Missions

MISSIONS IN OUR CHURCH BUDGET

First Baptist Church Jefferson gives over $60,000 a year to mission causes. Many of them are local. We also support missionaries in the United States and foreign countries through the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Below is a synopsis of all the organizations and people that we partner to share the gospel and minister to those in need. When you give to FBC, you are also supporting all of these with money. Please give generously of your time, talents, and money.
 

Southern Baptist Convention –

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a fellowship of over 47,000 Baptist churches scattered across the United States and its territories. These congregations, comprised of numerous racial, ethnic, language, and socioeconomic people groups, are called “cooperating churches.” They have organized themselves to accomplish a specific set of missions and ministry initiatives, all for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people everywhere. The International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) assist churches in evangelizing, discipling, and planting reproducing churches in our nation and around the world in fulfillment of the Great Commission. While the Convention revised the summary of faith in 2000 (The Baptist Faith and Message), FBC of Jefferson still adheres to the 1963 Version of the Baptist Faith and Message.
 
 
 
 

Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes –

Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries is a Christian caring ministry of services designed to promote the spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of children, youth and families. Their campuses, group homes, and foster care programs offer new beginnings for children that have suffered abuse and neglect. Their specialized programs offer hope to young teen mothers, victims of human trafficking, individuals coping with developmental disabilities, and their community counseling centers provide direction to families seeking guidance and understanding. Lives are being changed. You can learn more at http://www.gbchfm.org.
 

SAREPTA Baptist Association –

Our church belongs to an association of 72 Baptist Churches covering four counties (Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oglethorpe) and parts of three other counties (Oconee, Banks, Franklin). The churches of this association adhere to similar beliefs and practices but are united by a common desire to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Sarepta Baptist Association was formed in 1799 and is one of the oldest associations in Georgia.
 
Sarepta is the same place named Zaraphath as described in the Old Testament. The place where Elijah was fed by a widow and God miraculously supplied grain and oil continuously. The association of churches is over 210 years old.
 

Local Mission/Benevolence –

We send people who need food to the Food Bank. We send people who need emergency assistance to the Ark. Other people with needs may qualify for some of our benevolence funds. We do not give money directly to individuals. We are judicious in releasing these funds, as we seek to be good stewards, but also compassionate to those in need.
 
 
FBC Food Bank
The Food Bank of FBC Jefferson serves approximately 6000 people each year. We are the largest Food Bank in Jefferson, if not the largest in Jackson County. The church food bank is open Monday and Wednesday (except on holidays) from 1:00-3:00 P.M. It serves to feed those in need in Jackson County and is part of the Northeast Georgia Foodbank System.
 

The Ark of Jackson County –

The Ark is a financial help resource available to those living in Jackson County for emergency financial assistance for utilities, rent, prescriptions, and medical supplies and other needs deemed to be appropriate. Budget counseling is available. The Ark is open on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. It is located in the fellowship hall of the Jefferson Presbyterian Church (243 Washington Street.) A former member of First Baptist began the Ark many years ago. Our church is the largest financial contributor.
 

Counseling Subsidy –

First Baptist Church has pastors who strive to be good listeners and provide adequate pastoral care to members and those who attend. However, the church staff are “generalists,” not specialists. Sometimes, it is good to talk with someone who specializes in helping people walk through grief, depression, divorce, relationship family problems, job loss, financial issues, stress, sexual abuse, and many other issues that may require short or long-term counseling. If you need counseling but are unable to afford it, some counselors provide services on a sliding fee scale. Our church has some funds that we can use to assist you if you are still in need. We can also refer you to qualified, licensed counselors.
 

The Turkey Can Run –

The Turkey Can Run is a 5K U.S. Track and Field Certified Course that starts and ends at First Baptist Church in Jefferson, Georgia each Thanksgiving morning. The race has been run for the last ten years to raise can food and money for the Food Bank of First Baptist Church Jefferson. This race is a qualifying race for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race 10K. In the 2023 race, 932 racers and sponsors from 15 states collected over 14,000 cans of food and raised over $15,000.
 

Gideons International –

The Gideons International https://www.gideons.org/about began distributing the Word of God in 1908. Today, there are more than 269,500 Gideons and Auxiliary – and an untold number of supporters – in some 200 countries, territories, and possessions across the globe. These dedicated individuals have given their time and money to make it possible for others to learn about the love of God by giving them access to His Word. They have placed and distributed more than 2 billion Bibles and New Testaments around the world.
 

Boys and Girls Club –

For over 10 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County http://www.bgcjcga.org/locations.html has been at the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances. The Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County has actively sought to enrich the lives of girls and boys whom other youth agencies have had difficulty in reaching. We are dedicated to ensuring that our community’s disadvantaged youngsters have greater access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures.
 
A youth development strategy underlies all Boys & Girls Club programs and fosters a sense of belonging, competence, usefulness, and influence that builds self-confidence and self-esteem.
 
The Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County is part of a nationwide affiliation of local, autonomous organizations working to help the youth of all backgrounds develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. It is facility-based, employs eight paid professional staff supplemented by four part-time volunteers, and offers daily access to a broad range of programs in five core program areas:
Character and Leadership Development
Education and Career Development
Health and Life Skills
The Arts
Sports, Fitness and Recreation
Today, more than 300 boys and girls are in need of the programs, activities, and services provided by the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County. They benefit from trained, caring, professional staff and volunteers who help young people take control of their lives, envision productive futures and reach their goals.
 

The Tree House –

The Tree House, Inc. is a non-profit organization, https://www.thetreehouseinc.org/about-us whose mission is to strengthen communities by reducing the occurrence and impact of child abuse through counseling, educating, supporting and nurturing children and families in Barrow, Banks, and Jackson counties.
 
The Tree House, Inc. began in 1996 when community members united and started working towards preventing child abuse. Together, they created a child-friendly agency that offered prevention programs, as well as a place for children to come when they disclosed abuse. The Tree House, Inc. now sees hundreds of families each year and offers a variety of services to help children and families heal from child abuse.
 

Peace Place –

Peace Place, Inc. http://www.peaceplaceinc.org/about-us.html is a domestic violence program that serves survivors of family violence in Banks, Barrow, and Jackson counties in Georgia. They offer emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, prevention housing, outreach, and legal advocacy, safety planning, educational presentations, and children’s services. They also operate a thrift store to help fund the operations of the agency.
 

Disaster Relief –

Each year disaster strikes in the form of fire, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other types of devastation that turns the lives of people upside down. While we cannot respond to every disaster that hits, we do want to acknowledge that there is always a need to help our neighbor in a time of need. While we cannot help them all, we can help some.
 

Community Involvement –

Each year, this line item remains an open-ended line for creative ideas that we may have that involves outreach into our community. This year we are hosting Susan Sparks, a comedian/lawyer/pastor from New York City. Her standup routine will be an opportunity for us to reach out to the unchurched in our area and welcome them to our church.
 

Hope Resource –

The Hope Resource Center https://hoperesourcecenter.webs.com/services is a place where women can go for free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds; information on options of an unexpected pregnancy; classes on pregnancy, infancy, toddler, children, parenting, and life skills; infant and childcare items such as car seats, diapers, strollers, beds, high chairs, and more; clothing; referrals and social services, free STD testing, physicians and adoption; resources and referrals for food, housing, and financial assistance; post-abortion, sexual abuse, and miscarriage recovery Bible study.
 

Sewing Circle –

A few years ago, a group of women got together to do some sewing and discovered that several women had a passion for needle and thread. Eventually, there was a house full of women at the “Rector House” (re-named the Mission House) working on mission-related projects. In the short time these women have been sewing together they have sown thousands of garments and sent them to Africa and South America and hundreds of dolls to the same. They have a great imagination, energy, and creativity. They have made children smile across oceans, and we salute their work.
 

Bereavement –

Sometimes, when ministering to a family that is grieving, there are related expenses. This fund is used to pay for those expenses that may be incurred or to help a grieving family directly that may be in financial need as a result of illness and death.
 

Wednesday Night Shut-Ins –

First Baptist has several elderly members that are no longer able to attend church. They still live in their homes, and they still love our church and appreciate our church remembering them. One way we continue to recognize them and reach out to them is by sending a warm meal to them each Wednesday night. The money in this part of the budget pays for these meals. A member of our church volunteers to deliver these meals. You can volunteer by calling our Office Administrator in the church office.
 

Fellowship of Christian Athletes –

(FCA) is an international non-profit Christian sports ministry. The mission of FCA is “to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.” There are chapters in both the Jackson County and Jefferson City School Systems.