March 12-18, 2010, Regional DOC Caminante work/study mission trip to the Dominican Republic. In a partnership closely aligned with, and supported by, our Global Ministries, this new trip to Boca Chica will be led by Rick Hendricks. Caminante provides vocational and educational ministries to children and youth at risk of being lured into illicit drug and sex trades that are rampant in this growing tourist mecca. Read about it in the Central Region Newsletter, and if you would like more information, contact Rev. Charles Hattendorf: chattendorf (at) okdisciples (dot) org
The adult mission trip to Los Fresnos, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico, will be May 29-June 4, 2010. Join us for work projects for Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries and Juntos Servimos. We will be staying in the church dorms in Los Fresnos, and travel across the border to assist with work projects in Mexico for Juntos Servimos, which provides refuge for people who are ill and abandoned, and operates a small school to help educate the neighborhood children. They are currently expanding their Casa Bugambilia facility to serve as a hospice and long-term rehabilitation center.
We welcome college students to join us in this ministry and support your participation with scholarships. Please join us to find out how you can be a part of this important ministry of church.
For more information, attend our Planning Meeting at 7:00pm Thursday, February 11, or speak with any past participant, or call Tracy Nordquist at 742-0707 or email at tcnordquist (at) aol (dot) com
The previous trip to Mexico, in 2009, (see Itinerary) can be viewed in Aaron's BLOGS, PHOTOS, & VIDEOS.
In preparation the 2009 mission trip, Rev. Feliberto Pereira shared his story on May 17, 2009: Imprisoned for four years in Cuba for refusing to reject his Christian beliefs, he became a refugee after his 1969 release, and relocated to Miami, Florida, through the Freedom Flights program, the largest airlift of refugees in U.S. history.
Pereira settled in south Texas, and in 1984 founded Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries to assist international refugees seeking protection from violence and persecution. First Christian Stillwater has supported Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries as one of its outreach ministries for a number of years.
Joining Pereira was Chris Kelley, a member of Northway Christian Church of Dallas, Texas, who co-authored a book on Pereira's inspirational life and ministry. The book, I Was A Stranger: Hope For A Hidden World, is a National Best Books 2008 Awards finalist.
(To learn more, view Aaron and Tracy's photo album of the 2008 trip, or listen to Aaron's Report 2008.)
Rev. Rick Hendricks' Sabbatical in Costa Rica.
Mission of Biblical Literacy (DOC in Georgia) Newsletter.
"Advent Conspiracy" website.
Check out nation-wide charities with www.CharityNavigator.org or the BBB.
Message from Rick Hendricks, Associate Minister:
Doing for others is at the very heart of what it means to be Christian. Caring for the lonely, the lost, the powerless, those who hurt, those who have little, brings into focus our understanding of ministry and our walk of faith.
Reaching out into the community, and reaching out to places whose names we can barely pronounce, meeting the needs of healing and helping and sharing the good news in as many ways as we can, helps us to fulfill Christ’s commission for us to ‘go into all the world...’
When you donate to outreach causes, especially some of those listed here, we encourage you to understand that these are all ‘over and above’ gifts, and should be reflected in your overall giving, but should be given apart from the regular offering pledge that you make to the church. We have provided this list in order that you can plan your giving and make provision in your decisions for giving both to the church budget, and to those special causes that interest you and move you to ‘extra’ giving.
Doing for others is at the heart of what it means to be Christian. Put your faith into action as you consider how to be good stewards.
February*—Week of Compassion
Offering provides emergency
and long-term assistance to victims of natural disasters, help for displaced
persons, support for volunteer projects, and grants for college students to
participate in mission trips.
*or as needed to respond to disasters.
March-April—Easter Offering helps extend the Disciples’ mission of providing for physical and spiritual needs in neighborhoods nearby and in ninety developing countries.
May-June—Pentecost Offering supports new Disciples faith communities with training, coaching, materials, project funding, etc.
September-October—Reconciliation Offering supports Disciples’ efforts to advocate for, educate about, and organize to dismantle systemic racism and structural oppression.
November—Thanksgiving Offering supports fourteen Disciples-related colleges and universities and seven theological schools that help prepare students for Christian life and leadership.
December—Christmas Offering funds regional ministries that serve local congregations, such as pastoral care and conflict management; leadership workshops and networking; calling, licensing, and ordaining ministers; and growing faithful Disciples through camps, conferences, and youth ministries.
For more information on any of these offerings, go to: www.churchfinancecouncil.org
Monthly—First Sunday Food Drive assists COCAA (Action, Inc.) in their service to provide food for homeless families and individuals working to attain self sufficiency while at the Mission of Hope Shelter.
Fifth Sunday collections for Helping Hands provides immediate and emergency assistance to community residents with voucher payments for utility bills, transportation, groceries, medicines, etc.
February—A Valentine Dinner helps fund Friendship Camp, a loving and learning summer camp opportunity with Christian youth counselors and leaders for children otherwise unable to participate.
March—Daffodil Sunday benefits the American Cancer Society by honoring and memorializing those who have experienced personal battles against cancer.
Christmas in July contributes to the purchase of school supplies and clothing for local children identified as needy by social service agencies. Church members meet with the children and a parent to shop in preparation for school.
Note: The above-mentioned outreach projects and programs include most of those which are in the oversight of the Outreach Department but independent of the FCC Outreach Department budget. Various groups, such as Disciples Women’s Fellowship and youth in the congregation, conduct special fundraisers to support particular causes. The opportunity to contribute is given to all members and non-members of FCC.
June—Mission to Matamoros An annual adult mission trip to Mexico organized through Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries. Matamoros is the site of a desperately poor and underserved population.
September—CROP Walk An opportunity to come together with other churches in town to raise money for Church World Service which distributes to the needy throughout the world.
October—Blanket Sunday An effort by the Church World Service to help provide warm blankets to others in the wake of disasters.
| Disciples Mission Fund* | $20,000 |
| Central Area, Christian Church | $500 |
| Central Christian Camp | $700 |
| Local Benevolence** | $2,500 |
| OK Capital Improvement Fund | $2,400 |
| OK Conference of churches | $250 |
| Annual Fund, Christian Church of OK | $500 |
| OSU Interfaith Council | $200 |
| TOTAL OUTREACH | $27,050 |
*Disciples Mission Fund – Financial resources from all Disciples congregations are shared in this common fund to help achieve the shared visions of a faithful, growing church that demonstrates true community, deep spirituality, and passion for justice.
**Local Benevolence requests are considered by members of the Outreach Department and allocated four times a year.
First Christian Church
411 West Mathews Avenue
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075
Phone: (405)372-7722
Website: www.firstchristianstillwater.org;
or this "beta" site, FCC-STW.org
Angela Inglish's reports on Africa; and Previous Years' Projects.