Missions
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
Every year we sponsor a Global Outreach Weekend where we give Christians a deeper understanding of the biblical basis for mission and challenge them to become more involved in mission at home and around the world. Rather than waiting to respond to individual appeals as they come along, believers ask the Lord how much they should give to missions over the next year. They then commit to that annual total as a "Faith Promise." Faith Promise thus enables our church to make missions giving strategic rather than sporadic.
Outreach Programs in the Tri-Cities (Jerusalem)
Grace Clinic’s Mission is to bring Christ's love and healing to those in need while providing high quality health care and referral services for poor people in Benton and Franklin counties who do not qualify for medical insurance. In addition to encouraging our members to serve in this local mission, the food basket located in our lobby, is delivered to the food pantry at Grace Clinic. By helping we are following Jesus’ command to help those in our community who are in need.
Every spring our church is an active participant of ShareFest in our community. The idea of ShareFest is simple. Assemble as many churches as possible and light up (Matthew 5:16) the Tri-City community with as many good works as possible in a concentrated period of time. Don't preach. Prove! Serve! Give! Love! Put flesh on the Word of God. Make it tangible, observable, and undeniable.
Highlands Middle School needs help just like all schools across our country. Every fall our church donates school supplies. During the school year we help office staff when then need additional support and we also participate in after school activities like a Christmas Party or a school dance. Students need more positive adult’s in their life’s so we are here to serve the students and school employees.
Our Spring Servant Evangelism Project is providing free car washes on a Saturday morning to anyone who drives by our church. We have an opportunity to witness to what God has done for us as we share God’s love in a practical way. Our Faith Promise is underwriting this outreach.
Our Summer Servant Evangelism Project is passing out cold water at bus stops to people heading to the Fair. We have an opportunity to witness to what God has done for us as we share God’s love in a practical way. Our Faith Promise is underwriting this outreach.
Our Fall Servant Evangelism Project is sponsoring an annual block party as a great way to meet neighbors and start new friendships. Our church family reaches out and provides free food, carnival games, inflatable slides and an obstacle course while connecting and inviting people to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Outreach Program in Washington (Judea)
In February 2011, 20 homes were destroyed by a fire on the White Swan, Yakima Indian Reservation. This summer a Blitz Build began in White Swan with the goal of building 20 homes for families who lost their home. A typical Blitz Build would build a home in fourteen days. Our church sent 25 people to help build a new home, repair siding and roofing one home and replace the roofing on another home damaged in the fire. It was a hard full day of work but what an accomplishment to use our talents and skills to make a life changing difference in the life’s or three families. Funds for the construction material were provide by Our Faith Promise.
In July 2011 our youth took a Mission Trip to Yakama Indian Reservation. The Yakama Indian Reservation is surrounded by the natural beauty of south-central Washington. Mountains, rivers, fruit farms and orchards fill the landscape. Amidst the beautiful land, our youth witness residents who are struggling to make ends meet. They served the people of the Yakama Nation through work projects, like painting and restoring homes and children’s programs
.
Angel Tree is a Prison Fellowship program that connects parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts. In most cases, local church volunteers purchase and deliver gifts and the Gospel to children in the name of their prisoner-parent.
A men's group meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm at Faith InnKeepers. They act as mentors in a program aiding men that are newly released from incarceration as well as sharing our "faith walk" with Christ. For more information contact Tim Mensinger at 586-3096 or 430-9071.
Outreach Program to the Ends of the Earth
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering—whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster. In some countries, children don't have books or school supplies. Many have no schoolrooms; classes are held in inadequate or half-destroyed buildings, tents, or even the open air. School kits may be these children's only educational resources. This year our church members purchased school supplies and then assembled and mailed the kits to UMCOR so they could be sent to the children most in need around the world.
We have pledged to support a full time missionary who is currently serving in South Asia spreading the love of Christ where she is working. Our Faith Promise provides $1000 a month to support the needs of this person as she is a witness for Christ who is spreading the love of Christ where she is working.
