Without it, people in inner city Wilson would have no refuge against the drugs, prostitution, and violence seeping into their community. Without it, inmates in N.C. prisons, migrant workers in N.C. fields, and children at camps Mundo Vista and Caraway would not have heard the Gospel this summer.

Without the N.C. Missions Offering (NCMO), much work would never be accomplished for the Lord in the Tar Heel state.

In 1996, church families across North Carolina gave more than $1.75 million to the NCMO, which is collected annually in September during the Week of Prayer for N.C. Missions.

The offering supports many of the state's ministry areas including N.C. Woman's Missionary Union (WMU), N.C. Baptist Men, N.C. Baptists' Missions Division and Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. This year's goal is $2.1 million. By meeting it can Tar Heel Baptists continue to offer help and hope to their neighbors across the state. But how do they do that?

Education, awareness and faith-fulness are the key elements, according to church leaders involved in last year's offering.

Nancy Hunter, WMU leader at Raleigh's First Church, used the NCMO poster provided in her packet of materials from the State Con-vention to create a jigsaw puzzle reminder of the church's goal for the offering.

"I glued the poster to some thick cardboard and cut it into various shapes like jigsaw puzzle pieces," she said. The RAs and GAs added a piece to the puzzle for every $1000 we raised, and we left the unfinished puzzle in the church foyer as a visual reminder of our goal for the offering."

Raleigh First Church also invited special speakers from the State Convention and NCMO-supported ministries to share about their experiences during a worship service. Newsletter and bulletin announcements reminded the congregation to give.

Making the offering personal to each church member was Raleigh First Church's goal.

"We've found that if you personally hand an offering envelope to people as they come in the front doors they're more likely to realize your church's commitment to this offering and give," said Hunter.

Mrs. Gordon Maddrey, a 90-year-old Sunday School teacher at Raleigh First Church, took that idea one step further last year. "She gave out envelopes to the women in her ladies' Sunday School class, and told them, 'I expect to see something in this when you come back,'" said Hunter.

Eric Porterfield, pastor of Sanford First Church, says his church has a long-standing tradition of making the NCMO a specific line item in their budget every year. "This is an important offering and it's important enough to us to give part of our church budget, in addition to our cooperative program giving," he said.

First Church, Wilmington, gave more than $12,500 toward the NCMO in 1996. Why so much?

"Two words - Hurricane Fran!" said Jim Everett, minister of education and missions. The devastating storm slammed through their city one week before the church was to begin their Week of Prayer for NC Missions.

"We had been promoting the offering since the end of August, emphasizing that our church members could give their time and their resources to really make a difference in North Carolina," Everett said. "We told church members about all the needs around our community and state. If they could see the need , they would want to have a hand in meeting the need. Our church family was all set to give when Hurricane Fran hit."

Soon church members saw those needs all around them. Even their own building lost its steeple. The Baptist Men's Disaster Relief Team, a NCMO-supported ministry, spent weeks providing hot meals and helping hands to the local hurricane victims. "We saw needs right in our own front yards," said Everett. Steve Scoggins, pastor of Hendersonville's First Church, said people give when they see where the money goes.

Scoggins helps his congregation see where the money goes for the NCMO by conducting short interviews with special speakers during the morning worship services in September.

"We invite people from various ministries at the state Convention as well as Fruitland Bible Institute, and I ask them questions about their ministry and how the NCMO supports their work," he said. "This reinforces to our people that the offering is money well-spent." The fact that 10 percent of each association's offering is being "well-spent" in their own community is another good point to emphasize, according to Becky Hamrick, coordinator for the Women on Mission group at First Church, Shelby.

"I've found that people don't understand what portion of the NCMO comes back to their community," she said. "We stress those facts to them."

Hamrick's church also uses bulletin boards, videos, and special speakers in every Sunday School class to explain which ministries the NCMO supports.

"People need to know this offering is important, that the causes are worthy," said Ron Crawford, pastor of Asheville First Church.

With the church's WMU leading the way, church members present short, humorous skits and monologues during the Sunday morning services.

"It's a great way to visualize the need," said Crawford.

What can churches do this year to emphasize the importance of the NCMO?

Remind members about the Disaster Relief Team's work. Remind them about the prison ministry, Camp Angel Tree, and the migrant missions. Remind them that 10 percent of their offering comes back to their community. Remind them to give.

For more information about the North Carolina Missions Offering, call the Baptist State Convention at (800) 395-5102, ext. 331.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Williams is a freelance writer who lives in Wake Forest.)