Missions

Each month and some holidays, FCC adopts a Christ centered ministry as it's mission of the month or holiday either through our Outreach (OR) Department or Community Action (CA) Department. The support that those in the missions fields around the world receive from FCC and others allows them to continue to do the work that the Lord has placed in front of them.

The missions that FCC supports through designated monthly or holiday offerings includes:

2010

July Mission of the Month - Bethany Christian Services

Bethany Christian Services, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, began in 1944 and is a not-for-profit, pro-life, Christian adoption and family services agency. Bethany is widely known as an adoption agency, but their care extends to people struggling with unplanned pregnancies, infertility and a multitude of other challenges. For more than sixty years, Bethany has responded with compassion, integrity and commitment to the needs of children and families. Their support comes through reimbursement for services and from gifts received from individuals, churches, corporations and foundations that share Bethany's commitment to improving the lives of children and families. With over 75 locations nationwide and international ministries in 15 other countries, Bethany touches the lives of more than 30,000 people each year. (CA)

August Mission of the Month - Jews for Jesus

Jews for Jesus exists to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to all Jewish people worldwide. There are currently 54 cities outside of Israel with a Jewish population of more than 25,000. These are what the Jews for Jesus Ministry refer to as "Behold Your God" (BYG) cities. Their goal is to reach all of these communities with the gospel message through use of street evangelism, secular media campaigns, phone calling, specialized web sites, personal visits and Bible studies. From these efforts they draw the attention of both Jewish and Gentile people in these BYG cities to Jesus. Contributions to this ministry will help make "Operation: Behold Your God" a reality. (OR) (website)

September Mission of the Month - Gideons

Gideons serves as an extended missionary arm of the church. Their sole purpose is to win people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to provide answers to people who may be searching for hope in difficult times. Thus, the Gideons focus on placing Bibles in public places where large numbers of people are that may be searching for answers. The hope is that they will be able to find hope and truth as they encounter the Word of God. You can show your support to this ministry through your prayers, financial gifts or even buying a Bible through their organization in honor or in memory of someone and having it placed at a public location. Many lives have been changed for the better because of the work of the Gideons! (CA) (website)

October Mission of the Month - YoungLife

Picture a sea of teenage faces in a crowded school hallway. Some kids are trying to blend in, some are being carried along by the crowd, and others are deliberately swimming against the tide. All of them are trying to find their way in a culture that is crossed with noise and blaring messages from the media and peer expectations. YoungLife seeks to carry the message of Jesus into that tumultuous tide and point teens to life as they were created to live it! Since 1941, the dynamic that has characterized YoungLife is its commitment to relationships - YoungLife leaders meeting kids on their turf in the interest of friendship. Pray that as leaders get to know teenagers, they are able to share the love of Jesus through platforms like YoungLife Clubs, Campaigners and trips to camp. Whether kids are seeking answers or are seeking acceptance, YoungLife is there for them, armed with a desire for fun and the ultimate message of hope! (CA) (website)

November Mission of the Month - Disciple Heritage Fellowship

Disciple Heritage Fellowship is made up of congregations and individuals who claim the ideals of the Campbell-Stone movement. Thomas and Alexander Campbell, along with Barton W. Stone and others established a movement in the early part of the 19th century dedicated to these basic principles: Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scriptures, is the only Savior of the world and apart from Him there is no salvation; the Bible is the church's highest authority in all matters of doctrine and conduct. It is a book inspired of God and is therefore as truthful as God himself; and the primary goal of the church is to evangelize the world, winning the lost to saving faith in Christ. In order to fulfill its purpose, the church must be united around a common faith in Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture. Your contributions to this ministry, the ministry that FCC belongs to, helps fulfill the Great Commission call that God has placed on our church and in our lives! (OR) (website)

November 21st - Thanksgiving Sunday Offering - Voice of the Martyrs

Voice of the Martyrs exists to assist and work hand in hand with helping Christians in foreign countries who are under persecution for sharing their faith. People such as Li Mei. In July 2007, 42-year-old Li Mei and nine house church leaders were arrested, when they were discovered having a Sunday worship service. They were charged with singing Christian hymns to villagers, showing the JESUS film in a nursing home and praying for healing for a disabled elderly man. The nine were sentenced to re-education through labor for 12 to 18 months. Li Mei served part of her one-year sentence in a hospital with both hands chained to her bed. Repeated beatings and torture caused her to require a hysterectomy. She is currently serving the remainder of her sentence at home under house arrest. There are many ways, in addition the financial assistance, that you can support Voice of the Martyrs.(OR) (website)

December Mission of the Month - Rappahannock Adult Activities Center

Rappahannock Adult Activities Center is the community-based support program for adults with mental retardation. The services they provide focus on supportive environments using person-centered planning and positive behavior supports. RAAI is driven by the mission to deliver valued vocational, recreational and social skills that will allow participants to be active members in their community. The program goal is that these adults can participate in daily life, keeping them out of institutional settings. RAAI helps participants to have meaningful days, rewarding experiences and encourages individuals to maximize their capabilities as members of their family and community. Interesting Fact: Every Friday, a group of RAAI participants comes to FCC and assists in folding the weekly bulleting, as well as the monthly newsletters. They also sharpen the pencils in the pew racks and do various other little jobs around the church. They consider FCC as their "job" and are a tremendous blessing to have around! (CA)

December 19th - Christmas Sunday Offering - Thurman Brisben Center

During the winter months of 1987, eight downtown churches joined together to feed and provide emergency sleeping areas in church buildings for the homeless. A year later, the need had so grown that shelter operations were moved to a vacant school building. Three years later, the capability of this location to assimilate the growing homeless community had been exceeded, and another move was necessary. In the winter of 1991-1992, the shelter was operated in motels. In February of 2005, Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter, the now Thurman Brisben Center, moved into a new state-of-the-art facility. Their goal is to provide at-risk men, women and children of the greater Fredericksburg area with appropriate shelter and daily essentials that would affect a positive life change. Your contributions to this ministry help in supplying food needs, provide them with education and transition to low-income housing with the hopes of helping them value who they are as individuals. (CA)

2011

January Mission of the Month - Sammy Nathaniel

With an estimated population of 1.1 billion people, India is the world's second most populous country. Although 80.5% of Indians report themselves as Hindu's, India's Muslim population is the world's second largest, making up 13.4% of the population. 80 year old Sammy Nathaniel and his wife, Gloria, are serving as missionaries in the economically diverse country in the hopes of spreading the love of Jesus Christ to a country that is searching for answers. Prayerfully consider contributing financially to their ministry so that they can reach more people with the message of God's saving grace! (OR)

February Mission of the Month - InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is an evangelical mission serving more than 35,000 students and faculty on more than 560 college and university campuses nationwide. Incorporated in 1941, InterVarsity has a rich tradition of campus witnessing, thoughtful Discipleship, and a concern for world missions. Their purpose is to establish witnessing communities at universities of students who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord and will then follow through on carrying out the Great Commission. Your prayers and financial support will help to change the lives of young people on college campuses throughout the country! (CA) (website)

March Mission of the Month - Harold and Joan Reiner

Harold and Joan Reiner have been serving as missionaries in Brazil over fifty years now. They have established many Baptist churches in Northeast Brazil. They started on the coast and have now pioneered to the interior. Harold and Joan are still on the field, faithfully serving the Lord! The Reiner's have two sons, Doug and his wife, Renate, and Tim and his wife, Vicki. Both sons have followed in their parents footsteps and are also serving in Brazil as church planters, working with deaf students and hosting a radio ministry. Your prayers and financial support assists them in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people in Brazil. (OR)

April Mission of the Month - Mark and Margaret Litton (CMF)

Mark and Margaret Litton are serving in Worchester, England, where God is opening a lot of doors for them. There is a desperate need in Great Britain for a clear voice speaking the truth about Jesus Christ and His love. England prides itself on "tolerance" and "privacy" so much that every faith is challenged or even dismissed as mere opinion. Prayerfully consider supporting the Littons not only financially, but through prayer as they face a great deal of opposition. (OR)

May Mission of the Month - Mountain Mission School

Mountain Mission School is located in Grundy, VA, and functions as a full child care facility (home, church, and school) for children with legitimate needs regardless of the child's age, color or creed. It is the only known entity to educate and board seriously disadvantaged children from birth through high school and sometimes beyond. More than 20,000 youngsters from every state except Alaska and foreign nations have received tuition-free care, love, guidance and sustenance from Mountain Mission School. Consider a contribution to help lovingly further their work. (OR)

June Mission of the Month - The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army was founded in 1852 by William & Catherine Booth, and has stood in the gap for many people throughout the years, offering assistance to the poor, the hungry, the homeless and the destitute. Today, The Salvation Army is still working to make life better for countless number of people in communities around the globe. Your contribution can help continue their work as they assist senior adults, provide shelter for homeless families, help people overcome addictions, work in providing after-school tutoring or offer summer camp to inner-city children. Prayerfully consider your offering to help further the work of this Christ-centered organization. (CA) (website)