Home | Missions   The First Baptist Church of Collingswood is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. (ABCUSA). As such, we contribute through the United Mission Fund to the work of worldwide mission, as administered through National Ministries and International Ministries. This fund frees missionaries from the worries of fundraising, and to dedicate their energies to their mission work and education. The Biblical Call To Mission This mission can be introduced by focusing on two words: "Come" and "Go." Jesus said, "Come follow me, come all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest," (Mt 11:28). The first step to doing mission is to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, by answering that invitation, to "come" to salvation and evangelism. The moment we respond to Jesus' invitation to come, the word changes to "go." Jesus commands us to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation" (Mk 16:15). Missionaries are individuals who have come to Christ and now live under the command to go and share what they have seen and heard. We believe that we are all missionaries: Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." We see that "mission" is everywhere; immediately local, in the region (USA) we live in, and throughout the entire world. A myth we work to break, is that which says that mission is what western churches do for people in developing countries. We seek multicultural missionaries to partner with national churches around the world. Such cooperation exponentially expands our mission force. We can also expect that missionaries may be sent to the United States, the sixth largest unchurched mission area in the world. Local Missions Storehouse -Food Pantry - First Baptist Church has a food pantry to meet immediate hunger needs of community members. We also emphasize the gift of food at holiday times. Feeding of the Homeless in Philadelphia - several Sunday afternoons/month, members make and serve sandwiches and drinks to the homeless who are out living on the streets of Philadelphia. Appropriate seasonal clothing, as well as blankets are also taken, as it is collected, to be given away. Christian Day Nursery - Christians teaching in a loving, nurturing environment, introduce the love of God to little ones and their families. (click here for more info) Urban Promise Ministries - ministry to the "hope" of Camden, it's youth, through after school tutoring, home schooling for teens, the Forward School for elementary age, summer camp programs and more. (click here for more info) Palmer Theological Seminary (formerly Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary) - education for Christian ministry (in Philadelphia, PA). (click here for more info) Eastern University - college education, with community service emphasis, in a Christian framework (St. David's, PA). (click here for more info) Riverview Estates - (The Baptist Home of New Jersey, Riverton, NJ) - loving care, and Christian community for senior citizens, from "assisted" living to nursing home care. Homeless Hospitality Program - IHOC - an 8 month program, housing homeless men in local churches and synagogues for two week periods, assisting to learn good job skills and habits. Also, IHOC has housing for several families, that they assist and support. Habitat For Humanity - building and rehabbing housing in Camden, NJ, for sale at reasonable loan rates to families in need, who also provide "sweat equity" on their own home. (click here for more info) Knitting Project - church and community people knit and crochet warm items for people in need. National Missions White Cross - items needed for community centers and schools collected through "quotas" sent to each church. Also, rolled bandages are often requested for mission hospitals abroad. Patchwork squares are cut to specified sizes and sent to mission areas where they are used to create many items, that can then be sold as income for the workers. (click here for more info) Agape Missions, Inc. - a group of youth and adults from various churches who work together for one week periods in Kentucky, Virginia, or any area designated. Teams help to repair and paint houses and properties, other teams provide Vacation Bible School for area children. International Mission Haiti - Since the formation of the "Collingswood Clinic" (medical) in Quanamuth, Haiti in the 1970's, our church has had an interest in this area. Aslan Ministries, from Red Bank, NJ, travels to this area twice a year with inner city youth, and medical workers. Currently, our church supports Massline Josef - in her studies in nursing school in hope that upon graduation, she can serve her family and community in Quanamuth. Dick, Nancy, Sarah and Nathan Bagge - Wycliffe Bible Translators - Dick serves as a psychiatrist to the missionaries in Wycliffe on the African continent, often intervening in crisis situations. He and Nancy lead seminars for nationals, as well as missionaries to help them all cope with the stresses of ministry in difficult situations. Sarah and Nathan attend school and assist in volunteer positions where they can. (click here for a family photo) Joyce and David Anderson-Reed - serve in Baja, Mexico through the seminary and in local churches. (click here for a family photo) Sue Plumb - is currently in Seminary, but will be working in Japan in the area of small group ministries. Yearly ABC Offerings World Mission Offering - this offering collected in the fall, supports our mission workers on an international level. (click here for more info) America For Christ - National Ministries various missions are supported by this spring time offering. This would include prison ministry, community mission, inner city work, camps and conferences and educational work. (click here for more info) One Great Hour of Sharing - collected in May, this is for any disaster relief, national or world wide. Many mainline denominations share in the offering increasing it's potential outreach. (click here for more info) Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering - This gift is given as a "thank you" to those who have served the American Baptist Churches throughout their lifetimes, and also serves as additional emergency funds for those retired individuals in need. Blanket Sunday - Administered through Church World Service assists with blankets and tents and other emergency supplies to world wide victims of war, and natural disasters. (click here for more info)