What a joy it was to gather for our 58th annual missions conference! Over the course of three days, we had the privilege of meeting four missionary families, hearing their stories, and learning about the fields God has called them to reach. Through your generosity, we were able to give each family tangible gifts, take them on for financial support, and most importantly, commit as a church to give over $383,000 to missions this next year. Praise God!

But let’s be honest—while it’s easy to feel inspired in a conference setting, staying committed over 12 months can be much harder. Life happens. Budgets get tight. We forget the emotion we felt or the promises we made. That’s why we need a plan—not just passion.

Here are some practical ways to stay faithful to your missions giving:

1. Build It Into Your Monthly Budget – Don’t let missions giving be an afterthought. Include it as a fixed line item just like rent, utilities, or groceries.
2. Automate It – If you tend to forget or fall behind, set up recurring giving online. It takes one step now to ensure faithfulness all year.
3. Avoid “End-of-the-Year Catch-Up” Giving – Make regular giving your goal so you don’t have to scramble later to meet your commitment.
4. Remind Yourself Why You Gave – Keep your missionary booklet somewhere visible—on your coffee table, in your Bible, or at your desk. Use it to pray for our missionaries by name and keep your burden for the nations fresh. The more connected you stay, the more joyful your giving will be.

Church family, I just want to say how deeply thankful I am for you. Your generosity this past week wasn’t just financial—it was spiritual. It revealed a heart that beats for the gospel and for people you may never meet this side of eternity. You welcomed our missionaries with open arms, gave sacrificially, and demonstrated once again that our church truly cares about the Great Commission. Thank you for being a church that believes in the mission of God. Thank you for giving with joy and trusting the Lord to use it far beyond what we can see. I’m honored to pastor a people so full of faith and love.

Let’s keep our hearts stirred and our commitments strong—for the glory of Christ and the sake of the nations.