ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
All God's Children, Mississippi was formed 10 years ago to bring children from Belarus to Mississippi to stay one month during the summer with a host family and to receive dental and medical care. These children live in an environment contaminated with radiation due to the nuclear reactor disaster in Chernobyl in 1986. Medical studies show that the life expectancy of a child is extended up to 2 years if he or she lives in an uncontaminated environment for 4 to 6 weeks. We also provide space for these children to attend their own Vacation Bible School at Christ UMC.
• Serve as a host family
• Donate toothpaste, tooth brushes, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications
• Pray for host families and children
• Volunteer to assist with VBS (June 15 -19)
CHINESE CULTURAL INITIATIVE
We provide free meeting space for this class for parents and their children adopted from China.
JAPANESE INITIATIVE
Christ UMC is home to the Jackson Japanese-Speaking Church that has a Bible Study each Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. and a worship service on Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
• Pray for and/or mentor a family
• Help with English classes and American Cooking classes, etc.
MISSION TRIPS
Trips will be offered during the summer, Spring Break week and whenever other opportunities become available. Christ UMC youth and adults will return to Peru to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and provide much needed work throughout the world. This year Christ UMC will continue its partnership with Salt and Light Ministries to improve the lives and living conditions in Honduras through health, education, construction, and leadership development. A family mission trip to Belize is being considered for this summer.
• Sign up to participate
• Help support a member of this mission team
• Pray for the mission teams and their work
• Adults are needed to help chaperone and work with our youth on trips
• Support fund raising efforts
MISSIONARIES: ADOPTION SUPPORT
We share in the ministry of numerous missionaries throughout the world in a more personal way. You and your small groups can be a part of God’s great work through these committed people by supporting our missionaries through monetary gifts, prayer, correspondence, hospitality, and occasional special projects. The following missionaries are part of Christ UMC’s outreach.
Jim & Angela Beise - France
Greg & Shirley Carlson - staff assignment with OMS World Mission headquarters in US
Jim Doepken – Alaska
Thomas & Mollie Gardner – Austria
Anne & Cam Gongwer – Africa - Ghana
Wyatt Gwin – Britain
Bethany Ingram - Cambodia
Ryan Seal - Africa - Trans World Radio
David & Meredith Tilly – Africa – Kenya
Cherie White Velazco - Mexico
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
We are led in this project by our Christ UMC children as we collect shoeboxes full of school supplies, toys, and candy to be sent to other children around the world. Last year Christ UMC collected over 1000 boxes and our children plan to challenge the church to increase that amount in 2009.
• Save shoeboxes throughout the year
• Look for instructions in Oct.
• Fill a shoebox and bring it to Christ UMC by designated date
SPECIAL OFFERINGS & OPPORTUNITIES
Throughout the year we take up special offerings for financial support of various ministries. We traditionally have a Christmas and Easter special offering, but we additionally provide support in emergency situations such as earthquakes, fires, and floods. Some of our yearly offerings also include support for United Methodist Committee on Relief and UM Senior Services. Also our children donate their Vacation Bible School offerings to various missions each year. We offer special mission projects in which individuals, families and larger groups (Bible studies, Sunday School classes, small groups)may participate during the seasons of Advent & Lent.
STREET BOYS OF KENYA
This mission is a partnership between Christ UMC and Lakeview Africa Gospel Church in Nakuru, Kenya. The focus of the mission is the education and the spiritual, social, and physical development of young boys in and around the area, with the goal of helping them become independent Christian citizens and leaders. You can help support through your prayers and financial gifts.
• Consider fasting one meal a week ($5.00) for an entire year and donating that saved money to support this partnership (52 week = $260.00)
• Write letters of encouragement