Judith Landers

SMITHVILLE, Mo. – A love for missions motivates Judith Landers. A first grade teacher at the Primary School in Smithville, Mo., for 20 years, Landers grew up in a family that strongly supported missions.

"It has been my upbringing – being involved in missions," Landers said.

Landers’ love for missions and missionaries was guided toward further involvement by a visit to her church – Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo. – by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Networking Coordinator Bill Bruster. His examples of Global Missions work being accomplished through the Fellowship prompted Landers to commit her entire yearly tithe for 2003 to the CBF Offering for Global Missions, above her contributions to her church.

Her commitment was done in thanksgiving for the work CBF Global Missions field personnel are doing, Landers said.

Based on 1 Corinthians 3:9, the theme for the Fellowship’s 2004-05 Offering for Global Missions emphasis is "Together … Being the Presence of Christ."

Offering for Global Missions logo

About six years ago, Landers took the CBF Global Missions field personnel prayer calendar (Partners in Prayer Calendar) and e-mailed each one on their birthdays for one year. As a result, several families continued to keep in contact with Landers. A portion of her contribution was designated specifically to these field personnel families. The remainder of her contribution went to the Offering for Global Missions.

"Without the strong, intense and passionate prayer support of Judy and other prayer warriors like her, our ministries and our family would not be as effective nor as significant and healthy as they have become," said Rick Shaw, one of CBF’s Global Missions field personnel who works with his wife, Martha, among Albanians in Macedonia.

"God has blessed me and I want to be able to pass it on," Landers said. "I hope that money will be a blessing and that many more people will come to know the Lord. It’s my way of sharing the word of God around the world and locally."

A graduate of Southwestern Seminary, Landers was on staff at a church in Savannah, Ga., prior to accepting a teaching position in Missouri. Landers feels she is making an eternal difference in the lives of children in her classroom.

Tithing is a personal commitment, added Landers, who also plans to give her tithe for 2004 to the Offering for Global Missions.

"Hopefully this will inspire others to step out and stretch themselves to do a little bit more than they think they can." This year’s Offering for Global Missions goal is $6.1 million with a challenge goal of $6.3 million.

For more information about the Offering for Global Missions, go to www.thefellowship.info, call (770) 220-1653 or e-mail ogm@thefellowship.info.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.