[1]CLEM, Ga. (BP)–Beyond the bypass, the two-lane snakes out of Carrollton into the rolling west Georgia countryside. A smaller road that breaks off to the right takes you to the four-way marking the crossroads community of Clem.
A large white structure crowns a hill across from the intersection. Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church is a congregation on mission with God.
When Doug New came as Mt. Pleasant’s pastor in May 1997, there were only 280 members meeting in a small 19th-century building. Now it has grown to a 1,100-member congregation that has added a new $1.8 million 21st-century facility and recently broke ground for a $1.2 million addition.
The church draws members from as far as Alabama, 40 miles away, and its missions offering has increased from $2,500 the first year New came to $146,000 this year. The Georgia Baptist Convention has even named them as one of the top 20 fastest-growing churches in Georgia.
“All this is a result of missions,” New said. “God has honored the fact that we’re a part of what He’s involved in and what is closest to His heart, and that’s missions.”
When New arrived at Mt. Pleasant, he had a strong sense that doing something different was part of his call, and that the congregation was ready to follow him.
They began with a study of Henry Blackaby’s discipleship book, “Experiencing God.” The book encouraged them to look for what God is doing in the world and join Him; the study led them to missions.
“It’s a matter of obedience to God,” New said. “When we’re obedient to the Great Commission, it’s an overflow from God’s blessing. Everything else will come if we do what He tells us to do.”
Since then, Mt. Pleasant has sent mission teams to Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Germany, Russia, Ecuador, Honduras, Haiti, Cameroon, Myanmar, Thailand and Canada.
They also have added a World Changers trip to Puerto Rico, a puppet ministry trip to Philadelphia and trips to Mexico, Russia, Ghana and Thailand, all taking place within the next eight months.
Closer to home, members reach out to the international community by teaching English as a Second Language, sending mission teams into Appalachia, having an active prison ministry, helping other churches with building projects through a Steeple Chaser ministry and participating in disaster relief.
Through their Manna House ministry, 4,500 to 5,500 pounds of food is given out monthly. The Gospel is shared with walk-ins who come to the food shelter.
‘THE HUB OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE’
“We’re not a one-time-a-year missions church,” said Kathy Parsons, who with her husband, Darrell, coordinates the missions efforts of Mt. Pleasant. “We keep missions before the people. It’s the hub of what we should be.”
Missions is promoted from the pulpit and highlighted in the weekly bulletin. It’s also a presence on the church’s website.
At a “Vision Night” the church held recently, the congregation was introduced to the long- and short-term missions projects the church is hoping to undertake. One is a “village” that would provide housing for missionaries on stateside assignment; another is a home for unwed mothers; a third is a substance abuse ministry.
“People were volunteering immediately for these projects like they were starting tomorrow,” New said. “The passion of our people is unreal.”
The church has a room set aside as a missions center, stocked with magazines, books and other resources. On Sunday mornings, it is not unusual to see church members dressed in national costumes handing out information on people groups.
Mt. Pleasant holds an annual Global Impact Conference. Missionaries — both international and domestic — are invited. They stay in members’ homes, set up displays in the church and talk about their efforts in worship services before various groups within the church.
“We get a sense of what is really happening on the mission field,” Parsons said. “The conference always results in more involvement. It keeps the big picture before us.”
“We’re not where we want to be,” New said. “It’s been a journey — and will continue to be.
“Our objective is to mobilize this church and community. And we’ve got a ways to go.”
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With additional reporting by Ashley Haygood. (BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at https://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: CHURCH ON MISSION.
— 14 tips to mobilize your church for God’s mission: https://tconline.org/stories/MayJune03/14tips.htm [2].
— Make missions a priority for your church: https://www.imb.org/missionspartner/omn.asp [3].
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