Key Themes
Whether your church community can dedicate one, two or four weeks, there are quality resources to equip you to get involved.
2023 Theme: Alongsiders
Key themes:
1. People of Prayer: Mark 1:35-39
We follow Jesus' model of retreating to pray before stepping out
2. People of Peace: Acts 16
We are people who bring peace and seek people of peace
3. People of Love: John 5:1-15
We love people and holistically respond to their needs
4. People who Partner: Philippians 1:3-6
We partner together in God’s mission
No matter where we are, we can journey alongside our neighbours and friends. Being an alongsider means listening, showing hospitality, bringing peace and humbly sharing the good news of Jesus. It means praying and seeking the Spirit’s leading. It means loving the people God has put in your world, as well as loving the world.
Being an alongsider means sharing God’s love in genuine, active and relevant ways. It means partnering together with each other and God – sending and being sent, giving and receiving. Working together as partners in God’s mission.
Alongsiders [Key Video] - coming soon
The Alongsiders key video is the launching pad for the full Alongsiders series. It opens the conversation on what being an alongsider means and what people are learning about prayer, peace, love and partnership.
What are you learning about being an alonsider?
This key video is currently being finalised. It will be available here in late March.
If you have any questions about this resource, please contact our team.
Special Thanks
Thank you to everyone who made this short film possible.
Extra special thanks to Baptist Financial Services Australia LTD (BFS) for sponsoring this video.
Alongsiders is being produced by Thick Black Frames
Giving and Projects
For over 140 years, Baptist Mission Australia - as the Australian Baptist mission - has been sending people to share the good news of Jesus with communities who may never hear it otherwise.
We can only do it together! Your generosity is enabling our team members to play their part in God’s life-changing mission. But we’re not done yet. As we look ahead, we hope to go deeper and wider in the mission. Partner in our work knowing that you and your church’s investment will make an eternal difference.
MAKE A GIFT
Team Gifts and Projects
This year, we have identified the most pressing needs for each team. These include intercultural team members who are currently undersupported and projects.
explore team gifts
Please contact us to discuss partnership opportunities or answer any questions related to your giving. Thank you.
Fundraising Ideas
May Mission Munch
Enjoy food together after a service or in homes, asking people to ‘pay’ for the food they eat. Why not include dishes that our intercultural team members eat with their local friends?
Walk, Run or Cycle-A-Thon
Set up a course in or around your church for people to walk, run, cycle, wheel, hop or skip! Sponsor those participating with an amount per lap.
Movie, Trivia or Games Night
Host a fundraising event for people of all ages to enjoy.
Puzzle Wall
Create a large puzzle out of paper and put a price on each piece. As people give, invite them to add puzzle pieces to the wall. You’ll know you have reached your target when the image is complete!
Around the World Photo Gallery
Celebrate culture and God’s love for the world by inviting people to contribute photos they have taken during their travels. Ask for a gold coin donation (or more!) to view the gallery.
How to Give
Individuals can give online through our website (make sure they add the church name in the comments section so the gift is linked to the church's record as well as their individual record.)
Alternatively, the church can receive the funds and transfer to Baptist Mission Australia through a direct deposit, post or via the website. We can send individual receipts to members who have given if you fill and send in the remittance spreadsheet.
For receipts to be issued in the 2022/23 financial year, gifts must be received at our office on or before 30 June 2023.
Pastor's and Leader's Guide
The Pastor's and Leader's Guide has been developed as a launching pad for leaders explore the key themes of the Alongsiders series with churches and small groups.
Each theme has an
introdution of the theme and scriptures, key
takeaways, mission
stories to use as illustrations,
questions for small groups and a
prayer. It can be used as a four week series or as standalone sessions.
It can be printed on A4 pages and then folded in half to create an A5 booklet.
leader's guide
Theme 1: People of prayer
Scriptures: Mark 1:35–39, Colossians 4:2–6 and 2 Chronicles 7:14
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- Prayer empowers us for mission
- Prayer opens doors for the Gospel
- We are empowered by the Spirit
Mission Stories:
- Daz and Bee, South East Asia
- Liz and Glenn, Thailand
leader's guide
Theme 2: people of peace
Scriptures: Acts 16:11–15, Matthew 5:9 and James 3:13–18
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- Peacemakers seek people of peace
- Peacemakers are called the children of God
- Peacemakers show the wisdom of heaven
Mission Stories:
- Sally, Mozambique
- Bob, Western Australia
leader's guide
Theme 3: people of love
Scriptures: 1 John 3:16–18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11–19 and 1 Timothy 2:1–7
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- We are people of love in our words and actions
- We are people of love in our encouragement and support
- We are people of love in our prayers and thanksgiving
Mission Stories:
- Joyce and Jean-Claude, Malawi
- Citywide Baptist Church, Tasmania
leader's guide
Theme 4: People who partner
Scripture: Philippians 1:3–8, John 13:34–35 and Matthew 28:18–20
Sermon (Scott Pilgrim): Video
Key Points:
- We are people who partner in the Gospel
- We are people who partner in love
- We are people who partner in the Great Commission
Mission Stories:
- John, Victoria
- Leisha, Victoria
leader's guide
Filmed Sermons and Speakers
Intercultural Team Update Videos
Thematic Videos
Missioning Podcast
We are excited to launch the 2023 season of Missioning with the Alongsiders series. This is a four episode series correlating to the four key themes of Alongsiders.
Across the series, we will hear from people around the world who are stepping out and living as alongsiders wherever they are.
Episodes will be released weekly in April.
missioning podcast
Children's Resources (primary school ages) - coming soon
The Alongsiders children's resource is currently being developed and will be available here by Monday 20 March. This will be a four session curriculum for primary aged children. The aim of this resource is for kids to learn from Jesus’ example of loving all people and explore how we can all love people and live as alongsiders.
Through the sessions, children will explore stories of Jesus in the Bible, as well as discover what it means for them and how they can be a part of God’s mission. This is achieved through games, activities, Bible stories, discussion, videos and prayer.
If you have any questions about this resource, please contact our team.
Kid's Videos
Chris, Ornella, Venerande and Isabella live with their parents Joyce and Jean-Claude in Malawi. What's their life like?! In
this video, they share all!
What is like growing up in Malawi? - Chris, Ornella, Venerande and Isabella tell all!
Youth Resources (secondary school ages) - coming soon
A special one session youth resource is being developed and will be available here by late March. This will incorporate elements from the four Alongsiders key themes, as well as both a global and local mission focus.
While the key resource is being created as a single session youth event, there will also be optional challenges and activities that can carry through the month of May and beyond.
If you have any questions about this resource, please
contact our team.
Promotional Material
For promotional material specifically for your church to support your fundraising target, please contact Teagan on info@baptistmissionaustralia.org or
1800 329 165
Invitation Video
Short invitation to May Mission Month video from Scott Pilgrim. Perfect to download and share with your congregation in the lead up to May!
May Mission Month 2023: Alongsiders
Posters
These posters can be printed A4 or A3. If you only want a single poster, then use the primary one or use both to create a continuous image. The secondary poster sits on the left of the primary poster
(like this >>).
Powerpoint template
QR Codes
These QR codes can be included in your church's bulletin or other printed material to help people easily access the May Mission Month webpages.
BullEtin / website text
Below is a piece of sample text that can be included in your church's bulletin, website or Facebook to promote May Mission Month with your congregation. There are three versions of different lengths, depending on how many words you are able to include.
- 70 words: May Mission Month is fast approaching! This year, the theme is Alongsiders. No matter where we are, we can journey alongside our neighbours and friends. Being an alongsider means listening, showing hospitality, bringing peace and humbly sharing the good news of Jesus. Let’s unite in partnership with Baptist Mission Australia's intercultural teams and get excited about all that God is doing through His people in neighbourhoods near and far. We can only do it together! Explore all the resources: www.baptistmissionaustralia.org.au/MayMissionMonth
- 50 words: May Mission Month is fast approaching! This year, the theme is Alongsiders. No matter where we are, we can journey alongside our neighbours and friends. Let’s unite in partnership with Baptist Mission Australia's intercultural teams and get excited about all that God is doing through His people in neighbourhoods near and far. Explore all the resources: www.baptistmissionaustralia.org.au/MayMissionMonth
- 35 words: Let’s unite in partnership with Baptist Mission Australia's intercultural teams and get excited about all that God is doing through His people in neighbourhoods near and far. We can only do it together! Explore all the resources: www.baptistmissionaustralia.org.au/MayMissionMonth
Social Media Images
Logos