Metro Baptist has a history of lively support for and participation in missions beyond our local community. That, however, has not been our more recent reality. As the "war" within our birth denomination came to an end, our sense of global mission support was "collateral damage"-as the military likes to sanitize non-targeted victims. Collateral damage should never become taken for granted, socially acceptable, and religiously justifiable. Yet, as we struggled to meet our own basic operating expenses (essential for the fulfillment of our mission in this community), budget necessities cut mission support-once again, collateral damage. And I cringe.

New mission organizations with mission goals and procedures which resonate with our own have formed. They support and represent our understanding of missions in the twenty-first century. We have had an active presence in their formation. Yet, still focused on our own heavy load, we have not taught ourselves about the wonderful ways in which these new partners in ministry provide an avenue for extending our ministry globally. Nor have we embraced these ventures with wholehearted financial support.

With the leadership of Eva Mae Babalis our ministry of mission education and support will be given the opportunity for new life at Metro. You will learn how through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches are resourced for local ministry and global mission ministries receive support with both personnel and finances. You will learn how the Alliance of Baptists is committed to being a fellowship of and a voice for progressive Baptists across the U.S. encouraging one another and providing financial assistance to innovative mission ministries in such places as Chicago, Bethlehem, Cuba and Zimbabwe. You will learn more about the medical ministry of Martha Carlough to impoverished women in villages of Nepal. You will learn about the ministry of Grafitti on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs in Washington, DC. And you will learn about our link through the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association with churches who cooperatively minister in the NYC region.

This year's theme for the CBF's mission emphasis is: "Doing Justice and Mercy in a World without Borders." The theme for the Alliance is: "Bridges of Hope." Both are worthy of our full support and lively participation. Neither should be collateral damage.