Mission Moment from Spain

Our Church is pleased to support CBF Global Missions in moments like these where unity and love are modeled and shared.

"One Saturday, I visited a local Spanish church that uses a storefront for its space. It was a special gathering. Christians from different churches in the community had been invited to come together to discuss how we could work together to transform our community. It wasn't a grand Cathedral or the living room of a house church, it was a simple storefront church, but we were there, praying, worshiping and being replenished in community so that we could serve our community. That is the beautiful picture of the church that I hope to see and of which I want to be a part of."

- Matt Norman, CBF field personnel in Spain

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Tracking

"At Linda's I shared that I had put tracking labels that I got online on several of our Shoeboxes.

After church today I went online, put in the code, it came back that those boxes shipped December 5th from Charlotte heading to Togo in West Central Africa.

Tonight I just came across the photo below on Facebook....taken by a volunteer this week at the OCC Charlotte Distribution Center...the tally board... if you enlarge you can see boxes shipped to Togo on Dec. 5th.

Thought you'd like to share with the group.

Have a blessed week!"

- Teresa Deitz Manring

Mission Moment from Cambodia

Our Church is pleased to support CBF Global Missions in moments like these where unity and love are modeled and shared.

At church in Cambodia, the music leader often gets a phone call right in the middle of a song, steps outside to answer, and everybody else just keeps singing. A minute later, he will step back in and keep singing like nothing happened. As it turns out, the doors on the ground floor of the church have to be locked for security reasons. The music leader is the person you call to get in if you arrive after the doors have been locked. At first, I thought the action was a bit rude. However, it is an act of welcoming. Every call means that one more person has made the journey and the sacrifice to participate as part of the body of Christ that week.  

- David Bass, CBF field personnel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mission Moment from India

Our Church is pleased to support CBF Global Missions in moments like these where unity and love are modeled and shared.

Sewing Training Centers are key platforms to share God's true love in India. Needy widows and teenage girls are the beneficiaries of this sustainable community-based program. With six months of training, each one develops a new skill to support their family with dignity and respect. At Graduation they receive a sewing machine, a Bible and a certificate that enables them to work anywhere with job orders coming directly to their homes. This program is opening hard hearts and dark corners of the community for the Gospel.

- Sam Bandela, CBF field personnel, India

Mission Moment from Slovakia

(pictured above) Shane McNary and Sasha Zivanov.  Shane serves in Slovakia and Sasha serves in St. Louis, Mo.

Our Church is pleased to support CBF Global Missions in moments like these where unity and love are modeled and shared. 

We met Rene several years ago when he was working at the Children’s Center, an outreach of Bethel Ministries/Litomerice Baptist Church. I was immediately impressed by his commitment to serving others and we remained friends even after the Center closed. I know Rene to be a compassionate and committed servant, and I was honored to be present at his appointment service. At the service, an elder who happened to be Baptist shared how meaningful Rene’s friendship has been to him. He said, “I consider him my brother.”  He continued through his tears, “We are brothers here and we will be brothers in heaven.”  By bridging generations, races, and church affiliation these two brothers deconstruct the rhetoric of intolerance against “anti-sociables” as the Roma are euphemistically called by some Czech politicians. Deconstructing the myth that Roma and non-Rom Czechs cannot relate to the other, the reign of God grows as these men from different worlds learn to live in beloved community.

-Dianne and Shane McNary, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel, Slovakia

Mission Moment from Barcelona, Spain

Our Church is pleased to support Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions in moments like these serving communities and spreading the Gospel in Spain:

“When I visit churches here in Europe, I love to go into the sanctuary and listen. In the silence, I can almost hear the people of the centuries past as they came to pray, worship and replenish themselves for their everyday lives. Recently, I visited a local Spanish church that uses a storefront for its space. Christians from different churches in the community had been invited to come together to discuss how we could work together to transform our community. We sat and talked about practical ways to serve and love our community. I sat and listened. It wasn’t a grand Cathedral or a living room, it was a simple storefront church, but we were there, praying, worshiping and being replenished in community so that we could serve our community.”

Matt Norman, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel, Barcelona, Spain

A 'Great Commission' Moment

Our Church is pleased to support Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions in moments like these offering hope and hospitality to Muslim neighbors in Southeast Asia:
"September began with our neighbors celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice. This is an important Muslim holiday that commemorates Abraham’s faith through the sacrifice of sheep, goats and cows. It was fun teaching our children about the holiday and how to pronounce the Arabic words (eed-al-odd-ha!). They asked, “Dad, why don’t we do sacrifices?” We had the opportunity to share this month with our children and our neighbors that Jesus is the final sacrifice.
We came to this country knowing God called us here to walk alongside people as they made their way through the decisions of life and faith. This month has been full of one-on-one conversations with students and young adults. Our study of the Song of Solomon has opened the door to many private discussions with students about their relationships. One does not feel loved, and other is unsure of which path is right. Another is recovering from abuse from within the church, but is running back to Jesus who she desperately missed during her time away."
               - Mike and Brooke CBF Field Personnel serving in Southeast Asia

Cuba Connections

The Cuba Connections team will be having a brief meeting on Sunday, Oct. 16 immediately following the worship service.
Goals:
1. Assess Ernesto's stateside trip
2. Determine next steps in our walk together
All are invited to come to the meeting! We hope to see you there!

United Christian Ministries Meeting

For all our church families in Jackson county:

It is the time of year for you to say what you like/dislike and would like improved here at United Christian Ministries. We plan to get together on October 9th at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Sylva. Please mark your calendar now. Help us to keep our ministry strong in the Father. We want each church that supports us to help us make some long-range plans for UCM.

With great enthusiasm, we look forward to talking with you on the 9th. 

Sincerely,
Kathy Cross, Executive Director
United Christian Ministries

Visiting with Pastor Ernesto Bazan

Ernesto Bazan, pastor of our sister church in Holguin, Cuba, is coming to visit us from July 28-August 9. We would like to get a group together to plan the itinerary for his upcoming visit. If you are interested in helping, join us on Thursday at 5:30pm (location TBD). Please call or text Renee Coward at 828-399-1876 for more info.