"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19,20 (HCSB)

It was never Christ's habit to mince words. The message that was clear so long ago is clear today. We are to spread the word of His gospel to all the nations. Missions is a word that conjures up images of far distant lands with missionaries doing their thing to tell primitive people about Jesus. Most of us figure that since we weren't called to the "mission field", we're off the hook. Not so.

The word "Go" in Matthew 28:19 literally means to "go one's way" or "take a journey". In other words, "as you are going". Missions is everywhere. We welcome the opportunity to see where God is at work and join Him!

Northside provides missions support through a number of channels.

First, we participate in the supporting the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptist's way of supporting over 5000 missionaries in nearly 130 countries, and 5000 more serving in the United States in various capacities. Those monies also support six seminaries and the other agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention. We do this through our giving to the Baptist Convention of New York. We voluntarily affiliate with these entities believing we can do more together than we could ever do by ourselves.

Special Offerings
In addition to this we observe three special offering emphases for missions. They are the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions (named after a missionary to China), the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions and the Paul and Ava James State Missions Offering for the Baptist Convention of New York.

CNY Baptists
We next support the work of the Central New York Baptist Association, an association of 35 churches that stretch from Binghamton to Owego to Newark to Phoenix to Rome.

Mid-America Seminary
We support Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. The seminary has two campuses. One is located in Memphis, Tennessee and the other in the Albany area (Schenectady). Two of our pastors received their Master of Divinity degrees from Mid-America. Ironically, the church supported the school before they came on staff. Northside shares the vision to reach the Northeast through training indigenous leaders for the churches and to start new churches. 25% of the population of the United States lives within 250 miles of Albany. Praise God for the vision of Dr. Gray Allison, founding president, and the current leadership and for their hearts for the Northeast.

Local Missions
We support several wonderful local ministries. Rather than 'reinventing the wheel', we believe it makes more sense to partner with existing ministries. We gladly support the work of the Syracuse Rescue Mission with resources as well as volunteers throughout the year. We also support the compassionate work of New Hope Family Services, which reaches out for life to this community.  On the Syracuse University campus, we support the outreach of International Friendship Evangelism, which ministers mainly to foreign students, who often feel very lost in a strange culture. In the Tug Hill region near Redfield, just north of Syracuse, lies the High Braes Refuge. This Christian children’s camp and retreat center, directed by Jeff Andrews, touches the lives of many, young and old alike.  A recent addition is Young Life – Syracuse North’s Capernaum ministry, an outreach to teens and young adults with permanent disabilities.  These often ignored and almost invisible members of our community find biblical fellowship and social activities through the staff and volunteers of this organization.

Individuals
We support individuals who have had a connection with Northside and serve in ministries where they must raise their own financial support by faith. J and K Parot (name changed for security reasons) work with Campus Crusade for Christ International in the Jesus Video Project, sometimes even in lands hostile or closed to the gospel.  Larry and Gail Taylor also work with a Campus Crusade ministry called CrossRoads, and travel to areas challenged by the dread of AIDS and minister with an abstinence program that is saving lives.  Scott Thomson attended Northside while a student at Syracuse University. He and his wife, Jen are now campus ministers at the University of Connecticut and we are very blessed to be part of their support team.  Lindsay Boccardo, also an SU grad, serves with Crusade’s Keynote music ministry that shares the gospel with students, soldiers, and prison inmates through concerts.  Most recently, Joe and Jen Cassel joined Northside’s Campus Crusade team.  They have just settled near Albany, NY to touch the lives of college students in the NY capitol region.  Serving in Crusade’s high school ministry, Student Venture, Kar-Lai Leung recruits staff to establish programs touching teens in many major metropolitan areas.

Brian and Sarah Hampshire minister to children in Kentucky through a missions organization called BCM International. We were blessed to have the Hampshires here at Northside for quite a while until they followed God's call further south. We rejoice in how he is using them there. Another former Northside family that has answered the call to missions is Steve and Jessica Otto. They serve at Iglesia Del Camino in Antigua, Guatemala, where Steve is the International Missions Coordinator.  At Miracle Mountain Ranch in northwestern Pennsylvania, Roger & Cathy Piger and Kara Baratta are part of the team that present gospel-centered activities through horsemanship camps, retreats, and camp ministry apprenticeship programs.  On the athletic end of the spectrum, Jeremy and Caitlin Auyer serve with Missionary Athletes International, which presents sports evangelism and athletic camps by the Charlotte (NC) Lady Eagles soccer team.

AWANA Missionary
AWANA club has made a huge impact on the ministry to children at Northside and in this community. Our missionary is Bob Bennett and his wife Dorinda. They are wonderful resource people to help with training, answering questions and giving input to this growing ministry. We welcome the opportunity to support them as well as to give in the adopt-a-club program internationally.

Church plants - Moriah, NY and Syracuse’s Hawley Ave area
Lake Placid Baptist Church and North Country Ministries is sponsoring a church plant in Moriah, NY called Lake Champlain Bible Fellowship. Pastor Keith Savage and his family have settled near Mineville, NY to begin this new ministry.  We have partnered with them to assist in getting this new and exciting work off the ground. Having been similarly blessed at times in our history, it's an honor and privilege to help another congregation in this way. Starting an inner-city work can be daunting, but Pastor James Pannafino has been leading the charge to establish a church in the Hawley Avenue area of Syracuse.  Lighthouse Community Church is reaching out to this very needy neighborhood of Central NY, with support and volunteer help from Northside.

Jenna Currey - New Tribes Mission
Nothing is quite as exciting as watching young people grow up and respond to God's calling on their lives. Such is the case with Jenna Currey, whose family joined Northside during her early teen years. You don't have to be around Jenna very long to realize that she's serious about the Lord and His Word.  Jenna and her co-worker Rebekah Huffman have just moved to Paraguay, and are beginning language study in the capital city of Asunción.  We are thrilled as a church to be able to help support them in their ministry to Paraguay, where they will help to bring the Bible to unreached peoples of that country. For more information, visit Jenna's webpage at http://www.ntm.org/jenna_currey/

Volunteer Missions
We also have a Volunteer Mission Fund approved by the church to help support those who go out from our congregation on short term mission projects.