The California Mission Offering has a rich history dating back to the early days of California Southern Baptist Convention.  The first state mission offering for the young Southern Baptist General Convention of California was set for October 25, 1942.

The purpose of the California Mission Offering is four-fold:

• To educate California Southern Baptists about mission and ministry projects funded through their gifts to this special offering and to create an awareness of the urgent need to reach California for Christ.  About 90 percent, or 33 million, of the 36 million residents of the Golden State are considered unchurched.
• To encourage California Southern Baptists to pray for California missions and missionaries.
• To encourage California Southern Baptists to go and share their faith daily and through short- and long-term mission projects.
• To encourage California Southern Baptist churches to participate in giving to missions through the California Mission Offering.

Also included in this section is background information on S.G. Posey, a former California Southern Baptist executive, who inspired the offering.