Is your church experience less than meaningful? Down deep inside do you have a thought that your faith is more than committee meetings, sitting in the pew, planning the annual picnic?

Why doesn't this restlessness go away? Switching churches hasn't helped. Switching pastors hasn't either.

What will it take? What would joy look like?

Try the following:

Baptist Churches exist for mission and ministry, not for themselves.

"You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world" --- Jesus Christ, as quoted by Luke.

Many churches of the Great Rivers Region live this out each day, in good and poor economic times. Many members recognize that our poorest of economic times has us in much better condition that what most in this world experience in the best of their times.

What are members of these churches doing brings meaning, purpose, and joy to their lives?

What would be your first steps?

• Read the stories of the missionaries linked to in the lefthand column of this page.

• E-mail them with the question, "How can I help?" When they answer, prayerfully attempt to do this.

• Recruit members of your church to join with you...perhaps on a work trip.

• Pray for them.

• Give to United Mission, World Mission Offering, GRReat Churches Offering, and to the missionaries through their Mission Partnerships.