News from Haiti

The news from Haiti has a small glimmer of hope — 7 school children have been pulled from the rubble alive. But countless more are unaccounted for as the days continue to pass.

Below is our latest update on the Haiti earthquake. Please consider being an ambassador for the victims of Haiti, by donating a special one time or regular gift, or talk with family and friends about the situation and how they can help. Your support is needed now more than ever.

Here is the latest update from Haiti:

01/19/2010 - Outreach International’s Haiti school children, staff and facilities are so severely impacted with loss of life and destroyed buildings that the organization cannot come close to accounting for extent of loss.

Matthew Naylor, Outreach International President, received an email today from Michel Rosier, Outreach International schools network director stating, “It is difficult and even painful to give you a detailed report on the Haitian situation. I thank you so much for your extreme concern for the Haitian people.”

With a teacher staff of 300+, Rosier and another staff member, Augustin Derat, executive director for the schools programs, are the only two staff accounted for. Both of them, along with their families, are living on the streets.

Early reports indicate that 7 of 12 schools which have been inspected are destroyed and the rest seriously damaged. There are at least 20 schools in the affected area. Rescue efforts at one school have saved 7 students from the rubble. Rosier states, “nothing can be done for the others trapped.”

With the Outreach International schools network so badly damaged, initial support for relief efforts has been made through Doctors Without Borders (MSF) located in Port-au-Prince, who will supply the type of immediate relief requested by our staff members on the ground.

Naylor promises, “Outreach International will continue to invest in the long-term development in Haiti. We pledge to remain with the surviving children, families, and staff in order to put their lives back together. We will stay for as long as it takes. This is where the bulk of our resources will go.”

Outreach International has already sent over $35,000 to assist with the initial relief efforts.

We've been overwhelmed by the generosity of many people with charitable hearts, but this crisis will continue long after the wounds are treated and rubble is removed. Outreach International will still be there after the dust settles helping the families rebuild their lives. Please continue to stand beside us as we stay with these families for the long haul.

Thank you,

Matthew C. Naylor, President
Outreach International

Outreach International will use your donations for our relief aid and field work in Haiti. If we exceed our financial need, funds will be used where it is most needed.

Jr. High Winter Camp

Jr. High Winter Camp is coming up February 5-7. The theme this year is Mission Possible. We will be meeting at Buckhorn and the youth will have a chance to explore the new Peace Center if they have not had the opportunity yet. I have attached a flyer with all of the information on it. Please post it in your congregation and announce it Sunday at church. If you know any jr. high that are not actively involved in a congregation please pass on the information to them. We had 30 youth at camp last year and we hope to have more this year. Please help us in giving our youth an opportunity to grow spiritually and be in a safe community with their peers.

• Jr. High Snow Camp Flyer

Sr. High Winter Camp (Coexist)

Sr. High Winter Camp is almost here. We will be meeting at Buckhorn February 19-21. We will start Friday night at 8pm. I have attached a flyer with all of the information on it. Please announce this on the upcoming Sundays, as well as posting it in your congregation. If you know of a youth who is not involved in a congregation please pass the flyer on. We need your help in giving opportunities to our youth to grow spiritually in a safe place with their peers. Will you help us change the lives of the youth today?

• Sr. High Winter Camp Flyer

For more information, contact Kyle Logan klogan@cofchristla.org 909.562.9308 or Holly Norton hchow333@hotmail.com 826.305.4519

Empowering Ministry Workshops

Hello all,

As we have traveled around and shared with you in congregations, over Powerpoint presentations, in Chats under the Pines, Town Hall meetings, informal conversations and email discussions, two concerns about the merger seemed to be most clear. One is a need for more financial information. The other is a desire for a greater level of support for congregational mission and vision in locations closer to where you are.

Below is a flyer for something that we, as a combined mission center staff, would be very excited about bringing to a location near you – a series of workshops on Empowering Congregational Ministry, that we would like to offer in 7 or 8 different locations around the new mission center. These workshops would include ongoing support for congregations that desire to be more focused on mission and growth.

Please pass this information on to anyone who is not yet on our mailing list (we’d love to include them if you’ll let us know their email) and make it available in your congregations on Sunday morning.

Michele McGrath
Southern California Mission Center Financial Officer
Community of Christ

• Download the flyer below

Announcing Seminary Certificate Programs

The Seminary has made some exciting new certificate programs available which are especially suited for self-sustaining ministers and life-long learners. I’ve you’ve ever wanted to “go deeper” or know someone who might, I encourage you to check it out and forward the information as appropriate!

• Seminary Certificates (doc)

Generosity Stories

It’s that time! The February generosity stories and World Ministries contribution update are attached for distribution to your congregational worship planners, pastors, and financial officers. Apostle Bunda Chibwe’s Africa and Haiti Mission Field is the focus of the February stories, and is also featured in the Sharing in the Field section of the February Herald.

Access the stories, along with links to additional offertory ideas, at www.cofchrist.org/generositystories

• February 7 (doc)
• February 14 (doc)
• February 21 (doc)
• February 28 (doc)

Visit www.CofChrist.org/generositystories for:

• Generosity stories
• PowerPoint presentations corresponding to each story (except the Contribution Update). REMEMBER to include the link www.CofChrist.org/generositystories in your transmissions for easy access to the slides. Download free PowerPoint Viewer software (www.CofChrist.org/generositystories or www.Microsoft.com/downloads) to enable users to view PowerPoint presentations (presentations cannot be edited in PowerPoint Viewer).
• Tips for Preparing an Effective Offertory: located on the left-hand navigation bar (also on www.CofChrist.org/generositystories ).
• Survey of Stewardship Scriptures: located on the left-hand navigation bar (also on www.CofChrist.org/generositystories).

Use of this material is strongly encouraged so that members get a better picture of the ministry of the church, both locally with Congregational Ministries Mission Tithes, and also throughout the world with how World Ministries Mission Tithes supports this ministry. Remember to include pastors and congregational financial officers in your generosity stories communication loop.

My Tithing Plan

The Presiding Bishopric would like to call your attention to a new online version of My Tithing Plan. You can find the new version on the web at www.CofChrist.org/generosity/mytithingplan/. This new version allows you to plug in your numbers and the form calculates the math for you. Once you have the numbers inserted, you can save it to you own computer or print it for future reference. Country-specific versions are available for Australia, British Isles, Canada, and the United States.

My Tithing Plan is a personal and confidential resource to assist disciples as they prayerfully and intentionally consider their tithing response. It is hoped that disciples in the Community of Christ will use this tool as part of a spiritual process that acknowledges the grace and generosity of God and leads to a tithing response.

We are asking you, as congregational leaders, to let members and friends in your congregation know that this resource is available. Please discuss this resource with your congregation and to encourage contributors to use it.

Many thanks,

Michele McGrath
Southern California Mission Center Financial Officer