“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV)

From most people’s perspective, the California lifestyle is one brimming with excitement and a bright future. To other Americans and to most of the world’s population, the California lifestyle is a good one – filled with the glamour of Hollywood, the beauty of the geography and the sports and leisure which accompany it, and the energy of techno-savvy businesses of all kinds. Many look at Californians and are fascinated with lifestyles seemingly filled with charm, appeal, thrill and hope.

However, looks can be deceiving and hope is flickering. Many Californians live in dark days – days filled with drug addictions, debt, alcohol, stress, pornography, materialism, divorce, workaholism, abuse of all kinds, and a litany of other vices. About 33 million Californians don’t realize the only true hope is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Henry David Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation … .” However, that doesn’t have to be the model for life because God can change lives and give them purpose. This is why it is important for California Southern Baptists to reach the lost and make disciples in the Golden State. One way we do this cooperatively is through the California Mission Offering which provides “Bright Hope for Dark Days.”

Through CMO, you make a difference in reaching Californians who don’t know Jesus by:

• starting churches to reach California’s diverse population,
• strengthening churches and helping them remain healthy,
• giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name through Disaster Relief, migrant and a variety of other ministries,
• partnering with associations to provide needed support for local projects, and
• providing valuable mission support to churches and their pastors in crisis times, and to students by providing scholarships for those training to be pastors and church staff members.

You can make a difference in providing “Bright Hope for Dark Days” by giving to the California Mission Offering. Gifts to the offering provide needed support for projects and ministries in every part of the Golden State.