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something the Holy Spirit has done,” Alderman says. “We give the Lord all the praise, it’s not us.”
M is s i o n - Foc us ed Alderman’s son, Chris, is a co-pastor at the church. Like his dad, Chris has a strong passion for missions. “I really think the New Testament model is to get the gospel out to every living creature and God will take care of the needs you have at home, in ways beyond what we can understand” says Chris. With an average weekly attendance of just over 100 people, one might assume that after paying its basic operating expenses, this little country church wouldn’t have much left over for missions. However, Little Rock Baptist actually supports over 40 missionaries. Even more astonishing is the amount of financial support the church provides for mission outreach. Last year, Little Rock Baptist gave over $389,000 to missions. Over the past three years the church has given over $1 million to missions. Pastor Alderman says the sacrificial giving of the congregation is a sign of their commitment and spiritual depth. The Lord has provided the church with people who are willing to step out in faith when it comes to giving. “The Lord sends us members… good ones,” he says. Regarding the sacrificial giving of Little Rock Baptist’s members, Chris shares how the Lord has been faithful to the members in their giving. “As the Lord has provided for them, it has increased their faith and lets them know they have to keep putting missions first. Everything that has been done here has been done of faith.”
Wh y Little Roc k Baptis t Su pp o rts Th e G i d eo n s I nter nati o nal Ever since that first Gideon camp opened in Dillon County, the church has had members who were Gideons. Each year, they raise thousands of dollars in financial support through the GideonCard Bible Program and special events.
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“I tell pastors all the time that Gideons are the most effective missionary agency in the whole world, in the history of missions. They don’t have to learn the language, they’re in the field, they’re doing personal witnessing, they don’t have to establish themselves first, and they’re able to effectively communicate the gospel immediately. You don’t get any better bang for your buck in missions than to get behind the Gideons.” We praise God for all He is accomplishing through Pastor Alderman, the people of Little Rock Baptist, and the Gideon camp in Dillon County. Souls are being saved and lives are being changed by the gospel. “There’s nothing more important for this world than the Word of God, and giving the gospel to people who are lost,” Alderman says. “And there is no organization on earth that is as effective and productive at doing this than The Gideons International.”
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