Sharing God's Love: Hope for the World - Mission Focus 2012
The mission focus for 2012 centers on bringing hope to a hurting world. People need to hear and experience the love and salvation of Christ through us. We want to give hope to others as we share the gospel with them, offering hope for a better life in this world and the next. Four mission opportunities have been adopted for this year's focus.
For 2012, the FPC Mission/Service Team has committed to support three projects and raise a total of $50,000. The projects we have identified are:
MUST Ministries has transitional housing facilities that are now in need of significant maintenance and refurbishment. A vital part of assimilating homeless people back into the mainstream of society is the transitional housing program. As soon as a client successfully completes a six-week stay at the Elizabeth Inn Emergency Housing facility, he or she can move into the Transitional Housing phase of recovery. Transitional housing can hold a maximum of 14 singles and two families for up to 6-month stays. Residence arrangements are renewed every two months. The guidelines to participate include employment and a $75 per week program fee. While in transitional housing the clients are each assigned a case manger who helps set goals and a budget. These are reviewed during weekly meetings. During their stays, clients are eligible for employment, education, food pantry use, and other assistance provided by MUST Day Services. Additionally, if a client is recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, he or she is required to attend recovery meetings and to provide verification of attendance. This program allows people to have hope as they learn to live self-sufficient and productive lives.
The FPC Mission/Service Team has committed to raise $10,000 to support MUST Ministries.
SIS (She Is Safe, formally Sisters In Service) has had amazing success in giving hope to the hopeless women and children in the poorest areas of India. SIS works together with four Indian partners to provide freedom and empowerment for deeply impoverished, abused, and exploited women and girls. Groups of women, called Transformation Groups, gather weekly to learn literacy and vocational skills, health and hygiene, and to be introduced to Christ. There have been 41,124 individual women who have gone through the year-long training over the last 5 years, and many are on a waiting list to join. Many more could be accommodated if there were needed funds. One dollar a day for a year transforms one woman's life in every way, strengthening her and her family to fight abuse and exploitation. SIS's most exciting project in India is the building of a Women's Training Center for Transformation Groups and other women's outreach.
The FPC Mission/Service Team has committed to raise $10,000 to support SIS.
Renacimiento community in Monterrey, Mexico – FPC Marietta will continue its relationship with the Renacimiento community in Monterrey, Mexico, through the Gringo mission trips and the FPC men's trip. Plans include rebuilding a fire-damaged house and completing roofing on several houses. We have already been blessed to see how sharing the love of Christ and using our resources have given this community hope for a better future..
The FPC Mission/Service Team has committed to raise $20,000 to support Renacimiento.
Local service projects and disaster response are also ways to give hope to others and to share God's love for them. FPC has many committed volunteers who are ready to serve those around us with their time and talents. Starting with the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, members of our congregation have actively become involved in disaster assistance around the southeast. We have sent 13 teams of men, women, and youth to the Gulf Coast to assist in the clean-up and rebuilding of that area. In addition to building houses, we have helped encourage the rebuilding of affected lives. In the past year we sent two teams to Nashville, responding to the flood damage in that area, and to Etowah County in Alabama, where we assisted two families whose homes were totally lost in last spring's tornados. Needs remain in these communities, and we never know when additional serious weather events may occur. We would like to be prepared to buy supplies and to equip teams to assist those in need.
The FPC Mission/Service Team has committed to raise $10,000 to support Local service projects and disaster response.
We are currently in the midst of our March Mission Focus Madness. Throughout March more information will be provided at each worship service. We invite you to learn more and prayerfully consider what commitment you can make to these efforts. A pledge card is available in the bulletins on Sunday, in the FPC News or you may pledge online now.
Please contact your with any questions you may have or to support one or more of these projects.
Sharing God's Love: Hope for the World - Mission Focus 2012
