Missouri Baptists set new MMO mark in 2022
Missouri Baptists gave more to state missions in 2022 than in any previous year, setting a new record of $990,740 for the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO).
Total MMO receipts for 2022, which are disbursed in 2023, outpaced the goal of $740,000 and shattered the previous record of $824,436 set in 2021.
2022 marked the 10th straight year of MMO receipts above $700,000. The number of churches contributing to MMO fell from 744 in 2021 to 679 in 2022, although average giving per participating church rose significantly.
Contributing to the MMO windfall were two large gifts, one from an individual and one from a church, totaling about $150,000.
Missouri Baptists responded enthusiastically to the MMO theme of Romans 12:10, in which the apostle Paul urges his readers to “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.”
MBC Executive Director John Yeats expressed profound gratitude for Missouri Baptists’ commitment to sacrificial giving. “In a roller-coaster year of high inflation and market plunges, Missouri Baptists gave steadfastly, trusting in the providence of God and sacrificially supporting the Lord’s work across our state,” he said.
“This is a work only the Lord can do through the willing hearts and hands of Missouri Baptists,” Yeats continued. “We praise our great God for his goodness, and we thank Missouri Baptists for the manner in which they love one another deeply.”
Great Commission support
MMO supports statewide missions projects that help fulfill the Great Commission. The annual offering in 2022 focused on four areas of ministry that define the MBC’s mission:
- Making disciples – sports evangelism; VBS ministry training and resource development; youth evangelism and missions; moral injury training through Baptist Homes; and the state fair ministry of the Missouri DOM Fellowship.
- Collegiate ministries – a summer missions mentoring initiative; Licensed Practical Nursing training and field experience; HLGU’s initiative to offer a biblical studies degree to inmates; a metro collegiate ministry initiative; internships for hospice care; collegiate global missions; Christian worldview and public engagement; and collegiate ministry networks.
- Multiplying churches – next-step requests for church multipliers; partnership missions in Mexico, Italy, Minnesota/Wisconsin, and Montana; strategic missionary development; and support of a church plant focused on ministry to veterans.
- Developing leaders – disaster relief equipment and volunteer readiness; Missouri WMU; strategic leadership initiatives; Resound network training and development; collegiate disaster relief internships; conferences for new pastors and church revitalizers/replanters; hunger relief; and Baptist Builders.
In addition, 17 percent of MMO receipts go to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, which provides spiritual guidance, counseling, and a safe haven from abuse and neglect at five state campuses.
And 10 percent of MMO gifts go back to the associations of contributing churches, where the funds support regional mission projects.
Funds raised in excess of the MMO goal are placed in reserve for future missions opportunities. At the same time, 10 percent of gifts above the goal is given to Missouri WMU, which promotes state, national, and international missions in MBC-affiliated churches. And this year, a gift of $25,000 is being given to Baptist Homes to assist with their ministries to the aged.
Missouri Baptists approved a 2023 MMO goal of $750,000. This June, the MBC announces the 2023 theme and provides churches with MMO resources.