Mission Trip Packet

Here are some organizations with which we are aware that you might support.  These organizations make a Kingdom difference while seeking to share Jesus with people.  I also want to encourage you to enter the conversation.  If you know of or give to a Gospel-centered organization that you would like to recommend, post a response to the blog to let us know about it.

Getting Involved – Organizations that can help you make a Kingdom difference.

Poverty & Education

Local

Mission St. Louis – A ministry of the Journey Church in St. Louis. Their mission statement is “Mission St. Louis exists to transform the city of St. Louis through education, empowerment, and development by connecting churches with neighborhoods in need.” I highly recommend these people.

New Life Evangelistic Center – The mission of the New Life Evangelistic Center is to provide Christian hospitality and respect for life through services of food, clothing, shelter, education, job training, and physical, mental, and spiritual health care to the poor and homeless in our local and global communities.

Christian Activities Center in E. St. Louis – The Christian Activities Center is impacting the lives of children and families through educational programs and other ministries impacting the poor. This is a high impact ministry in the heart of E. St. Louis, and a great place to serve, if you are willing to cross the river.

Urban St. Louis K-Life –  www.urbanstlouis.klife.com –Their mission is, “To present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to urban youth in St. Louis by building lasting relationships with an intentional focus upon mentoring and discipleship.”

International

Samaritan’s Purse – Maybe the best organization around right now at meeting the needs of hurting people around the world while taking the Gospel to them.  They are best known for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes they receive and take to kids each year.  But they do so much more.  Great organization whose founder and President is Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham.

Joy in Haiti - Organization run by Leslie Holdegraver, their purpose is to spread the Gospel in Haiti and meet the needs of people living there.

House of Hope Orphanage and Amer-Haitian Bon Zami – The orphanage, Christian school, and medical clinic we support in Haiti.

The Shoeman Water Projects – You might have heard of shoe collections around St. Louis where you could donate used shoes and they would turn those shoes into water for people.  The organization takes donated shoes by the shipload to third world nations and sells them very inexpensively, and then takes the money from the sale and builds wells and water purification systems in Haiti and Kenya.  George Hutchings who founded and runs this organization is a family friend of the Hubbards.

Living Water International - exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water, and to experience “living water” – the Gospel of Jesus – which alone satisfies the deepest thirst.

Oasis International – Oasis is a good choice if you want to get involved, because it is a ministry that is based in St. Louis, but is impacting poverty issues around the world. This means that you can find other ways to get involved beyond giving.

Mocha Clubs – The premise is that for the cost of two cups of coffee (or mochas) a month, which is about $7, followers of Jesus here can impact the issues of AIDS and poverty in Africa.

Compassion International – www.compassion.com – Their mission statement reads, “Compassion International exists as Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, physical, economic, and social poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.” While there are several ways to give to Compassion, the primary way is through child sponsorship.

Food for the Hungry – Their mission statement, “To walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation.”

Blood:Water Mission – “Blood:Water Mission is partnering with groups and individuals to empower Africans to build healthier communities through sustainable clean blood and clean water solutions, while developing social responsibility in the U.S. through initiatives that provoke personal engagement and ownership.”

Churches Helping Churches – Started by pastors James MacDonald and Mark Driscoll, this organization is helping rebuild Haiti by supporting efforts of local Haitian churches to serve people.

Missions and Church Planting

The Acts 29 Network – Church planting network, Genesis is an Acts 29 church.  This network seeks to plant healthy churches around the world.  If you were to give through this organization your money would be used to plant churches internationally.

International Mission Board – The mission of the IMB is to make disciples from people of every nation.  This organization sends thousands of Christian missionaries around the world who plant churches, educate children, care for physical needs, and do all sorts of other things to help people and serve Jesus.  If your passion is missions and evangelism around the world the IMB does a wonderful job of the work to fulfill the Great Commission.

Children

Missouri Baptist Children’s Home – “Missouri Baptist Children’s Home is committed to serving God by responding to the needs of children, youth, and families, to make a lasting difference in their lives. The ministry demands that we integrate the highest professional standards and practices with our Christian belief system.” They have a location in Bridgeton, MO.

Life & Righteousness issues

American Center for Law & Justice – An organization that is getting involved in issues of righteousness from a legal perspective. They argue constitutional issues in courts and culture. They provide legal support to those who are encountering persecution from the culture for issues of faith.

Hand ‘n Hand Pregnancy Help Center in Barnhart, MO – (636)464-8400 – A center in Jefferson County seeking to love those going through a crisis pregnancy.

Thrive St. Louis – “Thrive St. Louis is a Christ-centered organization that empowers people to make life-affirming and healthy decisions about sex, pregnancy and relationships.” Their ministry includes a crisis pregnancy home for unwed mothers, as well as medical help and counseling for those going through an unplanned pregnancy.

Mercy Ministries of America – “Mercy Ministries is a non-profit organization for young women who face life-controlling issues. We provide residential programs free of charge designed to address the whole person: spiritual, physical and emotional. Our non-conventional approach to the underlying issues changes more than behavior; the Mercy Ministries program changes hearts and stops destructive cycles.” They have a location in St. Louis.

To Write Love on Her Arms – They are dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those who are struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.

Hanukkah celebrates a season in Jewish history that is called the Maccabean Revolt in 166 BC.  At the time the Greek Empire ruled through four separate rulers who governed a section of the empire Alexander the Great conquered.  One of those rulers, a man known as Antiochus Epiphanes led the Seluecids (part of the Greek empire) into Israel.  He not only wanted to conquer the land, he also wanted to subdue the people and make them Greek, forcing them to abandon their belief in Yahweh as God substituting the belief in the pantheon of Greek Gods.  When he came into the Jerusalem he defiled the city, and completely desecrated the Temple, calling it a Temple to Zeus and sacrificing a pig on the altar (using a pig was a direct slap in the face to Jews).  A small family who would become known as the Maccabees started an insurrection.  Using guerrilla warfare they conquered the Seluecid armies, drove Antiochus out of Jerusalem, and rededicated the Temple.  The dedication included multiple sacrifices and the need to keep the lamps in the Temple continually burning, as commanded in the Old Testament Law.   The problem was that they only had enough olive oil for one day (this is the tradition passed on in the Jewish Talmud).  The miracle of Hanukkah begins with the miraculous victory over the much stronger Seluecids and Antiochus, but it includes the fact that the lights continues to burn for eight days, even though there was enough oil for only one.

Very quickly the eight day festival that takes place during our Christmas season is a reminder of God’s deliverance of His people and his miraculous provision.  While we as Christians understand that Jesus is the ultimate light of the world, this holiday is a significant part of the story leading up to the coming of Jesus.  Furthermore, Jesus celebrated this Festival.  In John 10:22-30, Jesus is in the Temple celebrating the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) when he is questioned by the Jews.  They ask him if he is the long-awaited Messiah.  His answer is that the works he has done should be testimony enough, but they continue to reject him.  The outcome is that the Jewish leaders want to destroy Jesus.  They were celebrating the deliverance and provision of God for their nation, but completely missed God in the flesh in their midst.  And, they rejected Jesus because they wanted a national hero, not a Savior who would deliver them from their greatest need, the sin in their lives.  They lit candles to remember a hero, and missed the light of the world who was shining among them.

A couple thoughts with this before the video.  First, learn about Hanukkah.  If it was part of Jesus heritage, it is part of our story of faith as well.  Not saying you should celebrate it, just know what it is about.  That leads to the second thought.  You may have friends who are Jewish.  The Christmas season can lead to some interesting struggles for Jewish friends.  They are celebrating their festival, but the rest of the world is thinking Christmas.  Many times they can feel like outsiders, and some may even be ridiculed for not jumping on the Christmas bandwagon.  I think it can be helpful to reach out to Jewish friends by acknowledging Hanukkah, either by wishing them a happy eight days, or by sending a card.  That simple step could go a long way toward building a relationship where you might be able to show them the true light.  God bless.

Bill was an interesting character.  While serving on staff at a different church, the first time he walked in, people noticed him right away.  It was obvious by his clothes. . . and his odor that he had not showered in a number of days.  He sat down about six rows back in our worship center.  My first thought was, “I wonder what he is doing here.”  My second thought was, “I wonder how our church will respond to him.”

I went over to Bill and welcomed him to our fellowship.  What I saw over the next weeks made me proud.  People from our church went over and welcomed Bill and began to help him.  Bill was a little slow, and lived in a low-income housing project.  He didn’t have much, and didn’t really know how to care for what he did have.  Bill didn’t have family in the area who could help him, so our church became his family.  People from the church went to see him two or three times a week.  They provided clothing, and helped him work on his hygiene.  Individuals in the church picked Bill up every time the doors were open so he could attend church, or fellowships, or whatever was going on.  Whenever we had a fellowship, church members would make sure Bill was at the front of the line so he could eat first.  And eat he would!  I’ve never seen a plate so full or stacked so high with food.

It was amazing to watch our church love this man who lived in poverty.  But it shouldn’t have amazed me, because this should be the norm for those who love Jesus Christ.  Our love for God should spill over to the downcast and hurting people in our society.

Christians throughout the ages have made an incredible impact on the world when they have cared for the poor and needy in society.  Christians have built orphanages, created food pantries, opened clothing giveaways, operated homeless shelters, provided job training, and so much more.

But caring for the poor is a job for every follower of Jesus.  We all should be concerned for the poor and needy.  Our society is filled with people like Bill whose lives could be changed if someone would only care for them and love them.
Is there are Bill in your life?  Maybe there is someone in your neighborhood, near your job, in your family, at your school who can’t afford nice clothes, or other stuff in life.  Is there a way you might be able to reach out to that person and show you care?  Maybe you could have an impact on someone as our church had on Bill.