Your Giving = Thanks Giving

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

Here are some of the ways that YOUR GIVING to First Baptist Joplin has resulted in THANKSGIVING to God over the past year!

WORSHIP 

• Average attendance for the year was 370 adults and 85 children weekly.
• Budget Offerings totaled:  $990,046.31
• $295,601.61 was paid on Building Loan Principle. 
• New members who transferred in: 14.
• New members by statement of faith: 3.
• Baptized 21 new believers.
• Gave out approximately 110 gift bags to first time visitors.
• Held 5 First Look Lunches for those interested in info about the church, serving 31+ family units.
• Mailed 2,500 Easter Invitation Postcards
• Easter attendance was over 680 people in 2 services.
• Handbells played 3 times, with 11 musicians.
• Storehouse Students sang at local nursing homes.
• Hosted Making Spirits Bright event with approximately 200 in attendance.
• Held Christmas Eve service with approx. 300 in attendance.

EQUIP

• Wednesday night bible study expanded to include additional bible studies for women, men, co-ed and married couples.
•  Storehouse weekly youth services average 50 students.
• Provided training events for Preschool and Elementary teachers at all levels.
• Our heads of Children’s Ministry went to a teacher’s conference to learn how to better engage kids.
• Provided members access to more than 14,000 Bible studies through RightNow Media. (Contact the church office to get access!)
• Sent over 100 students to Falls Creek Youth Camp.
• Held a Family Dedication Breakfast, serving over 65 people.
• Sent 37 kids to 1st-2nd grade day camp, and 47 kids to Kid’s Camp.
• Held our Bible Dedication for first graders, celebrating with families their child’s new journey with the Bible.
• SlimeTime for 1st-5th graders, increasing Children’s Wednesday with average attendance around 35 children.
• Held Mega Hobbies Camp in conjunction with Preschool Vacation Bible School with over 215 registered.
• Hosted a Small Church Conference for multiple churches in the area.
• Hosted area-wide Impact Weekend for youth, with 84 from our church, 115 from community churches.
• Continued to have people register with our online community database, to better connect the church with other members, present volunteer opportunities, and provide better communication.
• Preached 6 different sermon series.
• Posted 60 sermon videos online.

ENGAGE

• Gave $7710 to the Annie Armstrong American Missions Offering. 
• Collected $2,186.88 in change for LifeChoices Change for Life Campaign!
• Donated $565 to Life Choices in Mother’s Day gifts, honoring 113 women.
• Donated $355 to Watered Gardens in Father’s Day gifts, honoring 71 men.
• Held 4 Sizzling Summer Night events, with more in attendance than any previous years.
• Storehouse Students small groups served at Watered Gardens twice.
• Storehouse students served at Green Country Baptist Camp in Disney, OK.
• Gave away 75+ pairs of shoes at Shoe Carnival before school started.
• Served lunch 8 times to teachers at McKinley Elementary.
• Hosted a Trunk or Treat for the public with over 60 cars participating, 200 volunteers, and over 2500 people on campus.
• Collected and passed out over 40 Blessing Boxes filled with groceries and necessities.
• Gave $17,758.00 to the Lottie Moon International Mission Offering.
• Shoes for Kids ministry throughout the school year provided several pairs of socks and shoes to kids in need at Joplin elementary schools.
• Helped several individuals with various monetary needs including utility assistance, counseling, & travel.
• Collected 41 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
• First Fitness for Senior Adults averaged 10-12 regular people each Tuesday and Thursday.
• Served lunch to BSU students three times, averaging 90 kids each time.
• Welcomed International students at MSSU with a dinner, serving over 75 students.
• Hosted monthly coffee nights for college students, with 25-45 in attendance each time. 
• Senior Adults, approximately 30-50 met once per month for lunch and fellowship.
• Senior Adults met weekly for prayer and bible study. 
• Storehouse Students served on 2 mission trips in 2022. They were volunteer staff at Green Country Camp for a week & they hosted a backyard VBS in inner city Tulsa area which led to the students to begin their own Michigan Place Apartment Ministry resulting in 3 different student led events from July to December! 
• Gave monthly support to our local mission’s partners including LifeChoices, Watered Gardens, Crosslines, MSSU Student Union, and Baptist Hill Camp.
• Our giving to the Missouri Baptist Convention ranks us in the top 10% in our region.

Your faithful and sacrificial giving has made such a difference!!  Thank you for worshipping God, equipping believers, and reaching the lost!

-Carrie Morrell
Financial Assistant