Mission Matters

2PC Mission Team News 

Hearing God's Call? 

Volunteer Opportunities   

 Matthew 25:35     

For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me drink.  I was a stranger and you invited me into your home.    

Immediate Need for Volunteers to Open New Immanuel Health Center  

The Immanuel Health Center is a soon-to-open (February 27) medical clinic at 502 S. Morris Avenue  in Bloomington which will be staffed almost entirely by volunteers.  Its vision is to provide health care and spiritual support under one roof for residents-in-need. The Center, using sliding-scale fees, is intended to focus on primary care for children and adults who are on Medicaid. Medicare and private-pay patients who are up to 300% of the federal poverty line will also be accepted.  IHC is in the final phases of opening and has immediate needs for many one-time and on-going volunteers.

For information about the need for skilled and semi-skilled construction volunteers who are available now and in the next several weeks, contact 2pc member and volunteer construction manager Gayle Thomas, 275-5308. Scheduled for February are  installation of ceiling grid, casework, electrical and HVAC trim out, restroom accessories, door hardware, lighting and ceiling mounted devices, ceiling borders, flooring VCT and carpet tile, plumbing trim out,  telephone and computer equipment and FFE. 

For information about volunteering for non-skilled tasks both needed now and during the construction phase in February, email Mary Jeckel.  These tasks include painting, moving in supplies and equipment and ongoing sweeping and cleaning, cleaning and  cleaning.

To donate money or to volunteer for specific jobs as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals; social workers; prayer partners; behavioral health, pastoral and other counselors; administrative help; and building maintenance help; go to their website or email Mary Jeckel.

Donations Requested in the Wake of Typhoon in Dumaguete City, Philippines 

by Janice Lewis 

On December 17, 2011, Typhoon Sendong (Washi) struck the South East Philippines.  2PC's long-time ministry and newest Priority Partner, Little Children of the Philippines (LCP), was impacted as over 100 families lost most of their possessions, and around 40 lost their homes entirely.  Many of the 14 LCP communities (including Bloomington Farm Village) suffered severe losses.  Some homes were washed away. Many others were left filled with mud, and contents were washed away.  The crops, fruit trees and herbs for medicine at Bloomington Farm Village were a total loss.  The people are sharing their few resources and amazingly helping each other with what little they have left including food.  To view videos of the typhoon and its impact, go here. Learn more about LCP in the Priority Partner section of this newsletter.

The people in the area most affected were those who are the poorest of the poor and cannot relocate, rebuild or recover on their own.   They need significant aid to restore their homes, crops, clothes, cooking pots and other basic necessities.  We can make such a difference by sending monetary donations to assist in the recovery and hope that you will prayerfully consider making a personal donation to this 2PC Priority Partner which is tax deductible. 

Please send checks payable to: Little Children of the Philippines,  U.S. Headquarters, Little Children of the Philippines, P.O. Box 37, Barnesville, GA 30204.  Note "Flood Fund" on the memo line of your check.    

Service on Saturday (SOS) Seeking Coordinator(s) 

 The 2PC Local Mission Team believes that the SOS ministry is an important one.  The quarterly opportunities for service have provided our members and friends the opportunity to visit and work at local mission sites where they learned about those particular ministries and also enjoyed fellowship with other 2PC members and friends.

The new coordinators will have the option to plan as many SOS events  as they choose, and to work with the Local Mission Team to make changes in the program if they see fit.  We ask that you prayerfully consider this opportunity to serve God and the congregation of 2PC. For more information or to volunteer, contact Dr. Don Crittenden at 828-6297 or Gretchen Cetin at 662-5441.  

Liaison Desperately Needed for Habitat for Humanity/Restore

Building homes, building hope

Habitat for Humanity of McLean County also offers everyone the opportunity to Reduce the amount of waste that enters the landfill, to Reuse gently used home furnishings and to Restore the community around us.  Our 10,000 square-foot ReStore located at  

1402 W. Washington Street in Bloomington accepts donations of good-quality new and used building and household materials.  They also sell tons of great items at great prices to raise funds to support their Habitat homebuilding program with families in need.  Find out about the work of ReStore here. 

The 2PC Mission Team is concerned that we are not meeting our obligation to Habitat for Humanity because we no longer have a representative to act as a liaison between our church and the local Habitat organization.  We are seeking the person who will prayerfully consider whether this might be a calling waiting for you.  This liaison does not need to be a builder or actually build homes although that is certainly possible. What is needed is a person to coordinate a few building dates, share any news of Habitat's work and serve as a cheerleader at 2PC for the work of Habitat and ReStore.   

You may contact Rev. Michael McGaughan or Gretchen Cetin with questions or to volunteer.   

Midwest Food Bank Distribution Week |

February 6-10   

As a faith-based nondenominational nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, it is the mission of Midwest Food Bank (MFB) to alleviate hunger and poverty by gathering and distributing food donations to not-for-profits and disaster sites without cost to the recipients. Their support is based upon the merits of their work, the commitment of dedicated volunteers and the generous in-kind donations from corporations. MFB is pleased to provide a place where the local community is able to volunteer. We are a resource for youth groups, church groups and community organizations to help those in need. The warehouse is located at 1703 S. Veterans Parkway.  MFB began in 2003 by serving about 10 food pantries in McLean County, Illinois. Today they serve approximately 625 organizations across the midwest. The food given out each month now reaches over 250,000 people; MFB makes it possible for food pantries and soup kitchens in the Bloomington-Normal area to meet their critical needs. During each Distribution Week, MFB distributes to 220 agencies.  

The process involves helping the agencies in selecting their products, moving the cases of product from pallet to cart and then loading from the cart into the agency vehicle. While cases may weigh up to 50 lbs, they also need  volunteers to push carts, to annotate what products the agency takes and to pack large pallets of food into smaller boxes for distribution to the agencies.  Because volunteers are working in a warehouse environment, no open-toe shoes are allowed; this means no sandals or flip-flops. 

Volunteers for Distribution Week work 8:15am until about 2:30pm Monday through Thursday and 8:15am until about noon on Friday. It is not necessary to work every day or even for an entire day. You may work when you are available. No reservations are required for individuals; you may just show up.  Groups should contact MFB for volunteering. This is a wonderful opportunity for a family with upper elementary-aged youth and teens to serve together in His name. Call MFB at 663-5350 or visit the website (click on Calendar) with questions or to volunteer as a group.   

Serving the homeless and hungry with Christ's love since 1917

Does one of your New Year resolutions call for you to give back to the community in 2012?  Are you looking for a ministry that really needs your time and effort to make a real difference in lives?  Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity where almost anyone can be useful in some way, regardless of age, skill, amount of time available, etc.?  Are you looking for a first-time volunteer opportunity, and want to be sure you are connected with a ministry that appreciates and relies on volunteers?  Are you looking for a one-time volunteer opportunity or a regular recurring volunteer activity?  Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity for one person, a family or a small group?  If you answered "yes" to any of the above, then Home Sweet Home just might be a great match for you.  Check out their website for a list of volunteer opportunities and information about how to get connected.

Current urgent volunteer needs include groups to purchase food, prepare a meal and clean up afterward; child care for parents attending classes, counseling or case management sessions; help of various kinds in the clothing warehouse; and various kitchen help.  Numerous other ongoing volunteer needs abound. Here is a list of current non-food needs as well as a link to needed food items.  For more information or for a volunteer application form, go to Home Sweet Home's website or phone 828-7356.  

WACC "Feed the Hungry"  

Ministry at 2PC 

Partnering within our diverse community to open doors of hope and love through our faith in Jesus Christ

 

Have you noticed the grocery cart in the south entry on Sunday mornings?  You can fill a vital need by making a habit of either buying a few extra food items or looking in your own pantry for items and dropping them in the cart each Sunday morning.  A volunteer from WACC collects the contributions each week for the WACC Violet Espy Food Pantry. You can look for the cart during the week in the small lounge across from the east entry office.

 

There's a special need for healthy snacks for the children and teens who attend after-school and evening programs at WACC. As you know, buying healthy snacks can be more expensive. So if you can add some of these to your grocery list, it would be especially appreciated.  Also needed are copy paper, printer ink cartridges ( HP 92, 95, 74, 75, 57 or 58) and gas cards for transportation for the youth coming to and from the LINC site for recreation and for Senior Citizens' field trips.

 

Visit their website for an ongoing list of opportunities.

Little Children of the Philippines (LCP)

Dumaguete City, Philippines

by Janice Lewis     

Maybe you can't save the world... But you can change at least one child's life forever.

Dumaguete City, the home of Little Children of the Philippines (LCP), is located on the southern end of Negroes Oriental Island, a two hour flight south of Manila. LCP is a Christian ministry which serves the poorest of the poor through an umbrella of programs called HELPS. HELPS includes ministries for Health & Housing, Education, Livelihood, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Shelters & Sponsorship and serves over 5,000 people.  Because this a "hand-up" ministry, the participants give back by doing 10 hours of monthly service  through  Service With A Purpose (SWAP).    

SCHEDULED MISSION TRIPS

 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,  

and he will reward him for what he has done. 
Proverbs 19: 17

Little Children of the Philippines 

Dumaguete City, Negroes Oriental Island, Philippines

July 11-25, 2012

Join us on our 2PC mission trip to Little Children of the Philippines where the mission team will become familiar with all the programs in the LCP ministry as they interact with the people, participate in the daily lives, and help all we can.   

Activities will include sharing the weekly Bible studies in all 14 communities, Sunday worship with over 1600 people, visiting and engaging with the staff and children in the 7 preschools; making home visits, visiting with the Handclasp children, taking all the dorm (5 dorms) children out to eat, touring the piggery and the new chorizo (sausage-making) building, serving in the soup kitchens, and sightseeing if time allows.  Come with us to meet these wonderful people who feel honored to have visitors who care enough about them to travel from the other side of the world; our very presence is God's Word alive to them.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING:  February 19, 12:15pm in F100A

COST:  Approximately $2500, mostly airfare

DEADLINE FOR DECISION:  April 9, 2012

CONTACT:  Leader, Janice Lewis, 452-4228, 

Clinica Tzeltal Los Manos de Cristo (Hands of Christ Clinic)

Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico

June 16-24, 2012

Calling all those who are interested in extending a hand in faith to our neighbors in Chiapas, Mexico. Second Pres is forming a team for a Medical Caravan week to the Clinica Los Manos  De Cristo from    

June 16-24, 2012. Mission team members do not need medical experience or skills to be useful; only a willingness to travel and to help is required!  We are also, however, recruiting experienced doctors, dentists, nurses and Spanish speakers. We will operate out of the new clinic seeing patients, fitting reading glasses, doing lab tests, taking blood pressures and praying for and with our Chiapan brothers & sisters in Christ.  Come to the next meeting if you are at all interested or call Deann Worth for information. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Watch for announcements in the Pulse.

COST:  Approximately $1500 with opportunity to fund raise to reduce cost

DEADLINE FOR DECISION:   March 30, 2012

CONTACT: Deann Worth, Leader, 452-04055

Click here and print the application form.  You may leave the completed form at Connection Point for DeAnn Worth.               

Local Missions   

Happy New Year from Roger & Maggie Bruehl! Campus Crusade for Christ, International/CRU Missionaries 

by Don Lay    

Maggie and I are grateful as we start 2012 for how you have invested in Campus Crusade for Christ around the world. We were encouraged ourselves with this short video [see URL below] that illustrates just a part of that impact. I hope you have just two minutes to watch it.  And you might want to check out Maggie's blog: I know it challenged me to think of my three words for 2012.  Thanks for partnering with us!

To watch the video, go here; read Maggie's Blog here and visit this site to learn more about the Bruehls and their journey with God.    

News from the Frontier  

Dan McNerney, Associate Director, PFF  

Read Dan's compelling December, 2011, message which challenges readers to consider a range of topics including his experiences with his Muslim Study Group, Madonna, baby boomers and Tim Tebow. 

Strange Alliance

Long ago, the Apostle Paul warned us about being a child of God in name only. At the time, there were a lot of Jewish people saying that their salvation was guaranteed because they were descendants of Abraham. But Paul warned them, saying that salvation is an issue of the heart, not something guaranteed because of birth into a Jewish family or by going through all the prescribed motions of being devout. The same holds true today. Lots of Christians are depending heavily on their birth into a Christian family, success at passing their confirmation class, being baptized, or saying as an adult that they are more for Christianity than against it. What God wants is a contrite and surrendered heart, not an intellectual conclusion that God exists and that Jesus is most likely his son.   

Click here to read the rest of Dan's message. 

Jason Carter Returns to Scotland and His Family after 9 Weeks in Equatorial Guinia for Worldwide Evangelisation for Christ (WEC)

from The Carter Chronicles

 "After" Pictures of the Construction Project of theAcademic Building of the IBCP Bata Campus (Instituto Bíblico "Casa de la Palabra")

Presbyterian Church: Traditional drums used in "Bata- Jerusalén", one of the largest churches in Bata and one of the few churches  in the city with more than 350 regular attendees. 

I'm also thankful my family missed me tons!! I got lots of hugs and kisses upon my return!!! Here's a picture of my first Sunday back in Edinburgh -- I attempted to dance up to the front of the church to give my offering but was stopped before things got "out of hand".  (Jason, Lisa, Jackson, and Kenyon)

More pictures can be found on Jason's blog.    

Jason's Reflections from Time Spent Studying The Bible with Leprosy Patients in Equatorial Guinea:

Leprosy Is Still with Us

In Equatorial Guinea, that means - on average - one new case of diagnosed leprosy per month. Around 30 leprosy patients still live in the "leprosarium of Micomeseng" with about 20 living as "in patients" in the old hospital. Nowadays, leprosy patients are not (medically) isolated from their own after a multi-drug therapy developed in the 1970s effectively cures the disease (most leprosy patients in EG do not live in the leprosarium). Yet, for the 20 people living in the leprosarium hospital as patients, leprosy has left its scar in the form of incurable ulcers (mostly on the hands and feet) which necessitates daily treatment. The ulcers - coupled with the abandonment and rejection of family and friends - means that most patients will live out their days in a place far from their "pueblo." 

Truth be told, I'm still trying to spiritually and emotionally "unpack" the powerful stories and lives I encountered through the friendships forged at the leprosarium at Micomeseng. Modesto (a former student at the Bible College) and I drove with a long-time friend and pastor drove the two hours from the city of Bata to the very edge of the Cameroonian border. The leprosarium is the last building in the village of Micomeseng before crossing into Cameroon.  And, together with these new friends in Micomeseng, we studied the Book of Job. Basically, Modesto and I read sections of Job . . . and then listened.

We learned that some had preached at them, but few had listened. So, we listened...as they shared their identification with Job. We listened...as they shared cruel stories of rejection and stigmatization from their own modern-day "friends" like Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. I began looking forward to our weekly Bible study and day spent in Micomeseng.  Each week, we would bring folks the little items they had requested (a bar of soap to bathe with, a tub of butter for bread, a new t-shirt).  

As I shook hands with many folks missing fingers or having no fingers at all, it was difficult not to think of Jesus. The Jesus who touched "the lepers" -- as the Bible puts it - before multi-drug therapies. The Good Shepherd Jesus who walks alongside us in the valley of the shadow of death. What a Savior! What a Lord! We did share and preach some - mostly trying to articulatethat leprosy was not a "punishment from God", trying to liberate the hearts and minds of folks who bear the weight of years of accusations and cultural shame, and pointing us all toward the Savior who "took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."    (Mt. 8:17)