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The Church is God's answer:
More churches doing more missions is
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April 2010

Congregation in Kansas provides for basic needs in small community in Guatemala   (click to open/close)

A Nazarene congregation in Kansas planned to provide funds and personnel for construction projects in a small community in Guatemala. According to Mission Match application materials, "Our congregation is very mission oriented. As a congregation of approximately 200 attendees, this project will stretch our vision and personal stewardship beyond the level that we have attained over the last few years. We want to accept the challenge to pray more, and contribute more to the work of missions. We believe our faith involvement in our project will result in the changed lives of many Guatemalan citizens by the power of the Gospel preached and lived in the name of Jesus." The application materials continue, "Our current project will construct restrooms (two men's and two women's) with a septic tank and complete a local church owned classroom building that needs windows, doors, flooring, and lighting." The application materials also stated, "Elementary education is provided in the village up to the sixth grade. After that, the students must commute by bus to the next town. The students are responsible for the costs of school beyond the sixth grade. Many of these children do not have the income available to make those investments unless they are sponsored by someone outside their community or country. The completion of the church classroom building will expand the opportunity for use on Sunday and will make it possible to start a Christian school for young teens seventh grade through high school. The classroom will become multi-functional and will provide resource areas for tutoring, classes in life skills, education on the Biblical principles of abstinence and the sanctity of human life, personal hygiene, and safe food handling and preparation. These teaching strategies will greatly enhance the quality of life in the village." According to communication from the Kansas church, they "have two members from our church going on this trip. We are excited to take on this challenge and let all in our congregation and those who cannot go this time be a part of these projects through their prayers and offerings." Follow-up comments to Mission Match from the congregation stated, "Our goal was to complete the Classroom Building that was started previously and purchase materials. Five men were hired to help with our project, thus giving them needed work to help support their families." Comments further indicated that the floor was completed with concrete, cement blocks were used to divide the building into three rooms and materials were purchased for doors, windows, lighting and ceiling fans. Comments continued, "The men of the church will complete the classroom building with stucco and paint and it will be ready for use by the middle of May for expanding the church's ministry to the village people. The restroom situation is also a very needed project on the church property, but design plans had to be changed because of recent action by the government to put sewer lines in the streets of the village. Currently the restroom project is on hold." Additional follow-up comments stated, "We have learned to be flexible in our expectation of how much can be done in a short week trip. Sometimes special needs divert initial plans. The security of the church property has been a real problem. We worked on laying more rows of block for the security wall and preparing columns for the gates. Materials were purchased for a large metal gate to be placed at the entrance, and a smaller walk through gate." (Photos show security wall and entrance gate.) The comments indicated that needs of individual villagers were addressed by the congregation. One item sent by the congregation was "a new sewing machine, fabric and thread for continued women's ministry. This provides work for several women who we have taught to sew and bead. They make items to sell to support their families and are paid a fair wage. (Photo shows ladies sewing.)" In closing comments the congregation trip coordinator stated, "Mission Match really encouraged our congregation to give more sacrificially. Thank you for providing the incentive, encouragement and additional funds to help make this a successful trip. To God be the Glory for all that was done and will continue to impact this village in the name of Jesus."


Summer 2009

Congregation in New York builds a new primary school, ministers to youth, and trains teachers in Kenya   (click to open/close)

An American Baptist church in New York received a second Mission Match matching contribution to fund a mission project in Kenya, Africa. According to the congregation's Mission Match application cover letter "we have been working collaboratively with our sister church in Kenya since 2002." According to the Mission Match application materials, the funds were to be used for "youth ministries, teacher training, and construction of a new building for the primary school, including leveling and seeding the assembly/play area." According to follow-up comments from the congregation: "Our goals were to work with our brothers and sisters in [Kenya] to (a) build a new primary school; (b) drill a bore hole for water; (c) conduct youth ministry activities; (d) conduct professional development for area teachers; (e) hold rabies clinics; and (f) level and seed the assembly/play area at the primary school. All of these goals have been achieved with the last (f) scheduled for completion this summer." Additional comments from the New York church stated, "Mission Match has allowed our congregation to realize that even a small amount of money can grow into life-changing efforts. Our congregation's willingness to give more to missions increased as a result of Mission Match. It is a wonderful opportunity to increase mission giving and awareness."


Summer 2009

Congregation in Michigan helps with construction in Michigan   (click to open/close)

A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Michigan sent a team to work with another church at a Summer Work Camp Program in Michigan. The church applied for Mission Match matching funds to assist their youth with this summer work camp. According to the congregation's Mission Match application materials, seven youth and three leaders were to work with another Presbyterian church "on a new construction home for a needy family" in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in the area, "and clean and organize the Restore facilities." They also would have "the opportunity to host a dinner for some of the area partner families and go on a social outing with them." According to materials with the application, the youth "expressed a desire to be stretched beyond their comfort zones," this church is from "a very small rural town with very little racial diversity. The youth expressed a desire to work in an urban setting to express Christ's compassion in a tangible way to those living in poverty. They desired to work for a community in which they learned from and served brothers and sisters that are racially diverse." In follow-up comments to Mission Match from the church, not only did the "youth want to be stretched beyond their comfort zones, especially in the area of understanding urban poverty and racial inequality." Another goal was "to express Christ's love." According to the follow-up comments from the youth director, "I do believe that these goals were accomplished. It was a good experience for the congregation to support a mission trip through giving and the Mission Match, and not through fundraising."


September 2009

Congregation in Kansas upgrades a mission house in South Dakota   (click to open/close)

A Nazarene congregation in Kansas upgraded the parsonage at a Nazarene mission in South Dakota. According to the congregation's Mission Match application materials, the main goal of this mission work was to better equip the mission house for the resident missionaries by providing resources and labor. A new metal roof was purchased and put on the parsonage. A walkway was also installed from the house to the gate and the basement was finished for use as a guest room. According to follow-up comments from the congregation, "The job was a lesson in the way God works. We had planned to tear the old shingles off and lay the metal on the decking. However, when we got up Monday morning, the wind was blowing and it looked like rain. So, we formed up the walkway for cement, started on the basement, and put soffit on the porch that day. Tuesday, the wind was still blowing, so we decided to furrow out the roof, rather than to tear off the shingles, and to manhandle the metal. We were going to pour the cement on Wednesday, but when we called the cement plant Tuesday, they said they would be tied up then and wondered if they could bring the cement right away. We were ready and got the cement a day early!" The comments continued: "We prayed that the weather would change and, on Wednesday, we had just enough breeze to keep things cool but not to bother us while putting down the sheeting. Praise the Lord! Thursday, the wind blew again! If the cement had also come on Wednesday, we might not have been able to get the roof done. God has his time and way of doing things." In comments about the scope of this project for the congregation they said, "Our church has always been good about giving to missions. However, without Mission Match assistance, we would not have been able to take on a project of this magnitude. It changed how a couple of young men on the team will now view missions and giving to missions. They both came back extremely changed. In fact, they are planning another trip to the area to finish some smaller projects and to build some corrals."




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