PARKESBURG, PA (ABNS 12/9/19)—On behalf of American Baptist Churches USA, MMBB Financial Services honors Parkesburg Baptist Church in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania with the 2018 Widow’s Mite Award. MMBB recognizes Parkesburg Baptist Church for the congregation’s dedication and giving to the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO). The RMMO, one of four national ABCUSA offerings, provides financial support to retired ministers, missionaries and their widowed spouses who have served ABCUSA for 15 or more years.

This year’s RMMO theme centers around, Honoring the Service of God’s Servants, a sentiment that celebrates the more than 40-year legacy of the offering. Senior Pastor of Parkesburg Baptist Church, Rev. Mary C. Lewis understands the importance of honoring the RMMO tradition. She remarks, “We are eternally grateful to serve a God who is eternally faithful. Giving to RMMO provides an opportunity to model that example of His faithfulness to show our love and support to those who have served.”

Associate Executive Director, MMBB Rev. Dr. Perry Hopper presenting the award to Parkesburg Baptist Church Pastor, Mary Lewis and Mission Board Chair, Michelle Myles

The annual Widow’s Mite award acknowledges churches that demonstrate outstanding leadership and a continued commitment to supporting RMMO. As a mission focused congregation, Parkesburg impacts the lives of so many with their community outreach programs that include food pantry donations, annual mission trips, and volunteering offsite to help local youth and service projects.

The roots of RMMO date back to the mid-1930s; providing assistance to ministers, missionaries, and their widowed spouses who have devoted their lives to God’s service. The offering provides emergency assistance in their times of need and, for those eligible, a “Thank You” check at the end of each year.

Parkesburg Baptist Church

MMBB presents this award to commemorate the anonymous gift in 1981 of a Vietnamese woman worshipping with the First Chinese Baptist Church of Fresno, CA. Having no prior knowledge of the meaning of the offering, she slipped off her wristwatch, her only possession of value, and placed it in the envelope. This act of gratitude reflects the spirit of thankfulness and generosity Jesus speaks about in Luke 21: 1–4.

We are thankful for this opportunity to commemorate Parkesburg Baptist Church for their persistent dedication to RMMO, the ABC family and their community. It is important to remember those who have given their lives in service to do God’s work and the faithful givers whose generosity contributes to the success of this offering.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.