Sunday, February 15, 2009

Go Heal the World!


That sounds great, but how exactly do I do that? A very good question, and one we hope to begin to answer during our March Missions Month. We are really excited about all that we have to offer this year and hope that many are encouraged to take a step towards bringing healing to others.

Here are some highlights:

Each Sunday, between services from 10:20-10:50 there will be an Open Forum with one of our ministry partners as guests. Come and hear more about Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services, Embrace Richmond/Caritas, Youth Life Foundation Richmond, and World Impact's new Three Year Plan.

March 7, Saturday - We will be working with ElderHomes to do minor home repairs for the elderly around Richmond. A team of 8-10 men, women and teens is needed. This is an opportunity to serve and to minister to someone who may live alone, is elderly and in need of encouragement and love. From 8:30-3 pm, bring your own lunch. Contact John Atkinson, johnlatkinson@gmail.com,804.627.3555.

March 14 , Saturday - Watch for the Hope Church Furniture Drive! We will be accepting donations for the Caritas ShareHouse furniture warehouse. Gently used or new household items and furniture are welcome. All donations go to households moving from homelessness to shelter. More information coming! Teams will be needed to receive donations on Saturday. Contact Rose Steele, 365-8214.

March 21, Saturday - We need 2 teams of 4-5 people to build handicap accessible ramps for 2 homes in Goochland Co. This project will be in coordination with Goochland Family Services. Contact Brenda Murray, 310-4958, pmurrayjr43@comcast.net.

March 28, Saturday 3-6 pm - We will end our missions emphasis month with a BANG! Hope will assist Youth Life's Learning Center in Highland Park in a big SPRINGFEST block party from 3-6 pm for the students and their families. We'll need lots of volunteers for this fun event to play basketball, run carnival games, paint faces, prepare food and have fun! Contact Mary Venable, 716-2661, mlrvenable@yahoo.com.

You can sign up for the day(s) you choose in three ways:
- the sign up sheet on the Mission Blitz table at Hope Church,
- emailing me at worldimpact@hopecentral.com or
- calling the contact person listed.

Join us as we reach out and "heal the world!"

Nancy Friesen
worldimpact@hopecentral.com

Monday, February 9, 2009

Dominican Republic June Youth Trip

Our first mission trip of 2009 leaves for Hato Mayor, the DR this coming Friday, February 13. This team of dentists, doctors, nurses and laymen will be providing free clinics to the young and old in villages around Hato Mayor. Please be in prayer for them as they travel, serve, love and learn!

Check out the slideshow below for pictures from the last youth trip in November. As you see faces, pray for those children and adults to be reminded of God's love and to be strengthened in their faith.

What's next?? Well, the dates are set and the plans are made for
a team of Hope youth and adults who will be traveling to Hato Mayor, the DR, from June 20-28, 2009. Here are the details if you are still interested in being a part of that team, or are already part of it.

This will be mostly a construction trip. The team will be working in the small batey of La Mina, about 15 km. up in the mountains from where the team stays at Shalom Church in Hato Mayor. The time in La Mina will be divided between building homes, building relationships, teaching VBS and building community. Depending on team size, the team hopes to build between 4 and 6 houses in this poor community.

The first team meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 6:30 in the Adventure Woods theater at Hope Church. At this meeting you should have your application completed and your initial $600 (total cost is $1200). This will enable Cathy to purchase plane tickets as soon as possible.

The dates of subsequent meetings are: (6:30-8:00 pm in the AW theater.) Please note, no food or drinks are allowed in the theater.

2/18 - Wed. - applications and initial $600 due
3/4 - Wed. - team meeting
3/8 and 15 - Sun. - Sub Sandwich sales before and after church
3/18 - Wed. - team meeting
3/21 - Sat. - Sandwich preparation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Hope kitchen
3/22 - Sun. - Sandwich distribution and church wide luncheon
4/15 - Wed. - team meeting
4/29 - Wed. - team meeting
5/13 - Wed. - team meeting (final $600 due)
5/27 - Wed. - team meeting
6/10 - Wed. - optional team meeting
6/12 - Sat. - Final meeting and Pot luck dinner (families invited)

For more information, please contact Cathy Allen, w8tingonU@comcast.net, 740-6404.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

What time is it?



I've been thinking about that recently in various contexts. For my family, it is a time of change as our children enter the final stretches of elementary school and middle school, and as we adjust to a season of illness at our home. Our parents are aging, some faster than others, which causes us to pause and consider the end of their time in this life.

Our nation, and the world, is in a time of change... a new president, a history-making president at that, job losses and
economic hard times for many around us. The world seems to be much smaller than it used to with the aid of the Internet, 24/7 news coverage, cell phones and e-mail. Staying in touch with a friend on the other side of the world is now no harder than keeping up with your best friend down the street!

But one thing hasn't changed and never will... God's word! So what does God say about the times we are in?
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26,27)
Why has God put me here, now, in these times? Have you ever wondered that? According to Paul's words in Athens, He has put me, and you, here in this place, in this time for a purpose. The Westminster Confession teaches us that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Wow! So that's why we are here, now, in this time!

But what about those who don't know God? How do they deal with the times we are in? God said that he puts men, and women, in times and places so that they will seek Him and perhaps reach out and find Him. Do you know anyone who is doing that? Maybe they see God in you and are seeking Him through a friendship with you? Why not introduce them to your Best Friend? Then they too can glorify God in any season, and enjoy Him forever!

Many of the ministries we partner with seek to make this all important introduction on a daily basis. Some work with the homeless in Richmond, or the poor in Richmond or Goochland. Others may live in another culture and speak another human language, but they all speak the same language of God's love, inviting others to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.


It's exciting for me to be a part of this at Hope Church, to see how God's purpose is being fulfilled NOW in big and small ways all around me. Whether it is hearing how a nurse was able to pray with a patient at the Goochland Free Clinic or a struggling artist in Beijing who had deep spiritual questions answered through a conversation at a Christian art gallery, each is an example of God's purpose being completed in God's timing.

This is truly being the Body of Christ, here and now. Good job, faithful servants!

Nancy Friesen
Hope Church World Impact coordinator
worldimpact@hopecentral.com