Derrick's testimony (:11)

LaVaughsia's testimony (:46)

Courtnee's testimony (:22)

Roemel's testimony (1:00)

Building Places of Peace:
From Chattanooga to Russia and Ukraine

You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness.—Doctrine and Covenants 163:3a

An adage says that “what goes around comes around.” That never was truer than Thanksgiving weekend 2008 at the Urban Ministries Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  The Chattanooga Kids celebrated the official opening of their spectacular, new Urban Ministries Center and the Center for Church Planting. You’ll recall that this was made possible by the generosity of the Saints during Chattanooga Kids: Planting Christ’s Peace.

The circle of giving began when the kids became the first contributors to Roofs over Africa. They did not wait, but responded generously, to a need greater than their own. So it was easy for the Chattanooga Kids to understand the dream of the Saints in Russia and Ukraine to build places of peace—to have comfortable buildings with room to worship, fellowship, and host activities. Again, they did not hesitate, but responded generously to a need greater than their own—and they did it during their own building dedication. The Chattanooga Kids gave Presiding Bishop
Steve Jones $291.80 for Places of Peace.

In all, $330,000 will help provide sacred spaces to worship, provide social ministry, and experience the peace of Building Places of Peace: From Chattanooga to Russia and Ukraine Jesus Christ. Buildings will be bought and converted into sacred spaces. Russia and Ukraine church members will provide much of the labor to renovate the interiors. We can do it, with your help. We had received $179,176 as of November 30, 2008.

How to Give

Please join us to help build places of peace in Novosibirsk, Moscow, and Voronezh in Russia; Odessa and Kiev in Ukraine.

• Designate your Places of Peace: Russia to Ukraine contribution on the World Ministries portion of your Mission Tithes offering envelope.

• Mail a check to Community of Christ International Headquarters. (In Canada, mail your check to the Bishop of Canada.)

• Contribute online with a debit or credit card at www.CofChrist.org.

• Use online banking to give directly through your bank account (U.S. residents).

• Contribute assets (IRAs, securities, life insurance, or real estate). Contact Estate and Financial Planning at 1-800-884-7526 (877-526-7526 in Canada) or efpm@CofChrist.org.

Your generous response builds the Community of Christ, where precious lives are held in God’s hands. Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing so very generously.

—Sandra Ferguson reporting
Herald, January 2009