Missions- Sharing God’s Love

Missions Report - November, 2011

Christmas Food Pantry

The economics of the past year have affected all of us. We work harder, or struggle as some would say, to just stay even. But there are others, our neighbors, who started with less and have seen some of their limited resources disappear. During this season of the year, when we prepare again to welcome the infant Christ, we are given the opportunity not just to welcome Him into our hearts, but also to reach out in His name to serve our brothers and sisters. To this end we have set a high goal: $700 extra mission dollars to purchase 100 hams and 120 cans of sweet potatoes donated over the next month. So please, dig a little deeper and help us reach this goal.

More importantly, come to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit daily in your life. Let your heart be open to God's magnificent love. As part of the Body of Christ, may each of us participate in giving, living and singing God's love in Wakefield and throughout the world.

How's My Driving?

Have you ever seen that question on the back of a truck? Well the Virginia Conference and the James River District are asking us a similar question.

How well are we doing taking the love of Jesus Christ into the world through missions? We are asked to report our mission involvment, by the amount of giving and more importantly, by the number of people who actively participate in mission work. In October, over 70 people were involved in missions. If you are not already a mission participant, please join us! Donate cash or food to missions; serve as a volunteer in one of our programs; or help establish another outreach to meet a need in the community.

Mission Budget/Treasury

Some people have asked why there is "so much money" in the Missions Fund when the church is struggling.

As Christians, we are called by out Lord to serve our fellow man: feed the hungry, heal the sick, give drink to the thirsty and clothe the naked. Nowhere in the Gospels does Christ call us to build a church building.

Over the centuries congregations have built buildings to serve their conveniences. We built them bigger, more elegant, as we have attempted to let the building speak of our faith and its importance within the community. We have tended to clothe ourselves in religion rather than reach out in faith.

Some congregations tithe 10% of their entire church budget to missions and learn to operate the physical plant on the other 90%. In a small congregation (average worship = 70) that I once served, their annual budget was $85,600. Beyond that, they raised $20,000 to $30,000 a year for missions. Was that a matter of will power or faith? Money moves in and out of our Missions Fund constantly as we try to meet the growing needs of a community. There is never "enough," but we spread the "loaves and fishes" around to help as many as possible.

Hats and Mittens

Please remember to bring in hats and/or mittens for the Christmas tree in the narthax. The Wakefield UMW Preschool is sponsoring this mission project for the next few weeks.

Rev. David Kleinstuber
Missions Chairperson