christ birthday offering
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
1
FROM NEIGHBORHOODS TO
goChristFellowship.com r volutioneH O L I D A Y
NATIONS
2
3
GIVE PRAISE TO THE LORD, PROCLAIM HIS NAME; MAKE KNOWN AMONG THE NATIONS WHAT HE HAS DONE, AND PROCLAIM THAT HIS NAME IS EXALTED.
Isaiah 12:4
4
Todd & Julie MullinsLead Pastors
C hristmas is almost here, and every year our Christ Birthday Offering makes it possible for the light of
Jesus to shine on the needy, the hopeless and the spiritually lost -- from our neighborhoods to the nations of the world. That kind of love is revolutionary! It’s the kind of love that trades shopping malls and traffic jams for transformation and hope…one life at a time. We celebrate what we as a church have done this past year… serving faithfully and giving generously.
Together we provided safe houses for the children of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who were living in the city dump.
Together we provided clean water and food and shared the Gospel in remote villages in India.
Together we fed the homeless in our region seven days a week!
Every dollar given in our Christ Birthday Offering goes to spread the message and love of Jesus to those in need, providing food, water, housing, schooling and medical care – to thousands of children from our own neighborhoods to the nations of the world.
Because of your sacrifice, we are impacting our world – and eternity – by loving on people in need and boldly proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas!
5
6
NEIGHBORHOODS“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is
more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
Volunteers preparing Thanksgiving meals to feed people in need with the Big Heart Brigade.
7
8
600 STUDENTS
Lived in & loved on Belle Glade for a week
Painted 3 Schools 50 + children baptized
Learning skills & Scripture
New shoes for children
School supply donation for 1,000 kids & community party
Christmas gift cards for single moms
Rehabilitated the annex building
6 days a week year-round
1st adult life group for moms
Led Vacation Bible School and sports
camps
Party, prayer & BBQ for the community daily
110 CHILDREN
116,695
VOLUNTEER HOURS
BELLE GLADEWomen are connecting, children are smiling and men are rising to the
challenge - all in the name of Jesus Christ. One mom, Annette, said: “We are reading about Jesus, how love is
patient and kind, and we are becoming like family.”
IN 2015We are opening LIFE HOUSE, a training center for missionary teams, giving them hands-on training and serving opportunities:Men’s Life Groups - Adult Life Skills Training - Expanded ministry for teens
9
KOBE’S TRANSFORMATION
Changing a child – Changing his future
Six days a week, our church family is in Belle Glade “loving on” the children of that community. Every week we tell them, “God loves you and has a great plan and purpose for your life.”
One day, Kobe walked through the doors of our Belle Glade Life Center. He was withdrawn and hurt from being bullied at school. But in the Life Center, he found a place where he was loved and accepted. He heard about a God who loved him so much that He sent His only son just for him. This year during our special Easter program at the center, Kobe knelt down with tears in his eyes as he accepted Jesus as his Savior.
The transformation in Kobe was instantaneous. Now Kobe is a confident young man full of hope and a future. He recently told a member of our team, “I want to be a strong Christian man when I grow up. I want to help others like you!”
Thank you for building into Kobe’s life.
10
LOCALChrist-centered care and love for the most vulnerable among us.
25,000 weekly viewers for
Christ Fellowship TV
LEWIS CENTER Since opening last year, we have been serving meals
to the homeless seven days a week.
LOVE AND HOPE IN ACTION Caring for the homeless every
week at LAHIA Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry in Martin County.
1 Million views in 25 countries and reaching our armed forces around the world through
Church Online
75,000 Thanksgiving meals delivered,
each with a prayer card through Big Heart Brigade
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Our efforts revitalized 22
homes in Port Salerno and built homes for families in
New York City.
DISASTER RELIEF Through your giving, emergency food, water and medical supplies were delivered to tornado victims
in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
FAITH HOPE LOVE CHARITYWe supported veterans by
placing 250 homeless families in housing and finding jobs for
70 homeless veterans.
GLEANING FOR THE WORLD We sent food and water for
starving children being cared for by local churches at the
Texas-Mexico border.
11
BECOMING L A T O Y A
5,700 students trained in Human Trafficking Awareness Program200 law enforcement officials trained by our staff1 home dedicated to restoring hope to rescued girls
BECOMING L A T O Y A
Before LaToya shared the Bible with friends, before she was baptized, before she excelled in school, before she served as a loving, compassionate sister to the girls at Hope House, LaToya was a runaway forced into the sex trade.
L aToya had to grow up fast in a fractured family as the main caregiver for her ill sister. When
her sister died, LaToya ran away from home and got caught in a trap on the streets with nowhere to go. Rescued by law enforcement at age 16, she came to Hope House. She found a safe place in our faith-based home dedicated to rescuing girls from human trafficking here in South Florida. Still a teenager, LaToya’s
transformation this year has been remarkable. With counseling, support, tutoring and love, she is thriving. She has a relationship with Jesus, and she tells the other girls how remarkable it is to be adopted into God’s family - our family. “I love that Jesus’ last words were to take care of his mom, to take care of family. I want everyone to know even if you feel worthless, there’s hope for all of us.”
12
WILL TO SUCCEEDWill came to Place of Hope at age 12 after living on the streets
of Lake Worth with his mom and little brother.
“L ife was not easy, but it was all I knew. I never had time to dwell on
anything other than how we would find our next meal and where we would go to sleep. The Place of Hope became our new home. My life was structured and I was happy to be in a cottage with my brother.
Looking back, my past challenges enabled me to find God’s purpose for the future. When I was homeless, I didn’t have high expectations for my life. Today, I am being called to make a difference in my local community and beyond.”
JOANN’S COTTAGETogether we are providing a home for pregnant teenagers
in the foster care system. Eight babies started life here in a
safe and nurturing environment for them and their moms.
URBAN YOUTH IMPACT Your support makes a difference for 150 at-risk children making
academic improvements with the Dr. Tom Mullins School of
Leadership.
We partner with Place of Hope – the largest foster care provider in Palm Beach County started by Christ Fellowship 15 years ago – with 6 locations and beds for 125 kids. Through a transition home, we empower young adults with life skills and confidence to live independently. The Treasures for Hope charity store opened to provide job skills, awareness and fundraising for Place of Hope.
FIRST CARE 4,689 women and
teenagers received life affirming medical care,
counseling, and education.469 babies were born in a safe, comforting environment.
13
NEW YORK C I T Y
“Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you.” Jeremiah 29:7
In April, Christ Fellowship planted a church campus in the heart of New York City, bringing the love and message of Jesus Christ to the city. Every week, our church is caring for the hurting, serving the homeless and spreading the Good News in one of the greatest cities on earth.
CHELSEA KIDS CLUB We are pouring into 15 kids from a low-income housing development.
THE BOWERY MISSION We are helping to serve and prepare 390,000 meals.
NEW YORK CITY RESCUE MISSION We donated 1,600 coats during an especially brutal winter.
In 2015, we are partnering with the LUIS PALAU ASSOCIATION to take part in one of the largest Christian movements in the city - a massive concert and crusade in Central Park each year.
14
PRAY. Ask God how He wants you to participate in the Christ Birthday Offering.
SACRIFICE. Give Jesus your best offering. The best Christmas present goes to Him.
GIVE.Make Christmas last all year.
T H E H O L I D A Y R E V O L U T I O N
J IN
EVERY DOLLAR goes toward helping those in need with food, water, schooling, housing, medical needs – all wrapped in the love and message of JESUS CHRIST.
Your donations dig wells. Your faithfulness feeds the homeless. Your support supplies shovels and sheets.
Christ Birthday Offering is used for missions around the world throughout the year. Step up and join us to make the world a better place as we praise the name of Jesus.
15
USE THE ENVELOPE FOR YOUR DONATION. You can place it in the offering basket during services or mail it. You can also participate in giving online at GOCHRISTFELLOWSHIP.COM/CBO
Christ Birthday Offering is used to share the love and message of Jesus Christ through missions in our neighborhoods and around the world.
LET’S MAKE CHRISTMAS LAST FOR MORE THAN JUST ONE DAY.
16
NATIONS“And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere
… to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
People are getting saved as we travel to India to transform a village and teach the Gospel.
17
18
HAITIWe are providing clean water, housing, care and schooling
for orphans and special needs children.
IN 2015
This year, our teams built and renovated dormitories for children with special needs. We provided food and medical care for families still living in tent cities around Port-au-Prince. And our teams shared the Gospel with hundreds of children through our Bible school programs.
Outside Port-au-Prince, in villages where half the children were dying from disease and malnutrition, Christ Fellowship is providing free medical clinics
and feeding centers for 1,000 children every week. And in 2015, we will begin caring for 6,000 children in Haiti alone!
This December we are returning to our New Life Children’s Home to share Christmas with 200 orphans.
Seth Ray, from our Stuart campus, said, “My time in Haiti provided a realignment of my heart and an awaking of the true meaning of ‘love on.’ I carry a piece of that time in Haiti with me wherever I go.”
We are planning trips to Haiti every month to care for the children, train pastors and build homes. For more information on how you can take part, contact Becky at [email protected].
Through the world’s eyes, Haiti is known for devastation and poverty, but, through the eyes of our teams, we see beauty. The stark reality of chaos outside is replaced with the calm inside of our children’s homes, churches and schools.
19
20
21
“WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE,
YOU DID FOR ME.”
Matthew 25:40
22
INDIATotal Village Transformation
Together with the India Gospel League, we have built churches, dug wells, and are currently caring for 2,000 orphans daily.
We bought a well-digging rig that goes to remote villages providing a source of clean water for those in need.
Recently, we have expanded our reach into the leprosy colonies to care for the most marginalized and share the message of Christ.
Kyla, from our Gardens campus said, “There was a point when no water was coming out. The entire village gathered around and prayed. Water came flowing out and we could see the joy on people’s faces.”
With our help, women are able to send their kids to school and have a voice in the community. We are supporting a medical clinic and changing women’s lives with leadership training.
IN 2015We will continue the complete transformation of a village by building a church, providing education for the children, supplying food and water for families and establishing free medical facilities.
Christ Fellowship has been sharing the love and message of Jesus in the country of India for more than 25 years.
23
24
IMPACTING OUR WORLD
As we meet people at their place of need, God is opening the door to allow us to speak to their spiritual needs.
25
750 people on mission
trips in 2014
126 nations reached in partnership with EQUIP, and we provided leadership training for 210 pastors in Argentina
3downloads of the Bible App for Kids, engaging children to connect with God’s Word
MILLION
WE SUPPORT MINISTRIES IN:
BoliviaHondurasColombia
CubaEl Salvador
MexicoCambodia
IndiaArgentinaZambia
WE SUPPORT MISSIONARIES IN:
PeruChina
Southeast AsiaBolivia
HondurasMexicoAfrica
CHILDREN’S IMPACT NETWORK
We are part of providing safe housing and childcare for families targeted by drug lords in Colombia. We are reaching out to the children living in depraved conditions of a city dump in Cambodia.
Orphaned children are smiling with the love of Jesus at our New Life Children’s Home in Haiti.
26
TAKING FLIGHTWith our partners at Hand of Hope, we are taking disaster relief and food
throughout Africa. In 2015, we will help to purchase a plane to reach remote areas of Zambia with medical supplies, food and missionaries.
27
PARTNERSHIPS
One Hope: We will join together to carry the Gospel around the world.
Watoto: We will help raise awareness and provide support for the millions of children in Africa orphaned by war, poverty and disease.
Children’s Impact Network: We will help with construction projects, safe houses, orphan care, pastoral conferences and send teams to Honduras, Bolivia and Colombia.
Nick Vujicic: We will partner with Nick to bring his life-giving anti-bullying message to public schools in South Florida.
Village of Valor: We will support the development of a new community in Lake Worth to care for our veterans and their families.
Association of Related Churches: We will partner with ARC to plant churches in cities across North America by training pastors providing financial and spiritual support.
PLACESBelle Glade Life House: We will expand our Belle Glade Life Center by opening Life House - a missionary training facility.
Zambia: We will fly medical supplies and missionaries into remote areas of this nation.
Jalgaon, India: We are committing to a five-year development plan in western India to provide water, churches, schools and medical care.
PEOPLE
Open Door Ministries: We will see single moms equipped spiritually and practically to become the parents and people God has called them to be.
Place of Hope: Our children at Place of Hope will continue to flourish as we invest our time and finances to provide them with a bright future.
Villages of Hope & Joann’s Cottage: We will continue to invest in our young adults by providing homes and a family where they can belong.
Hope House: God will use us to bring hope and healing to the girls in our safe house.
Haiti: The children under our care will grow in the grace of God and will face their future with the hope of Christ.
Guatemala & Argentina: We will invest in the leaders of these nations to help them lead a spiritual transformation in their countries.
VISION 2015We are called to lead a radical transformation in our region and in the world. Only radical
generosity will make this dream a reality. Together we will invest in:
Only RADICAL GENEROSITY will bring
this kind of RADICAL TRANSFORMATION. Let’s give generously and BELIEVE TOGETHER
for transformed lives, neighborhoods and nations.
FROM NEIGHBORHOODS TO
goChristFellowship.com r volutioneH O L I D A Y
NATIONS