Virginia Missions - Alma Hunt Offering

     Alma Hunt, at over 90 years of age, is a Virginia born academian who has traveled the world (over 93 countries) to further the cause of missions. "Miss Alma" is an inspirational figure in her dedication to missions and furthering the cause of Christ. As Executive Secretary of the WMU, Miss Alma gave 26 years of superior leadership. The membership of WMU grew to over one million during this period, and the Annie Armstrong Offering and Lottie Moon Offering soared as well. Being a native Virginian, Virginia Baptists celebrate in naming the offering for mission causes in Virginia for Miss Alma.

     Visit the Alma Hunt website.

Designations for the Alma Hunt Offering in Virginia have included the following:
 

• New Church Investment Grant - This grant can be used for the purchase of land by churches and by associations for the purpose of starting new missions/churches, for assisting new missions/churches in initial building, or for rent for churches that might operate for some years without their own facilities.
• Migrant / Rural Ethnic Ministries - This supports associations and churches in Southside Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, and the Eastern Shore who minister to migrants and imported farm workers. These funds will assist with worship services and Bible studies in the language of the workers, as well as assisting in the physical needs of the workers.
• Bland Ministry Center and the Appalachian Mountain Ministry - These funds will be used to help implement new projects as part of a multi-state effort to make an impact on Appalachia, which have among the highest unemployment and poverty rates in Virginia.
• Scholarship Assistance for Ethnic and African American Pastors and Key Leaders
• Strategic Urban Ministry Initiatives - Funds here assist churches in the urban centers that are starting new strategic ministries to the needy in their communities.
• Strategic Rural / Small Town Ministry Initiatives - These funds are to assist churches in the rural areas and small towns that are starting new strategic ministries to the needy in their communities.
• Mission Opportunity Points / Transformers  - Mission Opportunity Points (MOP) and Transformers are hands-on mission opportunities for Virginia Baptist adults and youth that help local churches, associations, and communities to advance their strategies of reaching people and meeting the needs of hurting people in the name of Jesus Christ.
• Northeastern Collegiate Project - In conjunction with Eastern Slope states, a one or two year Volunteer on Missions program for recent college graduates or juniors or seniors.  This utilizes needs requests from all Eastern Slope states and their Partnership states and countries to establish intentional Christian communities in urban areas in the Eastern Slope region.
• Inner-City Sports Camp
• Salary Assistance for Mission Pastors
• Minister Care Program shares some of the cost of pastoral counseling for ministers and their immediate families in times of crisis.
• IMPACT, Virginia - This is a hands-on mission project for teenagers throughout Virginia. In 2000 over 1200 teenagers and adults were involved in missions projects primarily focusing on renovating and repairing low income homes.

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hop and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Updated 9/7/07