ABC of Los Angeles and
AB Congregations of the Southwest & Hawaii
The American Baptist Women's Ministries of Los Angeles works alongside the American Baptist Congregations of the Southwest and Hawaii. For further information or to speak to the President of the ABWM, Mrs. Vi Wiant, email her at VMWiant@verizon.net or their administrative assistant, Mrs. Lil McGregor at the ABCLA Office at 213-955-9874.
Visit the newly updated ABCUSA American Baptist Women's Ministries and American Baptist Girls.
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An opportunity to learn more about Love Gift !
Love Gift Yesterday ~ Love Gift giving began in 1932. During the Great Depression, American Baptist Churches faced a half-million-dollar deficit. Fearing that the financial crisis would curtail God's work, the Board of Missionary Cooperation (now World Mission Support) asked individuals to give financial contributions in excess of their tithes and pledges. The Committee on Conference (later named the National Committee on Women's Work) challenged women to raise $150,000 to help meet the crisis. Receiving the challenge, women began the over-and-above contribution called Love Gift.
From the very beginning, women collected these gifts in small boxes. The first were called Silver Boxes, illustrating that beneath every cloud there exists a silver lining. The silver placed in these boxes would help dispel the clouds of financial difficulty that seemed to overshadow the mission. Subsequently, the boxes were called Mite or Might Boxes. Printed on these boxes were the words: "If we know we pray; if we pray we give."
Later, the boxes were designed to complement the title of the women's annual program theme. The 1941 theme was "Love," thus the boxes became known as Love Gift boxes. American Baptist women contribute over $3million annually to American Baptist mission through various programs such as Refit, White Cross, region mission projects, and Love Gift. Love Gift is a significant part of this giving.
From the beginning, American Baptist women wanted their Love Gifts to be used to support the total mission program of American Baptist Churches USA. In keeping with this early decision, Love Gift money is a part of United Mission, the basic funding source for American Baptist mission. As such, Love Gift supports the full range of American Baptist mission.
"Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in very good work." 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 NRSV
Love Gift Today ~ Love Gift is a financial contribution over and above our regular giving. It is given out of a sense of LOVE, FAITH, and GRATITUDE to God for all of God's blessings, and in recognition of our need to share these blessings with others. One way to express our faith is by giving. We give of our time, our talent, our money, and ourselves. As our faith grows, we realize that our God, in whom we trust, really loves and cares for us. As a result, our desire to give grows, too. Love Gift is one of the ways we express our faith and love. It is an offering to God.
Take time to assess what you offer to God. How do you love God? Count the ways. Let your Love Gift offering reflect your love for God and Christ's Church and its ministries.
Less than 50 percent of American Baptist churches currently participate in Love Gift. Does your church support Love Gift? American Baptist mission need your support!
Here are some ideas from American Baptist women who successfully raise Love Gift:
Receive a Love Gift offering at every women's ministry meeting or event.
- Place Love Gift boxes on the tables at conferences, board meetings, and association events.
- Keep a large jar in back of the church for "Pennies from Heaven for Love Gift" (One congregation doing this yielded $40-$50 monthly).
- Set goals.
- Involve the entire church by sponsoring an annual Love Gift activity such as a Love Gift Tea, International Tea, American Baptist Women's Ministries Sunday, Everybody's Birthday Party, or a Love Gift Luncheon.
- Give each family a packet to learn about Love Gift. Include items such as the Love Gift Box, the Love Gift brochure, and the website address for American Baptist missions.
- Every 5th Sunday receive a Love Gift offering during the morning worship service.
- Give incentives for reaching the Love Gift goal your church sets.
Love Gift Tomorrow ~ Love Gift has great potential to empower American Baptist mission in this new century. If your church does not have organized women's ministries, you can still participate in Love Gift! Meet with your Region's Minister of Mission Support to discuss and plan your Love Gift promotion. Include your pastors in the plan. Involve church families. Order free Love Gift materials (call 1-800-458-3766 or visit www.abwministries.org/store). Plan a first-time Love Gift event this year and build on it next year. Set a congregational goal for Love Gift. Share your church's plan with other American Baptists at workshops, annual meetings, Fall & Spring Rallies, ABW Ministries Conferences, etc.
The story of Love Gift remains unfinished. By giving to Love Gift, American Baptists play a vital role in the continuing work of American Baptist Churches at home and abroad. And the best is yet to come!
[From the ABCUSA website (abc-usa.org) - adapted with permission from Unlimited Ideas for Love Gift II, article on page 1 by Mary Beckwith.]
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2009-2011 Program Theme:
“Women...Destined for God’s Purpose !”
Theme Scriptures:
Psalm 138:8 (NIV)
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Supplemental Scriptures
Ephesians 2:10; Proverbs 19:21; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Esther 4:14; Romans 8:28
Mission Study Theme:
2009-2010
Human Trafficking: Brought, Bought, Used and Abused
Geographic Theme:
2009-2010
Ibero-America
(Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama)
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For many years, American Baptist's "helping hands" have been reaching out to people in need. During World War I, many church women assisted the American Red Cross by providing surgical dressings, bandages, and other medical supplies for U.S. service personnel. In 1919, following the end of the war, two American Baptist women from Cleveland, Ohio organized the "White Cross Service League," channeling the war effort into support for Baptist mission.
White Cross has been embraced by local churches throughout the United States. Congregations are eager to fill specific requests from mission workers. Through White Cross gifts, church members provide urgently-needed supplies that cannot be purchased with limited mission budgets.
Through the years, American Baptist women have given leadership in this ministry, which now provides some $800,000 annually in mission support. And entire congregations often work together to fill White Cross requests.
The importance of White Cross is undiminished today, and the need for both funds and practical items is greater than ever. American Baptists are generous and caring people with a true heart for mission. White Cross needs your helping hands! For information on current needs contact: Mrs. Peggy Henry, Coordinator of Mission & Service/ White Cross, henry-peggy@sbcglobal.net.
You can download the current issue of Women on the Edge and make copies. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please email Lil McGregor.
UPCOMING - - Please look at the 2010 ABWM Calendar so you can keep abreast of what is happening in ABCLA/ABCOSH.