Alma Hunt Offering: Together on Mission
September 1-October 4, 2023
RRCB Goal: $10,000
“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” —Philippians 2:2
The annual offering for Virginia missions was named for Alma Hunt (1909-2008), a native Virginian who was known worldwide for her missions service and her unswerving dedication to the cause of Christ. The offering provides funding for all Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia (WMUV) missions and ministries and makes possible other special ministries, outreach projects, and initiatives not funded through regular streams of giving (but uniquely connected to Virginia Baptists). Since 1976 this offering has been a joint venture between WMUV and the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV).
You can give to the Alma Hunt Offering via check, cash, or secure electronic bank transfer. Designated Alma Hunt envelopes can be found in the pew racks. Checks should be made out to RRCB with Alma Hunt Offering. Scan the QR code in your bulletin or on the card in the pew racks, or visit rrcb.org/give to begin the donation process—select the fund Alma Hunt Offering from the dropdown.
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October 1, 2023
Alma Hunt Ministry of the Week:
Lighthouse International Church: Reimagining Ministry for Today
The phone rang just two weeks before Christmas, and a soft-spoken man with a West African accent exclaimed, “We need leadership training as soon as possible!” Pastor Calvin Birch of the Lighthouse International Church recalled the journey of starting the African Christian Community Church of the Richmond Baptist Association over 19 years ago (now Lighthouse International Church). He more specifically noted that as the African immigrants came into Richmond they joined the church, were helped towards independence, and went on their way successfully into the larger society. Pastor Birch then began to reminisce of the once-strong children’s ministry at the church.
An assessment determined that training was needed in the areas of reaching children, doing evangelism, and providing separate leadership development opportunities for men and women. With the support of the Alma Hunt Offering, WMU of Virginia was able to put together a dynamic teaching team to equip and inspire church leaders.
Pray for Pastor Birch and Lighthouse International Church in Glen Allen, VA, as they reimagine ministry in today’s world.
September 24, 2023
Alma Hunt Ministry of the Week:
Micro Churches: Extending Simple, Adaptable, Relational Faith Expressions
Ten years after Jeremy and Monica Chambers started Arise RVA, a small church plant in Richmond, VA, the two are working humbly in Denver, CO, and hoping to start another small church there—as they’ve done in more than 30 locations since 2013. They began as part of a different, more radiational church planting network, but their unusual growth as a network of “micro churches” (simple, adaptable, relational, small churches) led them to affiliate instead with V3, BGAV’s church planting ministry.
Funding from BGAV church-planting grants, made possible in part by donations to the Alma Hunt Offering, has enabled these micro churches to do ministry in several key ways—supporting local missional works and providing food to people in need—while also providing excellent personal support, relational connections, and a “tribe to belong to” for Jeremy and Monica as innovative church planters.
Please pray for Jeremy and Monica Chambers and others like them who work every day to bring the hope of Christ to people through the ministries of micro churches.
September 17, 2023
Alma Hunt Ministry of the Week:
CrossRoads: Helping Young Adults Discern the Call to Missions & Ministry
“It began when I was 17, while I was standing in the field singing praise songs just before walking into worship in the vesper garden one evening. I looked at the ten campers who were in my cabin that week, along with all the other campers and staffers gathered in that place. The voice wasn’t audible, but in the strongest way I’ve ever heard God speak came the words, ‘This…this is what I want you to do for the rest of your life.’”—Kristen White, Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church
Since 1985, your gifts to the Alma Hunt State Missions Offering have sustained the ministry of CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center, helping young adults like Kristen discern their callings to the missions field and pastorate. Pray for the ministry of CrossRoads as well as the campers and young adults continuing to experience God there.
September 10, 2023
Alma Hunt Ministry of the Week:
Healing Arts Bringing Hope and Creativity to Community Spaces
Amy Hall stopped in a library to look at Angel Tree ornaments. Most of the children asked for art supplies, and Amy was curious. She contacted the community center and asked them if they offered art classes, since so many of these children wanted art supplies. No, came the reply, but we would like to! When asked if she would be a volunteer, Amy shared her vision for a free community recovery art studio where people can come together to find Christ-centered hope, support, and healing through artistic expression. Thanks to gifts like yours to the Alma Hunt Offering, Amy received funding for the Healing Arts Studio, which ran through 2022 and is continuing to bring hope and healing to Amherst County through art leadership circles, creative conferences, and more. Pray for Amy as she finds creative ways to break down barriers to ministry.
September 3, 2023
Alma Hunt Ministry of the Week:
Serving Together: A Community Unites to Bring Hope to the Eastern Shore
Virginia’s Eastern Shore is an incredibly beautiful place full of wonderful people, yet it faces many challenges caused by generational poverty. Serving Together is a new movement to bring people together to address those challenges by developing connection points—strengthening relationships and unifying various resources in ways that individuals cannot do alone.
One recent success story is of how Serving Together pooled community resources and ideas to fully fund—within just two years—the building and opening of the Northampton YMCA, filling a critical need in that area for community fellowship, recreation, and physical fitness that was identified during a BGAV-led workshop on six key areas of need. Russell Goodrich, who’s served as pastor of Cape Charles Baptist Church for 23 years, who’s been a key player in Serving Together, is thankful for every gift to the Alma Hunt Offering. “Those gifts helped support the vision and collaboration that made this happen.”
Pray for people and churches to join this movement, for strongholds of poverty to be broken, and for additional resources and services to come to the Shore and bring positive change.