Serving One Another
World Mission Offering

Serving One Another in Puerto Rico ...

Milagros del Amor studied the needs of small businesses of Caguas, Puerto Rico to find a way to fulfill its mission of improving the quality of life of city residents.

The newest Christian center to be related to American Baptist National Ministries' Neighborhood Action Program, Milagros del Amor (Miracles of Love), discovered that many home-based and small businesses do not have office equipment or facilities to carry on daily activities.  Downtown residents must use public transportation to make copies, send packages, buy stamps, etc.  Caguas' two U.S. Post Offices do not have PO boxes.

An emerging project, Community Office & Mail, will address these gaps in the downtown area.  A three-year grant from One Great Hour of Sharing will help fund this enterprise, which will provide a job training setting for people with disabilities, formerly homeless persons, and domestic violence victims.  Through this program, a minimum of 20 local participants per year will learn about shipping and mailing services, handling and sorting mailboxes, fax services, school and office supply sales, and more -- Caguas residents will serve one another.

It's remarkable what your gift will do.

Retired Ministers & Missionaries Offering

Since 1935 American Baptists have contributed to special offerings received in their churches for retired ABC ministers and missionaries.  The Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO) was established in 1977.

Receipts from the 2002 offering totaled $1,814,019.  Of that amount, forty-three percent was made available to meet immediate emergency and special financial needs.  Fifty-seven percent was distributed by The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board on behalf of American Baptists in the form of Thank You checks: 3,301 checks were distributed in 2002; the average check was $322.76.  Thank You checks are calculated on the basis of 15 or more years of ABC service.

Thank You checks do make a difference, as illustrated by notes of appreciation from three of the recipients:

• "Thank you for the check, especially since I am recovering from dental work costing $6,000.  Along with your gift came many wonderful memories of my late, dear husband, William.  What a privilege it was to serve our loving God together."  Verna McCullough, Clearwater, FL
• "Yesterday I received my Thank You check from our generous and thoughtful American Baptists.  I was overwhelmed by your generosity.  Your love is strong for those of us who have served as missionaries."  Anna Aponas, Grand Rapids, MI
• "Thank you, thank you!!!  You make glad the heart of this 90-year-old pastor who served churches for 43 years and has now been retired 22 years.  Sure do appreciate those year-end Thank You checks.  Bless your 'li'l pea pickin' hearts!'"  Benjamin Hinkson, Springfield, MO

Your gift to the RMMO is a way of saying, For Your Faithful Service, We Thank You.