Mission Matters

2PC Mission Team News 

Hearing God's Call? 

Volunteer Opportunities   

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.                                  Matthew 25:35   

• Serving on Saturday (SOS): Coordinator needed; contact Gretchen Cetin for more information or to volunteer. 

• Mission Trip Supplies Needed: See Scheduled Mission Trips section for details.     

• Habitat for Humanity: Watch for information about work dates and opportunities to volunteer; for information, contact Michael Kline at 880-6448.

• McLean County CROP Hunger Walk: For information or to volunteer, email or call Keith Ferguson at 846-2056.

• Home Sweet Home Ministries Mission Mart: Home Sweet Home can pick up leftover items from large group sales. Home Sweet Home accepts and recycles electronics; these can no longer be placed in the trash. You may also donate money, shop and/or volunteer at Mission Mart. They also bale and recycle clothing and household linens and towels no longer usable. For more information, go to their website  or call 828-7356.


• Home Sweet Home Ministries Billy Shepler Center: Urgent 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 kitchen help. 
  
  For a list of current non-food needs as well as a link to needed food items, go here.  For more information or for a volunteer application form, go here  or phone 828-7356.  For a list of volunteer opportunities and information about how to get connected go here.   

• Midwest Food Bank Distribution Weeks-June 4 - 8: Report on any of these days from 8:30am -2:30pm for as long as you are available. Call MFB at 663-5350 or visit here with questions or to volunteer as a group.    

• WACC "Feed the Hungry" Ministry at 2PC: 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 grocery cart in the south entry each Sunday morning.
  
  The cart is in in the small lounge across from the east entry office during the week. Healthy snacks are especially needed. 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. For an ongoing list of opportunities, visit their website. 

Little Children of the Philippines (LCP)

Dumaguete City, Philippines

by Janice Lewis     

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

(Hands of Christ Clinic)

Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico

June 16-24, 2012

Planning continues for the medical mission trip to the new Manos de Cristo Medical Clinic. The team asks for your prayers as well as contributions of needed supplies:   non-prescription reading glasses in strengths of 1.0-2.25; non-prescription sunglasses; multi-vitamins (adult, prenatal and children's chewable); toothbrushes/toothpaste (your dentist will most likely donate these); glucometers & current unused strips (your doctor may donate these). Collection baskets are at Connection Point and the Prairie Street entrance. Contact DeAnn Worth at 452-4055 with any questions.

 Little Children of the Philippines 

Dumaguete City, Negroes Oriental Island, Philippines

July 11-25, 2012

Planning also continues for travel to the Philippines.   The team asks for your prayers as they prepare for the 15-day trip. The LCP Mission Team is requesting your help with donations for school supplies and medical supplies.  (Most of these items are available at the dollar stores in our area.) The children in the lower grades share a few boxes of crayons-most broken. Coloring (especially in the coloring books they rarely have) is a coveted activity for them. Other school supplies: Crayons, pencils, pens, scissors, pencil cases, erasers, rulers, coloring books and backpacks.

If you are a sponsor and would like to give a special gift to your child, a filled backpack would be a blessing; be sure to enclose or attach your child's name. Medical supplies needed for the clinic (where our LCP children receive medical care): antibiotic cream, band aids of all sizes, aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, meds for upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. Containers are at Connection Point and near the Prairie Street entrance. Thank you for blessing these children!

You may still be able to join the LCP Mission Team; contact the team leader below. 

Cost:  Approximately $2500; opportunity to fund raise to reduce cost

Contact:  Leader, Janice Lewis, 452-4228

Joplin, Missouri Work Trip July 11-25, 2012

 Watch for information from Dr. Don Crittenden

Local Missions   

Faith in Action Introduces Footsteps of Faith e-Newsletter     

Faith in Action (FIA) is thankful for all who help in this ministry and today we bring you a brand new Faith In Action newsletter with exciting happenings; a brand new volunteer coordinator AND an opportunity to help raise funds for FIA by picking up your Schnucks eScrip Customer Card at the FIA office (410 N Prairie in Bloomington). When you shop for your groceries, you give the checker your Schnucks eScript Customer Card to scan and Schnucks will make contributions from virtually all your purchases.  

FIA depends on volunteers to help our seniors maintain independence, dignity and improved quality of life. Look on page 8 of the newsletter for upcoming Volunteer Orientation sessions (required of all volunteers). You can also become a friend of FIA at our Facebook site.   

SOS 2012 at Western Avenue Community Center

On Saturday, May 19, 14 2PC members gathered at the church for a light breakfast and devotions and then proceeded to WACC to spend the morning. Denny Steele reported, "We had a great crew . . . We painted the pavilion in the park, trimmed trees, painted the picnic tables, weeded the flower beds, planted flowers and bushes, trimmed some hedges, painted a bench, painted the sign, and cleaned the parking lot. Great improvement in the looks of the park and the front of the building." Thanks to the volunteers who made such a difference and to Denny for organizing our second SOS.

Restoration Christian Church Celebrates Anniversary        

 A number of 2PC members joined the members and friends of Restoration Christian Church to celebrate their 8th anniversary on April 22. The beautiful service was followed by a celebration dinner featuring Mexican and South American specialties created by Restoration members. Thanks to Local Missions Team member Sandy Savage for helping with the celebration. Congratulations, Restoration Christian Church!   

Global Missions

Dan McNerney Visits 2PC   

 

The Reverend Dan McNerney, Director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship (PFF), has been a great friend of 2PC missions. He helped 2PC connect to Pablo and Jan Cruz and to the Evangelical Seminary in Cairo among other ministries. He has also provided great leadership in interfaith ministries, especially regarding relationships between Christians and Muslims.

On April 19 Dan was welcomed as the guest speaker at the final 2PC Gathering of Men's Luncheon. Following that, he spent the afternoon with our pastors, and then met with members of the two mission teams. His passion for his work bringing Muslims to Christ and sharing how churches can broaden missions in the life of the whole church was an inspiration to all who heard him that day.

"If I told you that last week I was praying five times per day, you would most likely think I was hanging out with Muslims. Instead, I was in a monastery with Trappist monks near Atlanta, Georgia, praying with them, beginning at 4:00 in the morning each day. How often my body and mind wanted to resist having to go to the sanctuary yet another time in order to pray with my new friends. Couldn't I skip at least one of the sessions, especially the really early one?"

Read the rest of Dan's newsletter, subscribe here.   

 "Greetings to all our family and friends, I wanted to write to you after each big event that has taken place in the last 3 months but had a very hard time putting my feelings into words." Click here to read the rest of Jan's letter with news of Feb., March, and Holy Week in Chiapas. To support Jan & Pablo, you may make checks payable to Hebron USA; note "Feliciano support" on the Memo line. Mail to Hebron USA, 6080 Old Brickstore Rd, Greensboro, NC, 27455.

An Update from Edinburg, Scotland from the Carters, WEC, Int Missionaries     

Updates from the Bruehls, Campus Crusade for Christ, International, Missionaries    

 

On April 2, 2012, Don & Lorna Ray, Global Missions Team members, received email updates from Maggie and Roger regarding some life decisions and future plans for their ministries. They ask for our prayers and continued support. Click here to read Maggie's and Roger's emails to 2PC members.