth anniversary less than a year off it continues exactly where it began; collecting and then giving away unwanted furniture to people in need. As with BMS, the link between L&MFS and MBC has never been broken. In fact as I write the Store’s entire board of trustees is made up of five Moortown members.
Grace Gospel Church – Co led by one of our members, this direct quote from the churches website says it all… “We are evangelical Pentecostal by teaching and preaching the word of God. We follow the true doctrine of the Bible on bases of the Bible authority by the power and work of the Holy Spirit. We have Christ centered worship service including practical biblical teaching and fellowshipping one another. We go, we preach, we care for the soul for whom Christ Jesus died.”
Pathways Counselling – Pathways is a Christian Counselling Service that by listening and providing support helps its clients navigate life’s challenges, whether they be short-term or long-term. Once again Pathways has long standing links to MBC.
WEC – Radio Worldwide – Radio Worldwide uses digital media to spread the gospel. Besides a whole raft of outreach initiatives, simple daily posts on Facebook and the like ensure that even though many of its listeners live in isolated regions they still have access to the word of God.
MBC Romania Fund – Another long standing partnership. MBC first made contact with the Romanian church in 1972 when two of our young students “smuggled” some books into the country for a local pastor who had recently studied at an Oxford college. Since then the link between MBC and what we simply refer to as “Romania” has grown into a close friendship with regular home and away visits being made by both individuals and groups. The support we give to “Romania” however, isn’t limited to social exchanges and funding an annual teenage Summer Camp. No over the years a number of our members have actually set about designing, funding and even installing some quite major infrastructure projects.
MAF. Mission Aviation Fellowship – Imagine living in the sweltering heat of a desert, a two day walk away from the nearest doctor. If you did, then thankfully MAF may just be the answer to your prayer. Flying 115 aircraft across 25 different countries Mission Aviation Fellowship is often the only lifeline an individual, a family or an entire community has when an emergency strikes. For more years than I care to remember MBC has supported MAF, and long may that commitment continue.
And finally the YBA Home Mission Fund. Like but a few Baptist churches MBC may not be the lively, thriving church it is today without the help provided way back when by the Yorkshire Baptist Association’s Home Mission Fund. For us, as for many other fellowships the seed money provided to help buy land, the funds given to assist with building costs and even to help pay a minister’s stipend demonstrate only too well how in reality the YBA Home Mission Fund really is a “Godsend.”
So there you have it, the eight very different projects that as a church MBC currently supports. But you know whether or not that number remains the same or changes isn’t a decision our minister and our leadership team make on their own. No, it’s ultimately down to you and I. And that’s because in the not too distant future, we, as members, will all be invited to reconvene and prayerfully discuss, pray and then vote on the recommendations and suggestions our leaders make.
In other words it’s us – the whole of our membership – that decides who and/or what God wants us as a church community to help.