SRC Missions Update

At the beginning of the year, our team of Elders met to thank the Lord for what he has accomplished in 2011 and to strategically plan for 2012. One of the areas that we discussed was our domestic and international mission’s strategy. Historically, we have defined missions as our endeavor to assist and empower the poor, widows, and orphans. The tension we felt with this mission statement was that it lacked the requirements given to us in The Great Commission [Matthew 28:16-20]. With our growing concern in the issues of mercy and justice issues (i.e. HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, child soldiers, illiteracy, gender- based injustice, and extreme poverty), we felt a need to clarify our missions objective. We agreed upon a twofold strategy:

Evangelism – The propagating of the gospel by preaching or personal witness, therefore meeting the requirements of Matthew 28:16-20.

Justice – The act of restoring shalom and the ministering of God’s redemptive and restorative power on behalf of the helpless and hopeless. [Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; James 1:27]

On February 12th, Nancy Valnes joined us and shared with us the radical endeavor that God is launching her into. For the last fifteen years we have supported Nancy as a church as she has spent her life throughout Africa, using her nursing degree and gifting to educate, counsel, and administer care to people living with HIV/AIDS. When Nancy was with us, she shared how she is being called to Russia to teach HIV awareness in churches and schools and to establish rehabilitation programs and community settings. Her goal is to help prevent new infections and reach people most at-risk for HIV infection, who are often marginalized in society. She also will mobilize Christians to help those with HIV to find hope and promise of new life in Christ.

On April 15th, you will have the opportunity to meet Phil Martin. Phil is the National Director for Compassion2one, a Christian nonprofit actively involved in rescuing children around the world from sexual exploitation and providing rescued victims a life of safety and joy. Phil will be bringing information on human trafficking and the need for the church to get involved. An informational meeting will follow shortly at SRC for those who want to learn more.

Coffee
I am also excited to announce that we are converting from Folgers coffee to Eurasia Coffee. Eurasia Café is a Christian nonprofit that gives their profit to Eurasia projects. Eurasia Café, in partnership with the Eurasia field workers, is working to address spiritual emptiness, extreme poverty, human trafficking, refugee displacement, HIV/AIDS, education, and other issues.

Unreached People Groups
When we consider our task, it’s impossible to overlook the significance of Eurasia’s 4,400 unreached people groups made up of 1.88 billion people. About two-thirds of all UPGs are in this region, and of the 100 largest unreached people groups in the world, 73 can be found in Eurasia. Reaching groups who have never heard the message of Jesus is a central focus for Eurasia Café. One such group is the Tatar people, a group who live across Eurasia.

Trafficked Victims
Eurasia Café partners with Project Rescue, a ministry to victims of sex trafficking, focused on holistic aftercare. Project Rescue’s Deepika Vocational Center, in Kolkata, India, is a focus for our efforts. Deepika has helped dozens of girls escape the exploitation of the brothel and begin to earn a wholesome living. But, 75,000 girls and women remain in the 23 red-light districts of the city.

We will be serving a decaf blend, a medium blend, and a bold blend (known as Freedom Blend). Freedom blend profits go directly to Project Rescue.

Impact
We are an influential church that is making an impact in the region, as well as the nations. It is so much fun to network and partner with individuals and organizations who likewise desire to see God’s Kingdom come and his will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. God is at work, his light is shining bright, and we are getting the opportunity to really be the body of Christ - indeed, it has begun.