wfn.org | ABCUSA: RMMO Widow's Mite Award Presented to Barrington Avenue

["BROWN, Matthew" <Matthew.Brown@abc-usa.org>]

Baptist Church

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS)-On Sunday, December 4, 2005, the Barrington
Avenue Baptist Church, Los Angeles, Calif., will receive the 2005
Widow's Mite Award for its outstanding record of giving to the annual
Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO). The Rev. José
Ricardo Hernandez is pastor of the church.

The Rev. Jorge Aledo, member service representative of The Ministers and
Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB), will present the award to the church
on behalf of the RMMO Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council selected the Barrington Avenue Baptist Church from
among American Baptist Hispanic congregations with a consistent record
of giving and an exemplary commitment to the denomination. From 2001 to
2004, the church's total giving to the RMMO was $5,076, a yearly average
of $1,269.

The Widow's Mite Award commemorates the anonymous gift in 1981 of a
Vietnamese refugee woman worshipping with the First Chinese Baptist
Church of Fresno, Calif. Not knowing the full intent of the offering,
but understanding the words "thank you" printed on the offering
envelope, she slipped off her wristwatch, her only possession of value,
and placed it in the envelope.

Even though December 4 is the Sunday most American Baptist congregations
receive the offering, many churches continue receiving contributions
throughout the month. RMMO promotional materials are available from
Judson Press, 800.458.3766. The offering is administered by MMBB.