by Terry Barone

FRESNO - In September, California Southern Baptist churches are encouraged to pray for and give to missions to reach the Golden State for Christ.

"Reaching the World in California: The Great Commission Begins Here" is the theme of the 2010 California Mission Offering, based on Acts 1:8b.

Mike McCullough, California Southern Baptist Convention associate executive director, noted, "Much has been said recently about the Great Commission and reaching the nations of the world. It only takes a look around to see that the nations of the world have come to our state. They are waiting to hear about Jesus.

"For California Southern Baptists, the Great Commission begins where we live, work and go to school."

California, the most populous state in the U.S., has more than 38 million people. Estimates are that 33 of those 38 million are unchurched and don't have a personal relationship with Christ. If the unchurched population were a nation, McCullough said, "it would the 37th most populous country."

He noted California Southern Baptists are leaders in starting churches and ministering among people groups in California. "Weekly we have church services and ministry groups in 80 different languages and dialects. And, while that is a large number, estimates are that there are about 275 people groups in California.

"There is no doubt that a great challenge before Southern Baptists is to take the gospel to the nations of the world. However, Acts 1:8 allows us to reach the nations of the world where we live. California is our 'Jerusalem and Judea,'" McCullough said.

California Mission Offering resource packets are slated for mailing to churches in early July. The resource packet contains a poster, planning guide with practical suggestions and list of all resources available. Also included in the packet is a DVD with an overview video of CMO in four languages - English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish.

An order form is included for free materials such as posters, bulletin inserts and prayer guides in the four languages, and offering envelopes and a keychain tag as a reminder to pray.

McCullough noted the keychain tag is a new item this year and is intended to remind Baptists to "pray for, go and share their faith and give to California missions." He said the tag can be put on a key-ring or carried in a pocket, wallet or coin purse.

"We want California Southern Baptists to have a heightened awareness of our task and responsibility of reaching the world in California. One way we do that cooperatively is through the California Mission Offering," McCullough added.

Fermin A. Whittaker, CSBC executive director, said his "hope is to see every CSBC congregation - all 2,100 - participate by boldly giving! If every church gave an average of just $500 there would be more than $1 million for California missions."

He noted CMO gifts are used to secure partnership money from the North American Mission Board. "About $200,000 allocated in the 2010 CMO budget will be used for matching dollars from NAMB. This enables the Convention to obtain an additional $700,000 for church starting, evangelism and other mission efforts."

Each year, CMO gifts are used to start about 100 new churches. McCullough noted church starts "help us penetrate communities and cultures that need to hear about and accept the love, grace, peace and salvation through Jesus."

CMO also will help purchase "block party trailers" which assist California Southern Baptists in evangelizing the lost, according to Randy McWhorter, group leader for the CSBC healthy church group. He explained CMO gifts already have been instrumental in placing block party trailers in 10 of the 31 California Baptist associations.

Additionally, CMO supports other ministries such as Disaster Relief, migrant missions and association ministry projects. "CMO gifts always are used to reinforce outreach and ministry efforts of CSBC churches to reach our communities with the gospel and to minister in Christ's name," McCullough said.

"Our prayer is that more churches than ever before commit time to focus on California missions this September by educating members about the needs in our state, praying for California missions and giving to CMO."