FPC s 2017 Missional Handbook

Transcription

1 FPC s 2017 Missional Handbook Missions - Described Jesus last earthly Command is very clear, GO! (Matt 28:19) Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We do so in obedience and with love. After the Last Supper, Jesus speaking to His disciples said, Luke 22:27 (NLT) For I am among you as one who serves. Are you serving? Published by the Missions, Outreach & Evangelism Team Bob Gordon, Chair Michael Biddle, Co-Chair Bill Day Bill Farr, Handbook Editor Andy Musser, Website Marion Musser Pastor Drew Elling If you want the paper copy of the Handbook, it is available in the narthex or church office or in digital format in our church website at 1

2 Volunteer duties needed by missions Quick Search The following is a short summary of the types of volunteer activities (duties) needed by local and church missions. Pick one that attracts your attention and go to the detailed description of the mission and their needs below. Local missions (very short synopsis of local missions): Backpack Food for Kids: Unpack food, and pack in small grocery bags and deliver to schools for them to distribute. Wed and Thur. activities. See Page: 3 Christian Women s Center: Lead Bible study and/or teach women a skill (e.g. sewing, language, dress for success, cooking, money management, etc.) Accompany women to park for picnic, go to movie or bowling. Need help with maintenance on building, yard work and working on their vehicles, Need women Age 24 and older men for maintenance. Days: Mon, Wed, Thur. Pages: 4, 5 Food Pantry - Five Loaves and Two Fish (Cereal Sunday): Separate groceries and organize for handing out to clients. Need volunteers third Sat. of the month. The first Sunday of each month, bring dry cereal and place in the shopping cart just inside the Children s wing, adjacent to the Narthex. Pages: 5 Griffin Habitat for Humanity: Help with construction, help select families for Habitat builds; work with families about budgeting, home maintenance; build houses, provide lunch for workers; serve on board of directors. Page: 5, 6 Hope Health Clinic: Outside work, keeping area around clinic clean and lawn care with own equipment. Mondays and Thursdays are days to work. Page: 7 Rushton s Hope: Help serve meals; sort donations, organize pantry and stock shelves, assemble bags for homeless and baby boxes; help with clothes closet, block parties and holiday events. Administrative help, computer work, construction/carpentry at warehouse. Need help on Sunday evenings, Tue, Thur. and Sat. days Pages 7, 8 Spalding Samaritans: chair setup, intake counseling, and photocopying, welcoming, distribution of packets to be filled in by clients. Page 8 2

3 Young life and Young Lives: For Club meetings: leading songs, running sound and video equipment, lead games, mixers, give talk on Gospel proclamation. For girls groups help with arts and crafts. Lead Bible studies; for Young life attend lunches at school with kids, sports practices and games, movies, etc.; build relationships with students or teen moms while sharing the Gospel. Pages 8, 9 Internet Ministry from Your Home: Search for Jesus a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Ministry National and International Reach. If you have a heart for sharing the Gospel, an Internet connection and a few hours a week, consider making Search for Jesus your own personal ministry a way for God to use you by reaching hurting people around the world in their time of need. Search for Jesus provides free training. Over 7 million people have made a decision for Christ through this ministry in just 3-4 years! Must be at least 18 years of age. See how you fit in various opportunities at: Page 10 Join fellow church members on one of FPC s teams see page 10 for list and contacts. For church members only. Local Missions in more detail: Backpack Food for Kids Spalding Collaborative Authority for Families and Children, Inc. Mission: Raise money and provide food for the weekends for those children that the teachers, counselors and Principals think do not eat from the time they leave school on Friday afternoon until they return to school on Monday morning. We currently serve 240 children from 5 elementary schools at a cost of $40,000 per year. Program run only during weeks the schools are in session. Contact Person: Joseph Walker,

4 Address where the volunteer will work: Five Loaves and Two Fish Food Pantry attached to the Hope Health Clinic on the corner of 10 th St. and Solomon St. facing Slaton St. Days and times when volunteers are needed: Wednesday- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Thursday - 10:30 am - 11:30 am. Duties: Wednesday- unpack the food and set up 8 stations on tables. Thursday pack the food in small grocery bags and deliver to the schools for them to distribute. Heavy lifting is not necessary. Mild to moderate lifting required. Donated Items Needed: All food is purchased at Sam s or Walmart so that each bag has the same items. Main need is the funds with which to purchase the items provided. Specific requirements of a volunteer, dress code, etc.: Volunteers range in age from 18 years old to 85 years old. We are hesitant to take volunteers younger than years since we don t have time to supervise younger children. No dress code, but the space is neither heated nor cooled so dress according to seasons. Skills required? No particular skin set is needed, just a desire to help. Will a volunteer be required to use his or her vehicle for any transportation? It is possible that a volunteer would be asked to use their car to deliver the food to the schools on Thursday. Most of the time, they have this taken care of but occasionally they need help if the volunteer pool is light on a particular day. Christian Women s Center Mission: To provide refuge to women in crisis, believing they can be restored to physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness through Christian discipleship. Contact: Becky Smith or Linda Jones at same number. Address where volunteers will work: 174 School Rd., Sunny Side, GA Days and times when volunteers are needed: Varies on needs. Monday Bible Study, Life Skill or Activity Wednesday Bible Study, Life Skill or Activity Thursday a.m. Bible Study Duties: Lead an approved study for one hour. Business casual dress required. Activity can be anything from arranging a movie (approved before hand) to bowling, a picnic in the park, etc. and can last 2-3 hours or more. Bible Study leaders; teach women a skill such as sewing, language, dress for success, cooking, money management, etc. Commitment each week is about one hour. 4

5 Donations needed: can always use groceries, laundry detergent, paper towels, and toilet paper. Donations of clothing, furniture, household items are appreciated for sale in our Thrift Shop which supports our center. Residents obtain vouchers and get their clothing from the store. Occasionally need home and office furnishings. Requirements of Volunteer: Must be 24 years old or older. Men do outdoor work and building projects inside the center. Most of the trauma our women have experienced has come from men, so we try to shield them as much as possible. Dress code is based on activity, but inside the center is business casual. Particular skills needed? Need volunteers for maintenance of the building, vehicles and yard work, skills in sewing and money management. Will a volunteer be required to use his or her vehicle for any transportation? If at the center for an activity, volunteers will not be expected to transport residents at any time. Outside activities such as movies, bowling, etc. volunteer will be expected to travel in their own vehicle. Dress depends on activity. Five Loaves and Two Fish Mission: Mission is to supply groceries every month to those in need (our clients) in our community. Contact: Jim Lewis Address: 412 W. Slaton Ave, Griffin in the back of the Home Clinic. Days and Times: Most needed on the third Saturday of the month from 9 to noon. Call and check with Jim a few days before to make sure there are no changes. Duties: Some lifting is required, but mostly by our younger volunteers. Separate groceries and organize them for handing out to clients. Donated items needed: peanut butter, cereal, toiletries which can be dropped off in FPC s narthex. Also, may drop off any Saturday, Tues or Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteer requirements: No special skills necessary. Dress varies from shorts to jeans depending on temperature. No special skills needed. Will a volunteer be required to use his or her vehicle for any transportation? No. Griffin Habitat for Humanity Mission: Seeking to put God s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. 5

6 Activities: We are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Homeowners are selected based on their need for housing, their ability to repay a mortgage and their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat. Contact: Mark Staples or Toni Turner, (770) Location and hours: depends on the activity currently being focused on in Griffin usually on Saturdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Volunteer needs: Grant Writer - We need experienced Grant Writers who can match requirements for available private and government funds and donations with needy families. Public Relations / Press Manager- We ask God for someone who can communicate our stories of enthusiasm to build houses. This person will educate our neighbors of our Griffin Area Habitat needs and share our wonderful blessings through our local and state newspapers, churches, radio, and TV stations. They will also offer letters of thanks to those who contribute to Habitat for Humanity. Gifts and Kinds Petitioner- We need experienced fundraisers that can specialize in finding corporate and individual gifts. We are in search of Land, Houses to Refurbish, Building and Construction Materials, Financial Donations, and Food for our Volunteer work days. Speaker and Writers - We pray for a good public speaker with great people and writing skills, someone who works independently and with organization, and who is detailoriented to timelines. Family Partners ~ Mentors - We would love responsible families who can adopt newly chosen Habitat homeowners. These mentors would teach the responsibilities of implementing budgets, help in managing the sweat equity hours, coach on how to maintain new homes, show things to look for in fixing home problems, review needs for their home interiors upon moving in, and offering encouragement throughout the building process until 1 year after moving in. Many Habitat recipients have NEVER HAD ANY homeowner experience. Call Bridgett Burpee at Construction Workers /Builders - We invite both skilled and unskilled individuals who would like to assist in the building of our Habitat Homes. We welcome anyone over 16 years of age. Provide lunch for workers: call Toni Turner at

7 Want to serve on Griffin Board of Directors: call Mark Staples at Hope Health Clinic Mission: To be the leader in organizing, providing and supporting affordable health care and related services to the public through diversified business activities. Contact: Jennifer Hilton, Practice Manager Address: 409 W. Solomon Street, Griffin, GA Days and Times volunteer needed: Monday and Thursday 9 to noon. Duties: Need help keeping the outside of our building neat and clean pick up trash and help with lawn care as needed. Donated items needed: bottled water for patients, snack crackers for patients, apple juice boxes for patients, coffee supplies for staff. Volunteer requirements: Must be at least 16 years old, supply own lawn equipment, trimmer and leaf blower, and possess no special skills needed beyond safe operation of equipment which volunteers supply. No dress code enforced. Will a volunteer be required to use his or her vehicle for any transportation? No. Rushton s Hope, Inc. Mission: Impacting lives with hope in Christ from the inner city to the international. Contact: Pastor Ron Cook Location(s): Main warehouse 312 Solomon St; United Christian Fellowship Church 114 Broad St. Days and Times: Warehouse: Saturdays 10 am -1 pm and 10 am to 2 pm on Block Party Days; Sunday Evenings 6-8 pm at United Christian Fellowship Church; Warehouse: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am -4 pm Duties: Sunday evening: Help with inner city supper and church service; Tue. and Thur. at warehouse community benevolence, receiving and sorting donations, working in pantry, assembling homeless bags and baby boxes; Sat. Bounty of Hope Café and 7

8 clothes closet or block parties and holiday events. Specific duties: see Donations needed: food such as pop tarts, goods for homeless, to go food items, toiletries, household goods, clothing especially men s ware, furniture, see list on rushtonshope.org site. Drop off days are Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dress Code and volunteer guidelines and rules: Please check in the office to view the extensive list of rules and regulations for this mission. Spalding Samaritans Mission: We are a local, faith-based non-profit that provides emergency utility assistance, education and referral services to the Spalding County community. Contact: Rev. Brian McCartney Location of activity: Community room at the back of Hope Health Clinic door faces Slaton Avenue. Days and Times: 1 st Tuesday of each month 12:30 to 2 pm and 3 rd Tuesday of each month 12:30 to 2 pm. Duties: Chair setting up, intake counseling, and photocopying, welcoming, distribution of packets to be filled in by clients. No items need to be donated. Volunteer requirements: older teen or adult is welcome Skills needed: We meet one on one with each client. Those who do intake counseling are trained on-the-job by an experienced volunteer. There is no need to transport anything. Young Life & Young Lives of Griffin Mission: To introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. 8

9 Contact: Will Childs, Area Director Days and Times: 1) Club meeting Mondays, 6:30pm 9pm (Young Life); 2) Club meetings 3 rd Thursday of each month from 5pm 7pm (YoungLives); 3)Campaigners (weekly Bible study. One day a week for an hour, TBD); 4) Contact Work (contact with kids outside of Club) hours a week (Young Life & YoungLives) Duties: 1): At Club our Volunteer leaders help set up for our high school friends. This involves leading Club songs, running the sound and video from the back, leading games, mixers, and giving the Club talk (the Gospel proclamation) at the end. They will not perform all of these tasks every week but will do one or two of them each week. 2): YoungLives Club meetings are very similar to Young Life Club meetings. Mentors can expect to lead a song or two, games, mixers, and even give the Club talk at the end. Mentors will also eat dinner at each monthly Club meeting and help girls with arts and crafts or other activities. 3) Campaigners meetings are once a week at the Leaders house or neutral location in Griffin. At each of these hour long meetings the Leader will lead and facilitate a discussion with their specific high school students about the Scriptures. These Campaigner meetings are not with every student involved with Young Life but with the Leader s specific high school friends (i.e. 10 th grade girls, 11 grade boys, etc.) The Campaigner meetings are very informal and relationally based. They include ice breakers or simple games to start the get together and end with the Leader facilitating an honest discussion about a book of the Bible or a specific topic and how it pertains to Jesus and Scripture. 4): Contact Work is the most important thing we do in Young Life. It is also the most open ended. Essentially, Contact Work is going out to be where the kids are. Through Contact Work, our Leaders are expected to go be where kids are and in there world. That includes going to lunches at the high school, sports practices, sports games, recitals, performances, restaurants, movies, bowling, etc. Anywhere where high school kids can be found, we want our Leaders to be there with them building relationships. Our Leaders are taught that they are not Chaperone s but relationship builders. We want our Leaders to build personal and meaningful relationships with high school students or teen moms in order to live out and share the Gospel with them. Contact Work is the engine that drives us to do that. Need for donated items: Young Life is not in need of any items but our YoungLives monthly Club meetings are always in need of meals and items for their Club meetings. Volunteer requirements: Volunteers for Young Life must be adults out of high school for 2 years minimum who have an active relationship with Jesus, a home church, a schedule that would allow them to spend hours a week investing their time with 9

10 high school kids. The must also be able to commit to a minimum of two years serving as a Leader for consistency sake with their relationships with kids. Volunteers with YoungLives (our mission to teen moms) must be adult females out of high school for a minimum of two years who have an active relationship with Jesus, a home church, a schedule that would allow them to spend hours a week investing in 1 or 2 teen moms. The must also be able to commit to a minimum of two years serving as a Mentor for consistency sake with the relationships with the teen mom(s). We need adults who love Jesus and have a passion for high school kids or teen moms. Will the volunteer be required to use their vehicle for any transportation? Not all the time, but yes. They will get approved through Young Life to drive for the mission and be covered on their accident insurance while driving for YL. Internet Ministry from your Home Search for Jesus National and International Reach If you have a heart for sharing the Gospel, an Internet connection and a few hours a week, consider making Search for Jesus your own personal ministry a way for God to use you by reaching hurting people around the world in their time of need. This website is sponsored and run by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association s team dedicated to Internet evangelism. Search for Jesus provides free training. Over 10 million people have made a decision for Christ through this ministry in just a few years! Must be at least 18 years of age. See: Questions, ask Bill Farr who has served on this mission for many years. Know of someone out of town that is looking for a church to attend in their area? Refer them to this website which is monitored and approved by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Our Church Teams Need Your Help Join a FPC Team - Contact Persons listed see our website at for information about each team s mission statement. Any church member may join. Speak with the team leaders listed below. Administration/Personnel Tom Hamilton, Chair, Charlotte Thacker Christian Education Eddie Huffman, Chair 10

11 Congregational Care Tim Brown, Chair, Debbie Hammond, Co-Chair Facilities Lou Baldwin, Chair Missions, Outreach & Evangelism Bob Gordon, Chair or Michael Biddle, Co- Chair Stewardship and Finance Sid Esary, Chair, Art Hammond, Co-Chair Worship Chip Reahard, Chair and Debbie Hammond at large Youth and Young Adults Doug Tingle, Jr., Chair CPR/Automated External Defibrillator Team- Join over 30 church members who are ready to save a life within our church, on the street or at home should a need arise. call or talk to Bill Farr, Team leader, for detail Regional and International Missions we support: Regional: Thornwell Home for Children: Thornwell Home for Children is all about helping children and youth - caring for them, nurturing them, helping prepare them to become the faithful individuals God created them to be. Founded in 1875, today Thornwell is a vital ministry of the Presbyterian Church, serving children and families throughout the three-state region of the Synod of the South Atlantic - South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Each year, Thornwell's referral network receives more than 300 calls from families in crisis; and, each year more than 100 children find their way to our home. Most come to us battered and broken, frightened, full of sadness and despair. We offer them a safe haven; a warm, loving, family-style community in which to grow and thrive. New in 2014 will be a couple offices set up in local churches in Georgia and in the region to help coordinate services for needy children within the states using available children services provided by others. International: Matthew 28 (Hein Vingerling) Since 1990 Matthew Twenty-Eight has spread the Good News about Jesus Christ s love to the people in the Central Plateau of Haiti. We try to do this in very tangible ways such as: Supporting the entire operation of an orphanage, Operating thirteen feeding centers in villages around the orphanage, Providing medical services in villages without healthcare, Pastor education classes and Bible distribution, Operating a fish farm, operating a grain mill for the local population, Building new 11

12 houses for Earthquake refugees, Agricultural projects to grow our own food. Campus Crusade (now called Cru in the USA) Ralph Elliot and Family in Turkey: When God works through like-minded people to win people to faith in Jesus Christ, build them in their faith through life-changing discipleship and send them to win and build others, we say that a spiritual movement has begun. We believe that God has called us to help build these spiritual movements everywhere, so everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ. To that end, we are emphasizing several key objectives: Student Movements; Leader Movements; Church-based movements and Virtual Movements. Also listed by ECFA Cru - Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian evangelistic and disciple ministry with the objective of helping the local church and other organizations fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) in this generation. We support Ralph Elliott and his family in Turkey where they have worked for 19 years. Serge: George Mixon: We support George Mixon through Serge (formerly World Harvest Mission). George, son of Bill and Louise Mixon, grew up in our church. He, Martha, and their children have been supported by this church as missionaries to Kenya since The primary focus of George s work is to train indigenous Christian leaders in Bible storytelling. Because concrete words and stories often communicate crossculturally more clearly than abstract statements of doctrine, teaching the Bible through storytelling has in recent years proven to be an effective tool in evangelism and church planting. Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship (PFF), Cody Watson: Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship works with Presbyterian congregations and foreign partners to evangelize and plant churches among unreached peoples peoples who have no access to Christian fellowship or teaching and no other way to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. According to their web site, PFF s mission statement is as follows: As part of God s mission to the world, we invite believing communities to engage people groups where the good news of Jesus and his kingdom is not yet known. Their vision statement is For Every People: An Indigenous Church; For Every Church: A Mission Vision. Our church has for many years supported Cody Watson, SE region Associate Director for PFF. Cody helps mobilize churches by teaching Perspective on the World Christian Movement, an intensive program on frontier mission as central to the scriptures from Genesis 12:3 to Revelation 14:6. Cody describes Perspectives as the best instrument I know to mobilize a local church to become a missional congregation. Cody 12

13 coordinates PFF s frontier mission mobilization in South Asia, India (especially the state of Bihar), Nepal and Bangladesh. International Messengers River of Humanitarian Foundation (formerly River of Life Care Home) Doug and Roberta Moore: American missionaries Doug and Roberta Moore founded the River of Life Care Home in a village outside of Timosoara, Romania, in Since its founding, the Care Home has served as a refuge for over 180 poor, desperate Romanian women who wanted to keep their babies and children rather than aborting or abandoning them and who had no other option. In 2007 the Care Home has broadened its ministry by using resident mothers trained in elder care to care for village elderly who cannot afford other senior care. In 2014 the ministry completed an elder care home. In addition, the Moores are beginning work on a residential car home for abandoned children. Finally, they have reached out to the village, helping provide for material needs, planting two churches, and hosting evangelistic camps, Vacation Bible School, and other programs for the community. Rivers of the World (ROW) Mike Reinsel/Ben Mathes: is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that targets remote river basins. Our goal is to serve with people who live in these river basins and those we serve determine our projects. We ask them what makes up their greatest challenges and covenant with them to meet and overcome those challenges together. ROW emphasizes that it is their country, their village, their culture, but our problem. Our goal is to serve in an atmosphere of mutual concern and respect. ROW projects run the gamut of human, physical and spiritual needs. Academics, research, education and medical/dental concerns go hand in hand with church planting, construction, evangelism and Bible distribution. Ben Mathes has stepped aside as Executive Director and he selected his new title to be the Old Man, but he will continue to serve in the mission field and the new Executive Director is now Rev. Mike Reinsel. The Jesus Film: The goal of The JESUS Film Project is to help share Jesus with everyone in his or her own heart language using media tools and movement building strategies. The JESUS Film Project distributes the film "JESUS," a two-hour docudrama about the life of Christ based on the Gospel of Luke. The film has been seen in every country of the world and translated into hundreds of languages since its initial release in Our 13

14 goal is to reach every nation, tribe, people and tongue, helping them see and hear the story of Jesus in a language they can understand. So whether a person speaks Swahili, French, or a language whose name is extremely difficult for most to pronounce, he or she will encounter the life and message of Jesus in a language "of the heart." As a result, more than 200 million people have indicated decisions to accept Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. They recently introduced motorbike brigades to take the film to remote areas using solar powered equipment to share the film. The Jesus film is part of Cru, one of thirty ministries under the Cru umbrella. International Justice Mission: International Justice Mission (IJM) offers help to many of the millions worldwide who are victims of slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence, property grabbing, and other human rights abuses. IJM estimates there are more than 35 million people currently enslaved and over 2 million child victims of sex trafficking. The mission has a four-pronged approach to such injustices: rescue victims, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors and strengthen justice systems. According to its web site, IJM, working in 17 countries, has rescued 25,000 people and helps protect 21 million people globally from violence and oppression. Samaritan s Purse: Go and do likewise, Christ commanded after explaining the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. So we do. Samaritan s Purse travels the world s highways looking for victims along the way. We are quick to bandage the wounds we see, but like the Samaritan, we don t stop there. In addition to meeting immediate, emergency needs, we help these victims recover and get back on their feet. No matter where we go or what we do, we offer more than help. We offer hope. To suffering people in a broken world, we share the news of the only One who can bring true peace Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Ministries include: Children s Heart Project works with top-quality hospitals to provide surgery for children who live in countries where the medical expertise and equipment are not available. Since 1997, Children s Heart Project has arranged life-saving operations for more than 900 children. US Disaster Response: Samaritan s Purse mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters in the United States. We often stay behind after our initial response to rebuild or restore houses for needy families. Operation Christmas Child: Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God s love through the power of simple shoe box gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan s Purse works with local churches and 14

15 ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ. The Greatest Journey: The Greatest Journey is a follow-up program to Operation Christmas Child that teaches children to become faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Boys and girls enroll in a 12-lesson discipleship program that introduces them to salvation through faith in Christ and encourages them to grow in their faith. World Medical Mission: World Medical Mission was established in 1977 to assist general surgeons who wanted to volunteer for short-term mission trips. Today, we place volunteer Christian physicians, dentists, and other medical personnel in mission hospitals and clinics around the world. Operation Heal our Patriots: Operation Heal Our Patriots, a ministry project of Samaritan s Purse, focuses on bringing spiritual refreshment, physical renewal, and marriage enrichment to wounded and injured U.S. military service members and their spouses at a camp in Alaska. Construction: Samaritan s Purse has constructed or renovated schools that enable thousands of children to pursue their dreams of a better life. Samaritan s Purse constructs church buildings around the world to give believers a place to worship together and to help strengthen the body of Christ. Samaritan's Purse builds, renovates, and equips healthcare facilities, making it possible for missionary doctors to offer the best care possible to their patients. In countries ranging from Mexico and Honduras to Myanmar and Indonesia, Samaritan's Purse has built new homes for families who lost everything. In communities devastated by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or other disasters, Samaritan's Purse often stays behind after our initial response to rebuild or restore houses for needy families. We have provided more than 1,000 homes since we launched the program. Emergency relief: food, shelter, supplies, medicine and disaster relief units. Other activities are: Youth training, evangelism, Bible study and vocational projects. Food: Samaritan s Purse works in displacement camps around the world, distributing food staples to hungry families often by airlifts as the only means to getting food to the needy. When disaster strikes, we provide emergency food kits that include rice, beans, soy meal, corn, salt, and cooking oil. A copy of the Handbook it is available in the narthex or in our church website at 15