CALENDAR JAN-JUNE 2014

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my wit-

nesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

PRAYER

Table of Contents

January5 - 11 Crestview Benevolent Fund12 – 18 Habitat for Humanity19 – 25 Kuyay Talpuy Teachers, Peru26 – Feb 1 Project Hope College Station ISDFebruary2 – 8 Gideons International9 – 15 Bridge Food Pantry16 – 22 Alan and Jill23 – Mar 1 Early Response TeamMarch2 – 8 International Justice Mission9 – 15 Living Water International Team Leon, Nicaraqua16 – 22 Blood Drive Team23 – 29 Faith In Practice30 – April 5 PET MinistryApril6 – 12 Methodist Children Home13 – 19 Connecting Congregation20 – 26 Prison Ministries: Bridges to Life and Kairos27 – May 3 Cookson Hills Center, OklahomaMay4 -10 Health for All11 – 17 Heather Reed18 – 24 Helping Hands Summer Sack Lunch and Cereal Program25 – 31 Youth Choir TripJune1 -7 Family Promise Center8 – 14 Billy and Laurie Drum15 – 21 Youth J.U.M.M.P. Trip22 – 28 Maua Methodist Hospital29 – July 5 Global Outreach Team

Global Outreach Team

This prayer calendar is prepared to help our congregation understand and pray for the mis-sions of our church. It is designed so that you may pray daily for one week for a specific mission that needs your prayers. The first week of each month is dedicated to the mission identified for the Communion Rail Offering.

For each mission, you will find:• The email address of an involved contact person. You are encouraged to contact that person

to give them encouragement in their ministry.• A website or blog address that provides additional information on the mission.

Should you wish to make financial donations to any of the missions, please write your check to Christ UMC, indicate the name of the mission in the memo line, and it will be directed appropri-ately. It will be credited to your Christ UMC donations record for tax deduction purposes.

May God bless you and those who dedicate their prayers, presence, service, time and gifts in missions for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The GO Team

Dear Lord, bless the members of Christ UMC as they dedicate their time, prayers, and service to missions in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Give them guidance and a clean heart; give them your strength, grace, insight, and love as they walk with you in their service. Give them strength to reach out to those in need as we spread your name and love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Jan 5 – Jan 11, 2014Crestview Benevolent FundJerusalem

JANUARYS M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31

The MissionCrestview is a non-profit corporation with a membership of approximately 125 volunteers who have been dedicated to en-hancing the lives of the residents of the Crestview Method-ist Retirement Community since 1964. They staff the Jane Lee Gift Shop six days a week, host birthday parties, Koffee Klatch, Bingo, and many other activities.

The ChurchHelp is needed with sing-alongs for the residents, sponsoring and participating in Bingo, being special friends and more. They are always in need of additional volunteers. The Communion Rail Offering will go to the Crestview Benevolent Fund to help provide care for long-time residents who have outlived their re-sources.

The PrayerLord, as we pray for the volunteers of our community who serve at Crestview, we ask that you will go before them as they work to "provide special services and activities to enrich the lives of the residents of Crestview Retirement Community." May all the residents of Crestview experience an extra measure of your love through each one of these selfless ladies who have served this special elderly group of your children in our com-munity over the past 50 years. Lord may your wisdom, caring compassion, and grace encompass this ministry in such a way that all who play a part may experience you more fully each and every day. May the last years of the residents’ lives not be spent waiting for your kingdom but may each one experience your kingdom in the here and now. May they face each day knowing that your promise of eternal life is sure and that your grace is abundant. Bless the Crestview Volunteers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contact: Judy Draper, jdraper@suddenlink.netOnline: mrcaff.org/communities

JANUARYS M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31

The MissionHabitat for Humanity is an ecumenical, nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of eliminating substandard housing and making the right to simple, decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat brings together individuals, churches, busi-nesses and other community organizations to help transform the lives of qualified low-income families in our community.

The ChurchOn Jan 11, 2014, Christ UMC began building our 7th Habitat for Humanity home. Funds for this home are from the Christmas Eve offering to be used for local missions. This home is for Tamona Scott and her two children, Lyanna age 11, and Rydarius age 12. The Scott home will be built in the new Faith Subdivision in Bry-an. The family currently lives with Tamona’s mother and they are looking forward to having their own home. Tamona has worked at the Bryan Walmart Supercenter for eight years and has worked hard to position herself and her family in a home of their own. Volunteers will raise the walls, shingle the roof, install siding and flooring, paint the outside and inside of the home, and landscape the yard. Last year, Christ UMC joined Faith in Action (FIA; group of 14 local faith-based organizations) to sponsor and help build a home for Chakira Davenport and her family in Jan 2013. In the future, we hope to sponsor and build a Habitat Home during even years, and to partner with FIA in sponsoring Habitat Homes during odd years. To sign up to help with the Scott home, please visit our Connection Center.

Contact: Dennis Rother, drother@suddenlink.net Gordon Carstens, g-carstens@tamu.eduOnline: habitatbcs.org

Jerusalem Jan 12 – Jan 18, 2014Habitat for Humanity

The PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the prayers, gifts and service of the many Habitat volunteers as they work to build homes and trans-form lives of deserving families in our community. Please watch over them, protect them and provide them guidance as they work to serve others. May these homes provide safe shelter and stable neighborhoods to foster your grace and love throughout our local community. We ask that you bless Tamona, Lyanna and Rydarius as they help build their new home. Make this a home full of love and your grace. Let it be a testament to your goodness and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jan 19 – Jan 25, 2014Kuyay Talpuy Teachers - Peru

Around the World

JANUARYS M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31

The MissionIn the Quechua language, the words, “Kuyay Talpuy” mean “plant-ing seeds with the love of God.” The Kuyay Talpuy preschool pro-gram was started by missionaries Billy and Laurie Drum in 2009 in the Andes Mountains. Teaching about Jesus and learning to pray are emphasized, but they also follow the prescribed pre-school curriculum of Peru. Billy and Laurie left Peru in December 2012, but the Peruvian missionary teachers of Kuyay Talpuy want-ed to continue this evangelistic program. Tania, Luz and Rosio have seen this dream come true. The parents are very happy that this program has continued because of the positive influence the program has had on their children. Tania, Luz and Rosio share the teaching at the school in Iscos. In addition, Rosio goes to the public school up the mountain in Tinyari once a week to have Kids’ Club with the school children there. She also shares Christ with the three communities through home visits and through a knitting club that meets twice a week in Tania’s home to share knitting skills, Bible study and friendship with the mothers of the community.

The ChurchChrist UMC supports the continuation of the Kuyay Talpuy pro-gram through once-a-year funding. Christ UMC also sent two youth teams to Peru in 2011 and 2012 to build playgrounds, con-duct VBS and to develop relationships with the children and their families.

The PrayerDear Lord, we ask for your blessings on Tania, Luz, Rosio and on the sweet children of Iscos, Partachocha and Tinyari, Peru. Be with them as they go about their daily lives teaching and sharing the stories of Jesus. Please continue to make missionaries of the sweet children of the mountain who go home from school and teach their families the stories of Jesus and how to pray. We ask your blessings on all of these people as they spread your word. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Contact: Pat Goins, pishtrish@suddenlink.netKaren Couch, karencouch@christ-umc.orgOnline: Follow Kuyay Talpuy on Facebook

Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2014Project Hope - College Station ISD

Judea

The MissionProject Hope, a ministry of Christ UMC, was created to bring hope to families with children currently enrolled in College Sta-tion Independent School District (CSISD). Project Hope part-ners with CSISD to improve conditions that may be hindering a child’s ability to learn. This ministry provides funding and volunteer assistance for home repairs and emergency needs, such as rental or utility assistance, upon referral of a CSISD case worker and availability of funds.

The ChurchMembers of Christ UMC can volunteer to help with repair proj-ects that are scheduled through Project Hope or make cash donations to the program. Additionally, on the first and third Thursdays of each month, the Brazos Valley Food Bank deliv-ers perishable foods to the South Texas Ave. mobile home park and volunteers work with residents to help unload and distrib-ute the food items.

JANUARYS M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31 1

The PrayerFather God, thank you for the opportunity to serve and assist our brothers and sisters in our community through Project Hope. As we work with residents on their homes, help us to also build friendships. We pray that our work, words, and smiles will shine with your light and witness to the love and joy to be found in knowing your son, Jesus the Christ. Thank you for providing vol-unteers willing to share their time and talents to honor you and show Jesus’ love to our neighbors. In his name, we pray. Amen.

Contact: Della Stephenson, dellastephenson@yahoo.com

Feb 2– Feb 8, 2014Gideons International

The MissionGideons International is an interdenominational association of Christian business and professional men who are members of protestant/evangelical churches. The members are dedicated to saving the lost through personal witnessing and the distribu-tion of God’s Word in more than 190 countries around the world.

The majority of Gideons live and serve in their local commu-nities, making them very effective and efficient because they know the local language and customs, they know where the ho-tels, schools, prisons, hospitals and other locations where Bibles and New Testaments need to be distributed are located, and sometimes, the Gideons are able to establish local groups in countries where traditional missionaries are not allowed to go.

The ChurchThe Gideons rely upon the financial support of local church-es. Christ UMC supports this mission through financial support from the communion rail offering and members of Christ UMC participate locally to handout Bibles. One hundred percent of the funds raised through church contributions are used for the printing and distribution of Bibles and New Testaments – local-ly and worldwide. Gideon members donate their time and mon-ey to cover administrative and overhead expenses. Most people are familiar with the Gideon Bibles found in hotel rooms, but don’t know how they get there. Each year the local Gideons in Bryan, College Station distribute over 14,000 bibles or New Testaments at Texas A&M University, Blinn, public schools, hos-pitals, jails, and hotels. Just last October, the Gideons handed out over 10,000 New Testaments to Texas A&M students - one at a time, eye to eye, into their hands. One of the best ways you can help the Gideons reach the world with the word of God is to pray for this ministry.

Contact: Fred Bingaman, fpbingaman@hotmail.comOnline: gideons.org

FebruaryS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28

The PrayerOur dearest, almighty Father, we know that a copy of your word can save a lost soul for eternity. Please help us and help the Gideons to not lose sight of this and to realize the importance of this work in fulfill-ing your great commission. We pray that you bless and protect these efforts, and reach the lost with these Bibles; to make followers and servants of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Judea, Samaria, & Around the World

Feb 9 – Feb 15, 2014Bridge Food Pantry

Samaria

The MissionThe Bridge Food Pantry in Bryan is conducted to minister the love of Christ to individuals through word and deed. Food pur-chased through the Brazos Valley Food Bank is distributed at the Bridge Food Pantry to individuals who are unable to provide for their families.

The ChurchMembers of Christ UMC assist The Bridge Ministries of Bryan in their outreach the second Thursday of each month. These vol-unteers help gather information from each individual coming to receive a box of food, help them get the food to their vehicle, and pray and share with them as needed. This is a true community outreach to those that have fallen on hard times. Many churches and A&M Christian student organizations work together showing that Christian brothers and sisters are able to collectively work together and reach the community.

The PrayerDear Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing our lives, so we can use our blessings to bless others. Give us your heart for the needy, and your kindness for the brokenhearted. Help us to be your hands and feet to a world that needs to experience your genuine and unfathomable love. Bless those who have given of their time, gifts and resources to make this food available to those in need. Please bless the workers who give of their time, heart and prayers to come to this place to assist and hand out food, smiles, love and your goodness. Most of all, Lord, be with those in need. Help them to see that you are the salt and light of their lives. Give them strength, courage and love as they leave this place. Help this food to give them adequate nutrition, hope and strength. In your son’s name, Amen.

Contact: Karen Couch, karencouch@christ-umc.org

FebruaryS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28

Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2014Early Response Team

Sumeria

The MissionThe Early Response Team responds to disasters such as hurri-canes along the coast, fires, and tornados here in Brazos County as needed and requested by the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. They generally do clean up work and tasks required to stop further damage.

The ChurchThe team has responded to help families in Rio Grande City after flooding, Bastrop and Grimes County fires, Alabama and Louisiana. Eighteen Christ UMC members have been trained for Early Response.

The PrayerGod of all creation, we humble ourselves in your presence, and ask for your protection and guidance as we minister and assist those who are most in need of your powerful hands. We ask that you touch the members of Christ UMC’s Early Response Team as they become your hands to help those devastated by wind, rain, fire, flood, or other man-made or natural disasters. We ask for your protection over each of them as well as their families while they are away doing your work. We thank you for the many bless-ings that you have bestowed upon us as a church and for giving us the opportunity to serve those in our community and beyond. We ask all of these things and give you all the praise, in Christ’s name, Amen.

Contact: Rev. Tommy Myrick, tommymyrick@christ-umc.org Online: umcswtx.org/early-response.html

FebruaryS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 1

Mar 2 – Mar 8, 2014International Justice Mission

The MissionThe International Justice Mission (IJM) is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM investigators, lawyers and social workers intervene in individual cases of abuse in partner-ship with state and local authorities around the world. By pushing individual cases of abuse through the justice system from the in-vestigative stage to the prosecutorial stage, IJM determines the specific source of corruption, lack of resources, or lack of good will in the system denying victims the protection of their legal sys-tems. In collaboration with local authorities, IJM addresses these specific points of brokenness to meet the urgent needs of victims of injustice.

IJM seeks four outcomes on behalf of those they serve. First is victim relief. IJM’s first priority in its casework is immediate relief for the victim of the abuse being committed. Second is perpetra-tor accountability. IJM seeks to hold perpetrators accountable for their abuse in their local justice systems. Accountability changes the fear equation: when would-be perpetrators are rightly afraid of the consequences of their abuse, the vulnerable do not need to fear them. Third is survivor aftercare. IJM aftercare staff and trusted local aftercare partners work to ensure that victims of op-pression are equipped to rebuild their lives and respond to the complex emotional and physical needs that are often the result of abuse. Fourth is structural transformation. IJM seeks to prevent abuse from being committed against others at risk by strength-ening the community factors and local judicial systems to deter potential oppressors.

The ChurchIJM is the Communion Rail offering for March. Our donations will be used to support IJM. Individual stories of the important impact of this mission can be found on their website.

Contact: Kiser Redith, redith@suddenlink.netOnline: ijm.org

MARCHS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

Around the World

The PrayerDear Lord, we pray for the safety of the International Justice Mission lawyers and investigators across the world, as they inter-act most directly with the perpetrators and their families. Also, we pray that suspects who should be incarcerated pending trial would be ordered as such. As you are aware, our Father, house arrests and similar measures are difficult to enforce. We would pray that you, God, would institute divine change and a spirit of repentance in the hearts of the perpetrators. These things we ask in thy name, Amen.

Mar 9 – Mar 15, 2014Living Water International Team - Leon, Nicaraqua

Around the World

The MissionFor Living Water International (LWI), it’s all about Jesus; demon-strating God’s love, announcing his kingdom, seeing Jesus in the least of our brothers and sisters, offering a cup of water in Jesus’ name and proclaiming his gospel, the living water.

Helping communities create sustainable water, sanitation, hy-giene, and Christian witness programs in partnership with local churches is just the best way this ministry has found to do that. Why? Because the water crisis affects poverty, women, health and education, and for LWI, it’s a spiritual issue. 783 million peo-ple lack access to an improved source of drinking water. That’s one in nine of us. In the places where LWI ministers, the ratio is closer to one in two. Great progress is being made globally, but whole people groups are being overlooked. The poorest people with the least political power continue to suffer, and these are the people we are called to serve.

The Church Our church will be drilling a well and providing hygiene supplies and instruction in a rural community outside of Leon, Nicaragua. The team will worship, pray, and work side-by-side with LWI’s in-country staff and the people of the community we are serving.

The PrayerDear Heavenly Father, please bless our team with the ability to demonstrate your precious truth in all that they do. Please bless us with the capabilities, the humility and the determination to fulfill our secondary goal of providing desperately needed fresh water to the people of the region. Lord, please bless those who travel and open their eyes to the blessings that the people of Nic-aragua will bring to the team. Lord, please open all of our hearts so that your love may travel in and out as is required.

Contact: Stacey Stagg, agdadof4@gmail.comOnline: facebook.com/pages/Living-WaterChrist-UMC-Nicara-gua-Mission-Trip/331181466979453

MARCHS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

Mar 16 – Mar 22, 2014Blood Drive Team

The MissionChrist UMC provides facilities for The Blood Center of Brazos Valley, an affiliate of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, to conduct blood drives four times per year that benefit patients in local hospitals. This program provides the gift of life for up to three persons per each donation.

The ChurchMembers of the Blood Drive Team at Christ UMC check in donors, assist the Blood Center of Brazos Valley staff, offer refreshments, and provide assistance to donors. Christ UMC schedules two blood drives during the months of January through May and two blood drives during the months of Sep-tember through November each year.*

The PrayerDear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life! Our es-sential nature binds us in shared responsibility for one anoth-er; therefore, we thank you for those in our congregation and community that are medically able to so graciously donate blood which extends the gift of life through The Blood Center of Brazos Valley in the Bryan, College Station area. We thank you that through medical advancements, patients live longer, healthier lives as a result of a gift of blood. We thank those who are unable to donate but share their gift of love through their time and service during blood drives. You are the source of all life and we praise your holy name, Amen.

Contact: Sharon Camp, sharoncamp@msn.com

*Specifics on how to register online are given in church emails and bulletins prior to each blood drive.

MARCHS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

Judea, Samaria, & Around the World

Mar 23 – Mar 29, 2014Faith in Practice

Around the World

The MissionThe mission of Faith in Practice is to improve the physical, spiritual, and economic conditions of the poor in Guatemala through short-term surgical, medical and dental mission trips and health-related educational programs. The mission is based on an ecumenical un-derstanding that as people of God we are called to demonstrate the love and compassion that is an outward sign of God’s pres-ence among us. Faith in Practice’s life-changing medical mission is to minister to the poor, while providing a spiritually enriching experience for their volunteers.

In 1991, Rev. Todd Collier identified significant needs at the Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro, a 500 year-old Franciscan hospital and home for incapacitated and abandoned children and adults located in Antigua, Guatemala. In 1993, Todd led the first surgical team to Antigua. The mission has continued to expand to accommodate the growing number of Faith in Practice surgi-cal teams and to encourage cooperative efforts among volunteer surgical teams from throughout the US and around the world. The Faith in Practice guesthouse, Casa de Fe, opened in 2003 and cur-rently provides approximately 23,500 bed nights and more than 48,500 meals annually for patients and family members. The Casa is a safe haven for patients and family as they await and recover from surgery in Antigua.

The ChurchEvery spring, Christ UMC joins with other churches in sending a medical mission team to Guatemala. The team is focused on offer-ing the gifts of mercy, healing and love to those otherwise unable to afford medical attention. One doesn’t have to be a practicing medical professional to participate in this ministry. The only pre-requisite for participating with Faith in Practice is a desire to share the loving mercy of Christ with others. Tom and Kelli Davis par-ticipated last year and will be part of the Faith in Practice team in Guatemala this week.

Contact: Kelli and Tom Davis, kellidavis5@hotmail.comOnline: faithinpractice.org

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The PrayerOur Father, we ask for your blessing for Faith in Practice. Protect and give insight to Tom and Kelli as they work this week to pro-vide medical care and to show your love. Provide an open heart and healing to the Guatemalan people as they receive medical care and love from the Faith in Practice team. Provide the med-ical team and volunteers the skill, understanding and words to touch those that they serve so each individual’s medical and spiritual needs are met. We ask that you walk with each individ-ual who has given unconditionally in your service to others. In your grace, Amen.

Mar 30 – Apr 5, 2014PET Ministry

The MissionPET seeks to reflect the love of Jesus Christ by bringing the “gift of mobility and dignity” to those in developing countries who are unable to walk. The United Nations estimates that 22 million peo-ple worldwide have lost the use of their legs due to land mines, disease, accident or injury. Of these, 15 million are bedridden or use wheelchairs. What about the other 7 million? Brazos Valley PET is one of 25 production and distribution centers throughout the U.S. that produces a rugged, sturdy hand cranked cart, called a “Personal Energy Transporter” that provides mobility to these leg-handicapped individuals.

The ChurchThe Communion Rail offering for April will go to the PET Minis-try. The PET vehicles, which are fabricated by the Brazos Valley PET Project in Bryan, cost about $250 per unit. Our donations are used to support this effort. Members of our church can also volunteer their time and labor to fabricate and assemble the PET units. To date, B.V. PET has distributed over 1,000 of these units to third world countries. Nationwide, approximately 30,000 units have been produced.

The PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the wonderful people and missionaries throughout the world who donate their time and money to pro-vide relief for the millions of those who struggle daily to survive in war-torn and remote areas. We pray that the vehicles provided by PET will give a crippled father, or mother, or child mobility and dignity and a chance to be productive individuals. May the love and concern expressed by our efforts be a blessing to all those involved, whether they be providers or recipients.

Contact: Colin Wilkinson, colinwilkinson@suddenlink.netOnline: petinternational.org

APRILS M T W T F S30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Around the World

Apr 6 – Apr 12, 2014Methodist Children’s Home

The MissionThe Methodist Children’s Home, located in Waco, provides ser-vices to more than 1,400 children and youth daily through resi-dential care, foster care and other services. Thsi ministry has 12 family outreach services offices located across Texas and New Mexico.

ChurchThe communion rail offering for April will be donated to help the Methodist Children’s Home to support residential care, foster care and other services for those children and youth in need of support and care.

The PrayerDear Lord, we pray that your love will touch each of these children and youth so that they know your deep love, joy and the abun-dance of your presence. Guide each of them as they grow and journey through life. Help each of them to know the joy of family, caring for each other and the love of your countenance. Lord, be with the care-givers each day. Provide them strength, patience, love, and insight to touch each life in a positive, joyful way. Let them be your light as your goodness, kindness and love shines through them. Walk with the children, youth and care-givers each minute, each hour and each day as you provide a home and family for those in need. Bring the dream of love, a family and a future to each child and youth. Help bring those in need to this wonderful place of love and joy. Amen.

Judea

APRILS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31Contact: Karen Couch, karencouch@christ-umc.orgOnline: methodistchildrenshome.org

Apr 13 – Apr 19, 2014Connecting Congregation - Estonia

The MissionWorld Methodist Evangelism has had a continuing relationship with Estonia for more than three decades. The Connecting Con-gregation program began there in 1992 and enables churches to share faith, vision, support and hope in Jesus Christ with one an-other. In Estonia, the Connecting Congregation program includes new congregations established since 1992 as well as congrega-tions which survived above ground during the Soviet occupation. These “survival” churches are called “Tuletorn Congregations” from the Estonian word for “fire-tower” or “lighthouse” because the “lights were never turned out, even on the darkest night.” Today, Connecting Congregations are enabling new congrega-tions and providing “oil for the lamps” of Tuletorn Congregations across the entire country. These emerging congregations are “connected” through World Methodist Evangelism with enabling congregations in other parts of the world. Both the Connecting Congregations and the Enabling Congregations are invited to “share with one another what each one has to give.” Connecting Congregations have shared through visits with one another, work teams, witness teams, Sunday school and Bible school teams and choirs. Congregations have shared Christmas carols with one an-other by telephone, loaves of bread have been exchanged, and special offerings have been given for restoration and develop-ment of buildings and programs. Each “connection” develops dif-ferently in keeping with the needs of the congregations, but a basic commitment of prayer and financial support becomes the foundation for expanding ministry in the new situation.

The ChurchOur church is supporting a new congregation in Estonia and a member of the GO Team will be joining a Houston church this week on a mission trip. Christ UMC has provided support for this member to establish a Connecting Congregation with the vision that this congregation will be our partner in sharing the message of Christ in Estonia.

Around the World

The PrayerDear Lord, walk with and bless the members of the Connecting Congregation team as they travel to do your work in Estonia. Let your words and love shine through them as they connect with your family in Estonia. Give them insight to provide the guidance and support needed with our congregation. Help them to under-stand how we can impact, serve and help our fellow congrega-tion. Provide an open heart and understanding to the people in Estonia so that our team may not only touch their hearts, but show them our excitement to be connected to fellow Christians. Bless each person who works to make this connection so that both churches may flourish and show your love, grace and to serve your people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contact: Robert or Susie Lightfoot, rob.light@suddenlink.net, susie.light@suddenlink.netOnline: worldmethodist.org/connectingcongregations.htm worldmethodist.org/estonia.htm

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Apr 20 – Apr 26, 2014Prison Ministries: Bridges To Life and Kairos

Samaria

The MissionBridges To Life is an international, faith-based program that draws from the principles of restorative justice to provide a healing pro-cess to crime victims and prison offenders. Its mission is to con-nect communities to prisons in an effort to reduce the recidivism rate (particularly that resulting from violent crime), reduce the number of crime victims, and enhance public safety. Since Bridg-es to Life began in 2000, more than 18,000 inmates have grad-uated from the program. Only 18% of program graduates have returned to prison, compared to a nationwide rate of 40%. Only 2% of the graduates have returned to prison for a violent crime. Bridges to Life spent only $225 per inmate graduate in 2012. We, the taxpayer, spend about $90,000 on the average prison stay for one. The program’s spiritual mission is to minister to offenders and victims of crime in an effort to show them the transforming power of God’s love and forgiveness. This program is a 14-week program utilizing the book Restoring Peace by Kirk Blanchard and a workbook, which the offenders and volunteers read and complete weekly.

The mission of Kairos is an international, state, and local ministry to bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individu-als, their families and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition to becoming a productive citizen. This program is a 4 day weekend twice a year where men can work on the “inside” team and men or women can work on the “outside” team.

The ChurchChurch members can be trained and can volunteer to co-facili-tate study groups of ten. Church members are participants in the Kairos ministry as members of the “outside” or “inside” teams as mentioned above. Mentoring the men at the Huntsville Unit is also an opportunity.

Contact: Benjamin Tkah, ben.tkach@gmail.comRedith Kiser, redith@suddenlink.netOnline: bridgestolife.org or kairosprisonministry.org

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The PrayerHeavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunities you give us in everyday life to witness for you. As the men and women go into the prisons to do your work, we ask for safety for each one, every time they go. You have told us to remember those in pris-on, so we pray that you will give us the words to say what might change their lives. As your words of love, peace, forgiveness and hope are carried into the units, we ask for help that your workers will not become judgmental. We know that every good thing comes from you and our words can be used to grow your king-dom even in prison. As we thank you for these workers, we ask for blessings on these men and women. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen.

April 27– May 3, 2014Cookson Hills Center - Oklahoma

The MissionThe Cookson Hills Center has been a very significant part of the mission work of the United Methodist Women in Oklahoma since 1948. The primary target groups of the center’s services are Native American people, mostly from the Cherokee tribe.

In the midst of poverty, poor educational experiences, cultural dif-ferences, and rural styles of living, the programs of the center offer social, educational, physical and spiritual services to those who are in need.

Ongoing programs include such things as a thrift store, food pan-try, craft co-op, home repair, counseling, emergency assistance for housing and employment, a Christmas store, children, youth, adult education programs, and a Health Information Center.

The ChurchOur ministry opportunities include financial support of the center and it’s programs, as well as opportunities to visit missionary Meri Whitaker and the center and work in areas of home repair or other mission outreach projects.

The PrayerFather God, thank you for the Cookson Hills Center, the people who work there, and the people they serve. We pray that your hand will be in all of the programs that show your love, encouragement, and support to our brothers and sisters in Oklahoma. Please continue to bless the center with growth and support so that they may con-tinue to meet the needs of their neighbors. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contact: Karen Couch, karencouch@christ-umc.orgOnline: cooksonhillscenter.org

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Judea & Samaria

May 4 – May 10, 2014Health For All

Jerusalem

The Mission Health For All is a non-profit, free health care clinic that was founded in 1987. Virtually all of the clinic’s funding comes from local donors who live and, or do business in the Brazos Valley, and no state or federal funding is received. This ministry provides free doctor visits, pharmaceuticals, specialist exams, lab tests, X-rays, chronic disease management education, and counseling services to low income patients in the Brazos Valley who do not have health insurance and do not qualify for government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare or County Indigent funds. Health For All treats about 5,000 patients each year, utilizing a team of vol-unteer medical professionals. The ministry is able to deliver ser-vices at a very low cost thanks to a small staff and a large number of volunteers and community partners. By providing an alterna-tive to expensive emergency room visits by the uninsured, Health For All saves Brazos Valley hospitals and taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The ChurchThe May Communion Rail offering will go to Health For All. Our do-nations will be used to provide health care for people in Brazos Valley.

Contact: Joey Boring, tejasjoe@yahoo.comOnline: hlth4all.org

MAYS M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 The PrayerDear Lord, thank you for the medical professionals who give of their time and talents to help those in need of medical care. Give them strength and wisdom as they treat and heal those in need. Walk with them and provide them guidance. Thank you for the community partners involved with Health For All. Bless and watch over them as they assist in supporting the health treat-ment of people in the Brazos Valley. We ask that to the people touched by Health For All, you would provide strength of faith and heart, courage and an understanding of your blessings on their lives. Let them feel your love and power as they face health issues. Help them to see your divine grace and healing. In your son’s name, Amen.

May 11 – May 17, 2014Heather Reed - Vietnam

The MissionHeather Reed is a missionary who has been supported by Christ UMC since she participated in The World Race. Current-ly, Heather lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam bringing Christ’s message to several communities throughout the country.

The ChurchOur ministry opportunities include several ministries in which Heather participates. Financial support options include a fam-ily feeding program, providing education scholarships for students, and providing teaching material for Bible courses. Providing the emotional and spiritual support through com-munications provides comfort through the turbulent times in-herent in missionary work.

The PrayerHeavenly Father, we pray for your protection on Heather as she heeds your call to go out and make disciples of all people. As the embodiment of your hands and feet, we ask that you continue to guide her ministries in Vietnam. Direct our prayers of support, compassion, and generosity to Heather in Vietnam, empowering her with your spirit. We pray that the message of hope, grace, and peace found in Christ reach all those in Viet-nam and that the redemption of new believers brings joy in heaven. We thank you for Heather, and all the missionaries that bring your light into the needy world. We ask for your bless-ings on Heather. In Christ’s holy name we pray, Amen.

Contact: Della Stephenson, dellastephenson@hotmail.comHeather Reed, heatherreed@gmail.com

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Around the World

May 18 – May 24, 2014Helping Hands Summer Sack Lunch and Cereal Program

Jerusalem & Samaria

The MissionThese programs provide meal assistance to school-age children during the weeks of summer that school breakfast and lunches are not available to them. Both programs are currently serving the residents of Southgate Village Apartments in College Station.

The ChurchMembers of the Helping Hands team schedule volunteers to work handing out sack lunches and cereal to children ages 4-12 in the courtyard at Southgate on Tuesday-Thursday every week of summer break. The ministries schedule groups of individu-als, sometimes Sunday school classes, to provide and prepare the sack lunches each week. These volunteers deliver the sack lunches to the apartment complex and are met by Helping Hands team members who manage the roster and lunch line. Members of the congregation donate healthy cereal throughout summer. Each Tuesday, a volunteer from the Helping Hands team loads approximately 100 boxes of cereal to take from church and dis-tributes along with sack lunches at the apartment complex. The children who are served love interacting with the volunteers and constantly surprise and bless those around them with their words and bright smiles!

The PrayerFather God, thank you for the opportunity to love these chil-dren and share your message of love through gifts of food, hugs, prayers, smiles, and kind words! Please guide the Helping Hands team and volunteers in this program to be examples of Jesus’ great love with words and deeds. We pray that the children and families served will see your mighty hand at work in their lives through these programs and that they will know you are always with them and loving them. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Contact: Della Stephenson, dellastephenson@hotmail.com

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May 25 – May 31, 2014Youth Choir Trip

The MissionThe youth of Christ UMC meet weekly to join in song and praise of our Lord and God. They provide joyful song during worship and in our community. Each year, the youth choir travels for a week to share their gift of song and faith within the United States. Their overall mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world through song and spoken word.

The ChurchThe youth choir has traveled to California, St. Louis, Chicago, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas and Louisiana in the past eight years. This year, they will be spread-ing the gift of their song through Arkansas and Missouri.

The PrayerDear Lord, we ask that you protect, guide, bless and walk with our youth, music staff, and adult volunteers as they travel to touch the lives of people with the gift of their song. Live through them and let them be a testament of your love. Let their voic-es ring with your passion and word. May they strengthen the faith of each individual who hears their voices. Let their song be your living testament and the living water that pours over the hearts and souls of those in need of your love. Let them be a vehicle of your glory. Thank you for these youth and adults who willingly give one week to do your work. Help them to have fun, but to also be your disciples to everyone that they come in contact with. Thank you for each of them and for their gift of song. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contact: James Faith, jamesfaith@christ-umc.org

Judea, Samaria

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June 1 – June 7, 2014Family Promise Center

Jerusalem

The MissionChrist UMC is one of the host churches for Family Promise in the Bryan, College Station area. Family Promise is an ar-ea-wide, faith-based, volunteer-based, non-profit organization that supports families by providing shelter, meals and support services to homeless families. They provide a safe environment in which families can stay together and become self-sufficient.

The ChurchThe Family Promise Center is the Communion Rail Offering for June. Our donations will go to provide support for the Fam-ily Promise Center to help families find jobs, housing, and to allow them to receive job training. Our direct involvement in Family Promise is as a host congregation. Host congregations commit to sharing the responsibility of housing up to three families every night (5 p.m.-7 a.m.) for seven nights, every nine weeks. Breakfast and dinner are provided for the families by volunteers. Tutoring, activities or companionship is offered to the guests by volunteers after dinner. Overnight hosts stay with the guests until the van driver arrives. Transportation to and from the day facility is provided by volunteers driving the Family Promise van. Volunteers also wash towels and bedding after the guests move to the next church. During the day, the families remain at the day facility where the network director assists them in finding housing, jobs or job training.

The PrayerDear God, we thank you for loving us and showing us how we should love our neighbors as ourselves. Please guide us as we strive to show your love to those in need through Family Prom-ise. We ask that we would support our neighbors seeking jobs, homes, and a new start, and we ask that you would be with those who are homeless. Give them courage to deal with their situations and strength they need to find a better situation. We pray that Family Promise will bless the families it works with and will be an instrument of hope and peace. Amen.

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Contact: Anne Boyle, a.boyle@verizon.netSharon Camp, sharoncamp@msn.com

June 8 – June 14, 2014Billy & Laurie Drum - Peru and Spain

The MissionLaurie and Billy Drum have been serving with The Mission Society since 2007. For the past five years, they have been living and serv-ing the Quechua Wanca people in rural Peru. They are now living in Spain, serving immigrant people. Laurie and Billy are both Chris-tian counselors, certified life and leadership coaches, trainers, and certified marriage counselors for Prepare Enrich. They utilize their skills to serve and lead the people of Spain, immigrants, and oth-er missionaries from many other areas. They use their experience, skills and passion for people to share the love of Christ around the globe. Please continue to pray for the Drums as they serve immigrants in Spain and as they work to train, mentor, and counsel other missionaries who serve in difficult areas of the world, specif-ically the Middle East and post-Christian Europe. The ChurchChrist UMC supports the Drums with donations and prayers. There are many ways that Christ UMC members can support the Drums: through prayers, financial support, and emotional support (emails, phone calls, visits, etc.). We can help to sustain the Drums and in doing so, help both the refugee and immigrant populations in the 10/40 window and help to sustain the many missionaries and cross-cultural workers around the globe that need counseling and training to continue their important work of sharing the love of Christ with the world.

The PrayerOur Gracious Father, we ask for your richest blessings on Laurie, Billy, and their family as they work to sow your seeds of hope and grace with the people of Spain, Turkey, Jordan, India, Morocco, and many other countries in which they go. Give them the words, guid-ance, strength, patience, and actions that show your love. Open the hearts and minds of the refugees and immigrants that they minister to so that they may understand and accept your words. Help them reach out to other missionaries in need and be the com-fort and guidance these missionaries desperately seek. Let them see the joy and hope that comes from your love. Be the rain that grows the seeds that they plant. In your sons’ name, Amen.

Around the World

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Contact: Billy and Laurie Drum, billy@drumsforchrist.orgOnline: drumsforchrist.org or themissionsociety.org Blog: drumsforchrist.org/blog.htmlVideo: youtu.be/zNZuudKrtSI

June 15– June 21, 2014Youth JUMMP Trip

Judea & Samaria

The MissionJUMMP, or Junior High United Methodist Mission Project, is a five day mission trip for 6-8th grade students. Students will paint homes, replace window screens, build wheelchair ramps and oth-er home repairs for homeowners in need. Youth stay at a local Methodist Church and adults from our church help supervise the construction and repairs. Worship and fellowship with the clients they serve provide a lasting experience in the faith walk of those involved.

The ChurchUp to 60 youth and adults from Christ UMC attend JUMMP each year to serve those in need. They work in groups of four to eight people on homes that need repairs. The youth and adults make their own meals, work on the construction site, and worship daily. For many, this trip serves as a life-changing experience that deep-ly strengthens their faith and commitment to serving others.

The PrayerDear Lord, surround these youth and adults this week as they reach out in your service to those in need. Give them your strength to be beacons of your love, grace and kindness. Let your light shine through and with them. May their love of you touch the lives of those whom they serve. May those that they serve see you and let their faith be strengthened and grow. Keep them safe and give them the wisdom of the right words and actions throughout the week to touch each other and those that they service in a positive and strengthening way. Walk beside them, lead them, guide them and love them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contact: Kevin Rund, kevinrund@christ-umc.org

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June 22 – June 28, 2014Maua Methodist Hospital - Kenya

The MissionMaua Methodist Hospital is a charitable agency of the Methodist Church of Kenya and serves as a regional medical center in the town of Maua in the Meru Province. The vision of the hospital is to be a model Christian referral and training center, providing excel-lent health care in the community, to the glory of God. Serving a population of over 850,000 persons (including 110,000 children) the hospital provides general medical services including materni-ty, surgery, dental and optical services. The hospital has an exten-sive Community Health department that includes palliative care, an outreach clinic, emergency food relief and feeding programs for school children. It oversees an Early Childhood Development program that provides a stable foundation to local AIDS orphans. Teams come from around the world to voluteer at the hospital, as-sist with bush medical clinics, construct small homes for orphans, deworm children, lead VBS programs, etc.

The ChurchChrist UMC had a 16 member team work on all activities at the hospital in 2013 that plans to return this year. Funding is provided for the AIDS Orphans Program, and the Service Fund which cov-ers the costs of those who cannot pay for medical attention.

The PrayerDear Lord, we ask that you pour your richest blessings and grace on the Maua Hospital and give strength, grace and wisdom to those who provide medical and spiritual care. May you give sup-port and comfort to the people of Kenya and those additional Kenyan friends who are suffering as a result of the fire at the air-port and the terrorist attack in the Nairobi mall. At the hospital specifically, we pray for food and strength for the AIDS Orphans and their elderly family members who cannot afford food. We also pray for the operation of the hospital at a time when the nurses are being tempted away by the government offering higher sala-ries. May your mission to the poor and needy not be hindered by these actions. We pray for your support for the programs to pay the medical bills of the poor and the saving of those street chil-dren in the town who are involved in glue sniffing. May your will be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Around the World

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Contact: Stanley Gitari, community@mckmauahospital.orgColin Wilkinson, colinwilkinson@suddenlink.netOnline: mckmauahospital.org

June 29 – July 5, 2014Global Outreach Team

Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria & Around the World

The MissionThe Global Outreach or GO Team of Christ UMC’s mission statement is: “to awaken and activate God’s people for mis-sion and to provide ways and methods for persons and groups to engage in cross-cultural mission.” Their objective is to make disciples of all nations.

The ChurchIn the last three years, the GO Team has helped to grow out-reach in the environs of B/CS and around the world, working with established mission agencies. Support is given to numer-ous local Christian charities, and to missions or missionaries in 9 countries. To further the development of relationships with these missions, teams regularly work at local missions and there is a growing program of international mission trips.

The PrayerOur gracious father, we ask that You give insight, wisdom, kindness, a loving heart, strength and grace to members of the GO TEAM and all those individuals involved in mission out-reach within our church. We are blessed with so many gifts and service to missions that allow Your Word and love to reach to others. Please provide guidance to all involved with mis-sions. Provide thoughtful love and wisdom, a listening ear and a dedication to serve to GO TEAM members that they may assist in elevating and expanding the outreach of this church to those in need of Your Word. Impart Your richest blessings of love to all who serve, give of their gifts and to those who receive the fruits of our labors through our mission efforts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contact: Karen Couch, karencouch@christ-umc.org

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“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, bap-tizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

-Matthew 28:19-20

GO Team Purpose:To awaken and activate God’s people for missions and to provide ways and methods for people and groups to engage in cross-cultural missions.