Scripture Reference: Acts 1:8b (NIV)
“And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Great Commission is the mandate to go and share about Jesus and His love. It is in the Acts passage where He reveals a plan for spreading His message of reconciliation, starting where we live and moving out from there. The Great Commission begins here - in California - in neighborhoods where we live, work, go to school, worship, shop and play.

California Southern Baptists are reaching the world in California because the world literally has come to our state. It is estimated there are more than 250 people groups in California. Weekly, California Southern Baptist church services, Bible studies and gatherings are conducted in more than 75 languages/dialects.

California is home to more than 38 million people. Of that population, 87 percent, or about 33 million, are unchurched or don’t have a personal relationship with Christ. North America is the fourth largest unreached nation in the world. California is the 37th most populous unreached area in the world.

These demographics alone demonstrate the world has come to California and that "The Great Commission Begins Here." When you give to the California Mission Offering you are fulfilling the Great Commission where you live. California Southern Baptists do this cooperatively as we proclaim Jesus in a variety of ways such as resort missions; church starting for language, culture and ethnic groups; evangelism projects; literacy missions; community ministries; Disaster Relief; associational missions; and much more.

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.

You can make a difference in "Reaching the World in California" 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. 

• To educate California Southern Baptists concerning the urgent need of reaching our state for Jesus Christ. California is a vast and diverse state with about 33 million unchurched residents who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. California Southern Baptists must be obedient to Christ’s commission of reaching the world that has truly come to our state.
• To encourage California Southern Baptists to pray for California missions and state missionaries who work with churches to share the Gospel. Prayer is a vital part of missionary and ministry support. When we open our hearts to God, He hears us and responds.
• To encourage California Southern Baptists to go on mission and share their faith. California Southern Baptists can accomplish this without traveling great distances by being on mission and sharing their faith right where they live. Going and sharing could mean just across the street, or it might mean across town. However, God may be calling you to go to another city in the state to share His love.
• To encourage California Southern Baptists to give so missionaries and ministries throughout the state can be deployed to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. With this support, California Southern Baptists will be able to do more to tell people about Jesus and His saving grace.