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The First–Ever North American
Designated Giving Initiative
What do you do when you look into
the soft, wide eyes of a child, gazing up at you, simply wanting comfort, peace,
and safety? What do you do when you know it is the middle of the month and a
family has run out of food? What do you do when you know that drugs,
prostitution, and crime hover like a smoldering blanket, about to smother the
life out of an entire urban neighborhood?
Jimmy Munson and the ministers at the
Chattanooga Urban Ministries Center in Tennessee, work day and night to provide
a safe, loving environment where children, youth, and families know they can
come to laugh, play, worship, and experience the unconditional love of Jesus
Christ.
The kids will tell you in a heartbeat
that the Center is a safe, welcoming place for everyone with the vision of a
peaceable kingdom—a place where there is room for everyone in God’s house, where
all are called to the great and marvelous work of sharing the peace of Jesus
Christ.
In addition, the Community of Christ
Church Planting Center is now located at the Chattanooga Urban Ministries
Center. This provides a training ground for church planters to learn to plant
congregations throughout North America that can become vibrant, alive, and
filled to overflowing with Christ’s peace.
Surprisingly, this beehive of
activity is within a building desperately in need of repair and renovation. It
is also too small to safely accommodate the children, youth, and adults of the
more than 300 families served on a weekly basis by the Urban Ministries Center.
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How You Can Share Christ’s Peace with the Chattanooga
Kids
Even if you cannot visit Chattanooga and witness
firsthand the amazing love the kids have for Christ, you can still share
in helping them plant Christ’s peace. For exciting ways that families
and congregations can incorporate Chattanooga Kids: Planting Christ’s
Peace
into family settings, church school classes, worship services, vacation
church school, and reunions, visit
www.CofChrist.org/designatedgiving/.
These ideas are merely guidelines. Explore your own
ideas about helping the Chattanooga kids within your family or
congregation; then tell us about your experiences.
Share your stories and experiences
with Funding for Mission
missiontithes@CofChrist.org
or 1-800-825-2806, ext. 2407.
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The repairs and renovations so desperately needed include
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repairing gaping holes in
the walls and ceiling;
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replacing outdated
electrical wiring;
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updating plumbing so pipes
no longer leak and water is safe to drink;
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providing adequate storage
for the community pantry; and
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creating separate spaces
for worship, recreation, and education that adequately accommodate those who
attend services and activities.
From April through August,
individuals, families, and congregations will have the opportunity, through
their contributions, to help create a place where there is room for everyone to
come and experience the peace of Jesus Christ. Chattanooga Kids: Planting
Christ’s Peace, a designated-giving initiative with a goal of $600,000, will
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renovate the current facility and add additional space for worship,
recreation, and education; and
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provide facilities for the Church Planting Center so planters can be
trained to open new congregations in diverse geographic, cultural, and
generational settings throughout North America.
How to Give
Congregations, families, or individuals can choose
to contribute any amount. The initiative has been blessed by several families
who have generously contributed lead gifts totaling $300,000 to help reach the
$600,000 goal. Any contributions received above that goal will go toward
endowments for the Urban Ministries Center and the Church Planting Center.
Just 300 congregations, families, or individuals
contributing $1,000 or more will meet or exceed the $300,000 portion of the goal
that remains; 600 congregations, families, or individuals contributing $500 or
more will meet or exceed the $300,000 portion of the goal that remains.
- Designate your Chattanooga Kids: Planting Christ’s Peace
contribution on the World side of your Mission Tithes offering envelope from
April through August.
- Contribute online with a credit
or debit card any time, day or night.
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Access online banking in the United States to give directly through your
bank account (payable in U.S. dollars to Community of Christ International
Headquarters, Presiding Bishopric, Chattanooga Kids: Planting Christ’s Peace,
1001 W. Walnut, Independence, MO 64050 USA).
- Mail a check to:
CANADA
Community of Christ
Attn: Bishop of Canada
390 Speedvale Ave. E.
Guelph, ON N1E 1N5 CANADA |
ALL OTHER COUNTRIES
Community of Christ International
Headquarters
Attn: Fiscal Services-Cashier
1001 W. Walnut
Independence, MO 64050 USA
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- New! Contributors may wish to consider a gift of
appreciated assets such as securities, IRAs, life insurance, or real estate. For
more information on these giving methods, contact the Estate and Financial
Planning Ministries team at 1-800-884-7526 (1-877-526-7526 in Canada) or
efpm@CofChrist.org.
In God’s house, there are many
rooms…a place for everyone! There are many lives waiting to hear the redeeming
words of the gospel, or to be lifted from hopelessness by the hands of loving
servants. But they will be lost to you without the generous response of
disciples who share from their own bounty that others may know the joys of the
kingdom. —John 14:2 adapted, and Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a
One person, connected with thousands around the world, can work miracles.
Your generous response builds the Community of Christ, where there is room for
everyone. Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing generously.
—Sandra Ferguson, Funding for Mission, reporting
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