There's a Cancer in God's Church.
Of all the cells in the body, only cancer cells act independently of the rest. They are separate and apart...and destructive. This is the analogy Oscar Miuri, a pastor of Mavuno Church (Nairobi, Kenya), used on March 22nd at Mariners' Global Vision Event when talking about churches that stand alone, isolated from the rest of God's Church.

Regrettably, this analogy is true of many North American churches and churches throughout the northern hemisphere. The churches of wealthier nations often operate under the assumption that they don't need anyone, but rather, the rest of the world needs them. These churches have been sending missionaries to foreign lands to "spread the Gospel" to the poor all over the world, in fulfillment of God's Great Commission. Read more.
Meet Our Spring Faith Adventure Team

(L to R): Laurie Kelly, Alycia De Lucio, Alan DeLucio, Ashley Piturro, May Pacquing, Sue Mitchell Snyder,  
Trey Glennon, Alissa Van Arnam, Jeannette Boras (not pictured), and Susan (not pictured) & Dave Watkins.

These courageous Christ followers will be traveling to Haiti for their first short term missions trip to the Glory Glory Center this spring. There, they'll be sharing God's love through teaching, serving, prayer, and play! If you'd like to participate in the adventure, please pray for this team as they prepare to depart on May 8th. AND, If you can, please consider supporting them financially as well. To date, they are at 46% of their collective fundraising goal. To donate, click here. Thank you.
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself
by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, Feb. 2014

With more than 300,000 copies in print, When Helping Hurts is a paradigm-forming contemporary classic on the subject of poverty alleviation and ministry to those in need. Emphasizing the poverty of both heart and society, this book exposes the need that every person has and how it can be filled. The reader is brought to understand that poverty is much more than simply a lack of financial or material resources and that it takes much more than donations and handouts to solve the problem of poverty.
 
While this book exposes past and current development efforts that churches have engaged in which unintentionally undermine the people they're trying to help, its central point is to provide proven strategies that challenge Christians to help the poor empower themselves. Focusing on both North American and Majority World contexts, When Helping Hurts catalyzes the idea that sustainable change for people living in poverty comes not from the outside-in, but from the inside-out.

A personal favorite! A must read for anyone interested in international ministry.
-Susan Watkins, Leader, Haiti Ministry
Spring Faith Adventure: May 8-16, 2015
The team that will be going on this adventure is ready to depart on May 8th (see story above). To find out how YOU can participate in this adventure stateside, click here.

Upcoming Adventures: Click on specific adventure below for information.
Student Faith Adventure, June 25-July 3, 2015
Winter Faith Adventure, Jan/Feb, 2016
Share Your Story With Us
  • Have you been to Haiti on a Faith Adventure?
  • Did you hear God speak to you while you were there?
  • Has your life changed as a result?
We want to hear from you! Share your transformation story with us in 500 words or less, and we'll share your story here, in our newsletter. Email your story to Susan at Mariners Haiti Ministry.
Visit us on Facebook: Haiti Ministry - Mariners Church

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Mariners Church, 5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, CA 9260