Partners In The Mission: Missions at Living Hope 06/10/2008 a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director My wife, Kay, and I recently had the privilege of participating in the 14th anniversary celebration and building dedication for Living Hope Baptist Church in the Fern Creek area of Louisville where Jack Naylor is the pastor. Although Living Hope is a relatively young congregation that has been busy securing property and building facilities, its 206 members have an incredible commitment to missions as evidenced by its giving to mission causes. The church increased its missions giving through the Cooperative Program from $24,097 in 2005-06, to $31,151 in 2006-07. That’s 15.3 percent of the church’s undesignated gifts of $203,410. The church has also set new records in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions, which increased from $9,514 in 2006-07 to $12,554 in 2007-08. Giving for the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American missions went from $5,497 in 2006-07 to $7,693 in 2007-08. In addition, the church has given more than $2,500 to fight hunger at home and abroad and $2,033 to the Eliza Broadus Offering for state missions this year. Sunrise Children’s Services received $1,157 in 2006-07. Sharon Pyles, the church’s WMU director and Children in Action direction, said the members simply have a heart for missions. I know this is true but I also know this kind of missions support could not take place without the positive leadership of the pastor and church leaders. Rev. Naylor has been pastor during the entire 14-year history of the church. He had retired from Oaklawn Baptist Church in Paducah, where he had served twice (for 14 years). He was asked to supply at the new church and soon became the pastor. Rev. Naylor has served as a pastor for 52 years. He surrendered to God’s call to preach while serving in the Air Force in Orlando, Fla. He then returned to his native east Tennessee to attend Union University and was soon called to his first church as part-time pastor. Later he graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He tells the story of his first attempt to preach a missions sermon at the request of the WMU director as a part of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis. He knew very little about missions but did his best the next Sunday. When the WMU director greeted him after his message, she said “remember the missions sermon next Sunday!” Rev. Naylor and his wife, Voncille, have become strong leaders in support of missions. Every church they have served has developed to high levels in missions support. They are but one example of hundreds of pastors and spouses who have been strong in missions education and support. Because of their vision and commitment, the Gospel is being shared in Kentucky, across North America and around the world! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.