LOCAL MISSIONS EDITION - Longview EPC · dren, lead the children in a Bible story provided by...
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April, 2017 MISSIONS @ LONGVIEW EPC Longview EPC is “…a faith family walking together to know Christ and to make him known by…affecng social renew- al." In 2016 the Session of Longview EPC, in conjuncon with the Mission Team, established a Mission Framework to guide how we will affect social renewal; in other words, how we will join God in his mission to bring love and jusce to the ends of the earth. The intent of this first edion of our Missions newsleer is to introduce that framework in terms of local missions. The next edion will introduce how the framework plays out in terms of global missions. THE WORK Look, I tell you, liſt up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (John 4:35) For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field (1 Cor 3:9) As you know, God is at work everywhere. But we are not God. We have to select how many and which “fields” to serve. Aſter months of prayerful consideraon, the Session requested the Mission Team reduce the number of individ- uals/ministries with whom we partner. It is believed this will 1) increase the potenal for our members to work to- gether on a more regular basis; 2) improve our ability to communicate and implement our mission work; 3) enhance a closer connecon with our mission partners; 4) beer evaluate if our resources are being directed appropriately; 5) strengthen the chance that we will make a lasng impact in a given field. Therefore, as is described below, we have levels of missions partnerships and limits on how many individuals/ministries we will partner with at each level. The Session also requested the Mission Team find local ministry partners who see themselves as we see ourselves: broken people being healed by grace through Jesus Christ, serving other broken people who are being healed by grace through Jesus Christ. More specifically, to find proven part- ners who can help us direct our resources and influence through both “word” and “deed” ministries in the “fields” of educaon and families. Our goal is to serve the greater Longview area by helping provide educaon of all sorts (praccal, academic, theological, etc) and/or services which strengthen family structures, especially in terms of mar- riage and parenng. THE WORK CREWS What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I plant- ed, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Cor 3:5-7) Longview EPC now has 5 layers of mission partnerships: Caretakers. Limited to 1-3 ministries, these are the pri- mary agencies with whom we work. We believe they will assist us in best stewarding our resources and mobilizing us in gospel inspired service. It is into these ministries the bulk of our me and talents will be poured. We are cur- rently engaged in a Caretaker partnership with Buckner Child & Family Services. Culvators. Limited to 1-5 ministries, these are other agencies whose work we are eager to support. We are currently in Culvator partnerships with: Boys & Girls Club of Longview, Longview Community Ministries, House of Hope, House of Disciples and Hearsans. Laborers. A designated amount of our Mission budget is set aside to empower church members to explore mission work to which they feel specifically called. Labor grants are provided to engage in ministry startup costs, short or long term mission experiences, or other legimately pro- posed ways our members seek to labor in mission. Cur- rent Laborer ministries include: Blessings in a Backpack, Ware Elementary School, Newgate Mission. Sowers. These are full-me Chrisan workers we believe fit our mission aim and with whom we want to be in recip- rocal relaonship. We hope to visit their mission field and welcome them here with us as well. Our current Sower is Daniel Smith with Reformed University Fellowship in Tyler. Planters. The Presbytery of the West and the EPC as a whole have begun to engage church planng as a serious and intenonal work both domescally and internaonal- ly. Though we do not believe that at this me there is rea- son to focus our aenon on planng a church here in Longview, there are other parts of our Presbytery and denominaon where we will support church planng. We are currently supporng church planng through Presby- tery of the West’s Aspen Grove Church Planng Network. LOCAL MISSIONS EDITION
Transcript of LOCAL MISSIONS EDITION - Longview EPC · dren, lead the children in a Bible story provided by...
April, 2017
MISSIONS @ LONGVIEW EPC
Longview EPC is “…a faith family walking together to know Christ and to make him known by…affecting social renew-al." In 2016 the Session of Longview EPC, in conjunction with the Mission Team, established a Mission Framework to guide how we will affect social renewal; in other words, how we will join God in his mission to bring love and justice to the ends of the earth. The intent of this first edition of our Missions newsletter is to introduce that framework in terms of local missions. The next edition will introduce how the framework plays out in terms of global missions.
THE WORK
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (John 4:35)
For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field (1 Cor 3:9)
As you know, God is at work everywhere. But we are not God. We have to select how many and which “fields” to serve. After months of prayerful consideration, the Session requested the Mission Team reduce the number of individ-uals/ministries with whom we partner. It is believed this will 1) increase the potential for our members to work to-gether on a more regular basis; 2) improve our ability to communicate and implement our mission work; 3) enhance a closer connection with our mission partners; 4) better evaluate if our resources are being directed appropriately; 5) strengthen the chance that we will make a lasting impact in a given field. Therefore, as is described below, we have levels of missions partnerships and limits on how many individuals/ministries we will partner with at each level.
The Session also requested the Mission Team find local ministry partners who see themselves as we see ourselves: broken people being healed by grace through Jesus Christ, serving other broken people who are being healed by grace through Jesus Christ. More specifically, to find proven part-ners who can help us direct our resources and influence through both “word” and “deed” ministries in the “fields” of education and families. Our goal is to serve the greater Longview area by helping provide education of all sorts (practical, academic, theological, etc) and/or services which strengthen family structures, especially in terms of mar-riage and parenting.
THE WORK CREWS
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I plant-ed, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Cor 3:5-7)
Longview EPC now has 5 layers of mission partnerships:
Caretakers. Limited to 1-3 ministries, these are the pri-mary agencies with whom we work. We believe they will assist us in best stewarding our resources and mobilizing us in gospel inspired service. It is into these ministries the bulk of our time and talents will be poured. We are cur-rently engaged in a Caretaker partnership with Buckner Child & Family Services.
Cultivators. Limited to 1-5 ministries, these are other agencies whose work we are eager to support. We are currently in Cultivator partnerships with: Boys & Girls Club of Longview, Longview Community Ministries, House of Hope, House of Disciples and Heartisans.
Laborers. A designated amount of our Mission budget is set aside to empower church members to explore mission work to which they feel specifically called. Labor grants are provided to engage in ministry startup costs, short or long term mission experiences, or other legitimately pro-posed ways our members seek to labor in mission. Cur-rent Laborer ministries include: Blessings in a Backpack, Ware Elementary School, Newgate Mission.
Sowers. These are full-time Christian workers we believe fit our mission aim and with whom we want to be in recip-rocal relationship. We hope to visit their mission field and welcome them here with us as well. Our current Sower is Daniel Smith with Reformed University Fellowship in Tyler.
Planters. The Presbytery of the West and the EPC as a whole have begun to engage church planting as a serious and intentional work both domestically and international-ly. Though we do not believe that at this time there is rea-son to focus our attention on planting a church here in Longview, there are other parts of our Presbytery and denomination where we will support church planting. We are currently supporting church planting through Presby-tery of the West’s Aspen Grove Church Planting Network.
LOCAL MISSIONS EDITION
MOVIN’ & GROOVIN’
On March 31, one of our Boys Bible Studies served din-ner to the residents at the House of Disciples. This team from Longview EPC led the prayer of thanksgiving to God for the food, provided the meal, volunteered in the serving line and dining room, and after dinner helped the kitchen staff straighten the dining room and clean the kitchen. As leader Jim Brun says, he “was a little concerned watching some of the guys use the high pressure rinse hose at the sink ... but the water stayed in the sink and was not "accidentally"
directed at anyone. ☺
Also serving that evening was Jim Taylor who provided entertainment for the men. Director at House of Disci-ples, Steve Justice, described our team as “very excited and well mannered.” He continued, “We sure appreci-ate their involvement. Would love to have y'all back again.” Serving monthly meals at House of Disciples or House of Hope is one of the ways you, your Life Group, or your friends/family can be on mission with God through Longview EPC! For more information about these opportunities contact Missions Deacon Glenn Magness ([email protected]) or for House of Disciples, Pastor Shelley ([email protected]) or House of Hope, Genie Bartlett ([email protected]).
Cultivators: Aidan Frazier, Kyle Ashley, Jack Hunt, Jason Hunt, Jim Brun, Zane Bunn, Marshall Daugbjerg, Erick Van Zyl and Jim Taylor. Pictured with House of Disciples cook, Michael.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE w/ BUCKNER CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES
Summer: Buckner hosts its Summer Fun Program at various apartment complexes housing people in moderate to ex-treme poverty. The purpose of the Summer Fun Program is to engage the children at these properties, and build rela-tionships with them and their parents. Buckner CFS is enlisting churches to come and serve a heavy snack to the chil-dren, lead the children in a Bible story provided by Buckner and a recreational activity. Children of all ages will be partici-pating. This specific opportunity is for Longview Square Apartments. The serving time is from 5:30-6:30; Tuesday—Thursday. If we have enough volunteers, Longview EPC would agree to host one to two weeks. If you’re willing to serve please contact Pastor Shelley. Fall: Buckner Family Hope Centers focus on improving the lives of individuals and families in communities that experi-ence moderate to extreme poverty by providing a holistic ministry approach. As a Jobs For Life Ally you are paired with a a student from Jobs For Life, a job skills training class where students learn to improve interviewing skills, overcome workplace barriers, and build confidence in getting and keep a job. Allies provide encouragement, advocacy, and sup-portive friendship as the participant strives to become self-sufficient. The time commitment is once a week on Tuesdays from about 11:30-1:30. This volunteer position is an 8-week commitment. As a Faith and Finance Ally you are paired with a student from Faith & Finance, an 8-week financial health class in which students learn to overcome obstacles, set sav-ings goals, make spending plans, and manage debt. Allies attend class with the students once a week, and assist in work-ing through the in-class assignments. No financial background required to be an Ally. It is a once a week commitment for 8 weeks. If you are interested in being an Ally in either program, contact Sarah Beasley at [email protected].
Year Round: Family Hope Center clients earn points by attending a Buckner class or program, by attending church, by volunteering in the community, by exercising, and many other ways. With their points, families may come to The Exchange Store in our Family Hope Center and exchange those points for items in the store such as new and gently used clothing, toiletries, shoes, household items, and other items. Donations to the Exchange are received all year. Volun-teers are also needed who will assist with sorting and organizing donations, helping families find the items they need, and assisting them with checking-out. Please drop in and help anytime on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9a.m.-12p.m.
