Exchange Fundraiser
for Missions

$1,808 raised in 2010

sent to
Mission Jamaica

$2,063 raised in 2009

sent to IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services) for Haiti Quake relief

Pick up a list of members and attenders at the welcome desk starting the week of Thanksgiving. Select those on the list whom you would like to send a Christmas card.

Place the cards in individual envelopes labeled with the recipient's last name first. No address is necessary.

Place cards in alphabetical by last name order, bind together, and attach payment of 44 cents per card (checks payable to Cicero Christian Church) with the bound cards. If you choose, you may bring your payment to the office or include (designated) in the offering plate.

Drop the cards into the decorated drop box in the foyer.

Cards must be received by December 18. If you bring cards in after December 12, you must arrange them alphabetically.

Funds received will be divided between Mission Jamaica and Damou Christian Mission in Haiti.

Look for the cards you may receive in the decorated sort box in the foyer starting December 4. Cards will be available for pickup until the January 8.

If you see a name that you think should be added to or removed from the list, let us know in the office - this is a big task and we're sure to miss some names.

Make sure to thank Janice and Warren Manchess, who are organizing this project, and are sorting the cards.

Missions

For the last few years we have been developing the mission philosophy of raising up and supporting as many "Timothy's" from CCC as possible. We do our best to encourage young people with a heart for missions and if they choose to go to the mission field we attempt (based on our financial picture) to support them in some significant way. Examples include Kelli Schoettmer, Kelley Reeves, Joel Ladd, Amber Wolfe, and Zach Pieper.

Our missions team meets monthly (usually the second Thursday evening at 7pm) to discuss the expenditures from the missions funds as well as requests for funds. Future and possible mission projects and news are also discussed.

Three of our "living link" missions are highlighted on our website: Mephibosheth Ministries, Inc. serving those with disabilities in our local area, Hope Family Care Center, Inc. serving the uninsured and underinsured in our local community, and Dunamis Ministries, serving the White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe in Arizona.

Missions supported as "living links" by Cicero Christian Church:

	Mission Jamaica		Brief history of Mission Jamaica
	Damou Christian Mission in Haiti (Tina Eisenhower)		Earthquake news from January, 2010 Tina Isenhower in States for treatment of heart condition - released to return to Haiti Tropical Storm Noel causes severe flood damage October 2007
	Kulpahar Kid's Home, India (Sharon Cunningham)		Easter report April 2007
	Rainbow Christian Camp (Converse, Indiana)		Festival Day, June 10 Click here to visit Rainbow Christian Camp website
	Mephiboseth Ministries, Inc. (Hamilton County)		www.mm-abilities.org
	Dunamis Christian Ministries, Inc. (White Mountain Apache Reservation, Arizona)		www.DunamisAZ.com New Dunamis Ranch Directors in April 2010 Mission trip spring break 2007 Mission trip is planned by youth in June of 2008
	Hope Family Care Center, Inc. (Hamilton County)
	Campus Outreach Ministries - with Zach Pieper serving at Purdue University (Tippecanoe County)		www.CampusOutreach.org

	Disaster Assistance - combatting Natural Disasters with Acts of God - Mike Baumgartner		www.DisasterAssistanceCOC.com
	Student Mission Trips		Maggie Shields is off to Africa summer 2007 Zach Pieper off to Orlando summer 2007 Amber Wolf to Costa Rica for a week long mission trip beginning May 24; Northern Ireland in 2009
	Other Mission Trip News		Dominican Republic Medical Mission Trip - February/March 2007

How the Missions Budget is Determined

Cicero Christian Church designates 11.5% of all income to the general fund to the missions team, which is an step of faith of 1.5% above what has been designated (10%) for many years. The missions team determines how that money will be spent. They make yearly commitments to several missions which are considered substantial and our “living links.” For 2011, these living links were Mission Jamaica, Damou Christian Mission, Kulpahar Kid’s Home, Rainbow Christian Camp, Mephiboseth Ministries, Dunamis Christian Ministries, and Hope Family Care Center. In addition, the missions team designates a portion of their funds for local benevolence requests.

To assist the mission team in determining support goals for a fiscal year, a target is achieved as part of the annual budgeting process, which begins each fall for approval by January 1. Some of you have done the math and discovered that the missions budget is not 10% of the total budget, but a bit more than 9%. The budget goal for the missions team is determined by taking 10% up all areas of ministry and operations requests (which includes payroll and mortgage). The ministry/operations budget and the missions target are added together to achieve the total budget. Of course, that is a target, and much faith is required because our income and spending are actually determined by offerings to the church and the attenders and members understanding and application of Biblical principals of giving.

So, if an offering on a Sunday morning is $19,000 then $2,185 will be given to missions. In addition, any funds given designated to a specific mission, or generically labeled “missions” goes to the specific mission or the mission team. This will result in more than 11.5% provided to missions.

*includes Dunamis, Mission Jamaica, Hope Clinic, Damou, Mephibosheth, Rainbow Christian Camp, Walk Thru the Bible, benevolence gifts, and others designations.

In May, 2008, our missions portion was increased from 10% of general fund income to 11%.

In January, 2011, our missions portion was increased from 11% of general fund income to 11.5%.

Me!? A Missionary!?

Why Not Me?

Who is a Missionary?

A missionary is a person who loves God; likes people; has a compassionate heart; and is willing to share Christ’s Love with other people wherever God wants him/her to serve.

Where Does a Missionary Serve?

A missionary’s field of service usually means being sent to serve people in a different culture. This may mean in our country or other countries; native Americans or extremely poor areas in our country or other countries; and/or other countries around the world where Christ is not known.

What Does a Missionary Do?

A missionary usually lives with people in their culture, leading their customs, language, social practices and concerns while winning their confidence. The missionary will demonstrate the love of Christ in his/her attitude and daily activities. Demonstrating the love of Christ through his/her living will provide opportunity to teach the people about this Christ whose love guides, guards and governs the life of the missionary.

How Does a Person Know if He/She Wants to be a Missionary?

A missionary usually begins the journey by becoming aware of the needs of a particular group of people. This may be by hearing another missionary speak; by taking a short term trip to a mission field; or by learning of a need for sharing the Gospel through a media presentation. God then places the burden of this need on the heart of the Christian.

The Christian begins praying about this matter. The Christian begins to realize that he/she can help meet the need with the Lord providing the strength and resources. The Christian then strives to learn more about the people and their needs and what currently is being done to assist them. The Missions Ministry Team can provide counsel regarding the pending decision, prayerful preparation, educational requirements, financial support, and other needs such as visas, passports, etc.

Why Consider Becoming a Missionary?

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus is noting here some of the things He is doing as a missionary sent by His Father to we human beings. (Someone has observed that Jesus is the first foreign missionary—being sent from the Father in Heaven to earth in order to demonstrate God’s Love to people on earth).

His desire that “they might have life and have it more abundantly” means when people whom God created are living in a manner that God intended, they will be happier, more fulfilled, and helping others to know this joy.

Missionaries, while sharing their experiences, reflect their understanding of having a more abundant life. This is not to say everyone has to be a missionary to have an abundant life, but simply noting that missionaries are reaching out to others, depending on the Lord in such a manner as to know the joy of serving in this way.

How Might I Get Started To Become a Missionary?

Pray for the Lord to guide you in serving Him, wherever it may be, whether here in the local congregation, or on a mission field.
Read, listen, and learn of a variety of mission fields, and their needs.
Recognize the needs of a particular field of service to which you may be attracted; strive to understand if you could help meet those needs.
Prayerfully discuss your interest in a particular mission field with family, minister(s), or elder(s).
Family members, ministers, elders would encourage you to consult with the Missions Ministry Team.
Prayerfully consider educational needs beneficial to working on the mission field under consideration.
Working with the Missions Ministry Team, prayerfully plan to take a short-term visit to the mission field being considered.
Rehearse and evaluate your experiences during the short-term visit to determine further interest in serving there.
Prayerfully consider further interest, challenges, preparation, and personal needs to work in that field.
Seek the counsel, support, and guidance of the Missions Ministry Team to assist you in prayerful preparation to serve in your chosen mission field.

www.cicerochristianchurch.org