Global Missions at Christ Church
But 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:1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.")
We invite you to read below to learn about some of the many and varied projects and emphases of Christ United Methodist Church throughout the world. Learn about the destination of the part of your offering that supports global missions. Find out the names of the missionary families that we support. Discover ways that YOU can be involved in global missions. We can not all travel to a foreign country, but each and every one of us can be a missionary right where we are. Please see below for the different areas of our global missions...then get involved! The world is waiting for YOU!
Global Mission Teams
A large part of Global Missions at Christ Church involves sending teams to places throughout our world that are in special need of seeing God's love through medical, construction, educational, etc. means. To learn more about these teams, click on the links provided below.
Africa Mission
Bolivia Mission
Dominican Republic Mission
Disaster Relief
Missionaries
Christ Church supports the following missionaries through covenant relationships. This means that we pray for our missionaries and provide at least $3,500 of salary support and at least $3,500 support for their in-country project each year for each missionary. Members are encouraged to give sacrificially for mission support each year during the Christian season of Lent, leading to Easter. We support the following missionaries:
- Ardell (Gordy) and Adeline Granger (Bolivia)
- Paul Webster (Zambia and the DR Congo)
Volunteers are also needed to help communicate with our missionaries as well as coordinating the visits of missionaries and their families by organizing housing in our church members' homes. [Back to Top of page]
Ongoing Global Mission Opportunities
Meals for Learning Events provide the opportunity for Christ Church members to gather and assemble nutritional meals to be sent to children in Africa. At each event, 12,500 meals are packaged at a cost of $3,500. To date, Christ Church has hosted three Meals for Learning packing events involving children, youth and adult volunteers, with more events planned for 2010.
Next Event: Saturday, January 23. Includes TWO SHIFTS from 10am-noon and 1-3pm, with a break for lunch from 12-1pm provided at the church as a fundraising event. Sign up to work by emailing Steve Danford here (include your name, phone number, how many people you are bringing to work, and whether you plan to stay for lunch). To contribute financially, send a check (made out to CUMC and clearly marked for "Meals for Learning") to the church office or drop in the Sunday morning offering plates.
The Living Gift Market gives you the opportunity during each Advent season, leading to Christmas, to give alternative gifts supporting local, national and international missions where Christ Church members are active. This year, visit the Holy Grounds each Sunday during Advent, beginning November 29, to view the listing of gifts available in the Living Gift Market Guide. Give a gift that gives more this season. Alternative gifts, many of which include a card/insert describing the gift, include Meals for Learning, Greensboro Urban Ministry Honor Cards, Heifer International Cards, Kenya Partnership, CUMC Mission Teams and much more.
CROP Walk (also part of the Hunger Committee) is an annual effort to raise money for combatting global hunger. Held every October at a local park or community venue, Christ Church has a history of being one of the largest participating and fundraising congregations in the Greensboro area.
Bread for the World provides policy information on hunger and strategies to end it. Each year, CUMC sponsors a letter writing campaign called an "Offering of Letters" during which members send letters and emails to elected officials on hunger-related issues. Throughout the year, members are encouraged to stay informed about hunger issues in our community and the world.
Project Agape began in 1992 when United Methodist Churches in the Western NC and NC Conferences began an effort to help the people of America recover from a major earthquake, dissolution of the Soviet Union and war with Azerbaijan plunged Armenia into poverty. To date, United Methodists have sent numerous containers of humanitarian aid, as well as building teams, but portions of Armenia continue to "hang on by a thread." CUMC provides financial support. In addition, we collect gently used coats each year to send to Armenia.
Hunger Committee (includes part of CROP) identifies programs worthy of support and motivates the congregation to action in hunger related issues, plans and co-ordinates various hunger projects, and designates available funds to serve the approved programs. This committee has several subcommittees serving within it, which include the following: Agricultural Missionaries/Lenten Offering; Bread for the World; CROPWALK; First Food Sunday; Heifer Project International; and UMCOR.
Refugee Resettlement Work Area is a church-wide mission outreach. The committee has been sponsoring refugee families since 1980. In these 20 + years, our church has sponsored and helped resettle 26 families. These families have come from 5 countries: Cambodia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Somalia, and Vietnam (which includes many Montagnards). We have worked with Lutheran Family Services in sponsoring these families. This work area helps with finding and furnishing apartments, collects donations of food and clothing, arranges transportation, secures various legal and social documents such as Social Security, aids in helping children enter school, and generally helps the refugees become acclimated to American society, as well as helping them to maintain contacts with their families.
Conference Building Teams work on building projects sponsored by the Western North Carolina Conference as part of the Volunteers in Mission ministry. Headed up by Christ Church member, David Millsaps, individuals may sign up to join teams traveling to various national and international locations.
UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) began in 1940 as a way for the United Methodist Church to respond to the vast needs of human suffering worldwide, and to act as a "voice of conscience." UMCOR focuses on studying the most urgent needs and pressing problems around the world, reporting these needs to local churches, and administering funds to the "least of these." Whenever disaster strikes, UMCOR is already in position to respond immediately.
Be a Missionary Right Where You Are
Being a missionary does not necessarily mean hopping on a plane to a country halfway across the world to build a new church or teach third-world children about Jesus. You can be a missionary right where you are in a variety of ways.
Through Your Prayers
Pray for team members while they serve on a mission trip.
Follow devotions written to coincide with a mission team's itinerary.
Through Your Presence
Attend dinners and fundraisers for Global Mission projects (i.e. Outback for Missions Dinner, Hoops for Hope Game, etc.)
Purchase and donate supplies to mission teams.
Send cards and letters to our missionaries and members of mission teams.
Attend diversity celebrations held at Christ Church and in the community.
Through Your Gifts
Help support the travel of mission team members through financial gifts.
Shop the Alternative "Living" Gift Market during Advent. See above for details about this year's market.
Through Your Service
Participate in a Meals for Learning Event (packaging nutritious meals for the hungry)
Participate in Refugee Resettlement (see above)
Walk in the annual CROP Walk (see above)
Contact Us
Please contact Rev. Susan Nothe church office at 336-299-1571 with questions about Global Missions at Christ Church.