This year’s World Mission Offering’s (WMO) video collection is now available on one DVD at no cost to congregations. It focuses on the Macedonian Vision in Acts 16 and illustrates through compelling stories and informative narrative how this vision is alive even today through American Baptist International Ministries (IM) in Macau, China, and all over the world.

This 4-part video series brings to light the plight of teenagers affected by gambling, addictions, crime, prostitution and broken families in the world’s largest gambling mecca: Macau, China. It tells the story of how Evangelize China Fellowship (ECF), IM’s partner in China, reached out to IM for help and how God is leading IM and churches in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to respond to this call.

The videos, each about 2 minutes in length, are designed for use in congregational worship, small group Bible study and Sunday school classes. The first three videos are narrated by Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chan, IM area director for East Asia, India, Hong Kong and China. The fourth summarizes the story and is narrated by Rev. Dr. Reid Trulson, IM executive director.

The videos come with an in-depth study guide developed by Rev. Ron Schlosser. This is designed to help a small church group walk through the stories independently, or with the guidance of a pastor or lay leader.

World Mission Offering resources were mailed to congregations in July.

WMO educational materials based on this year’s theme, Rise to the Challenge, were mailed to churches in July and are available for free download on the WMO website. To order additional materials at no cost, call 1-800-4JUDSON.

In addition to the DVD and study guide, these educational materials include a full-color map of IM’s missionaries and development workers, bulletin inserts, pew envelopes, a Leader’s Guide and a Mission Study Guide.

Why focus on IM’s new ministry in Macau?

Macau is the home of the largest casino gambling mecca in the world, far surpassing Las Vegas in revenue and size. Less than 1% of the population consists of Protestant Christians, according to a recent survey by Dr. Ellis Yau, former principal of IM partner the Macau Bible Institute. ECF recognized the great need to help the teenagers and college students. It approached IM for help to change the hearts of teenagers and to raise up a new generation of Christian leaders.

Congregations’ gifts to the World Mission Offering made this new ministry possible.

The World Mission Offering is a vital source of support for the entire work of IM, including this new ministry with teenagers and college students in Macau. Gifts to the WMO support current global personnel as well as new missionary recruitment and training efforts.

Contributions to the WMO will be used to glorify God in all the earth by crossing cultural boundaries, with the goal of helping people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationships with God and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. Many of the global ministries that IM supports and develops could not continue, nor could new areas of mission be established, without generous contributions to the WMO. Individuals and churches can give to the WMO year-round.