Designated Ministry: Missionary Outreach—March 23, 2008

 Suggested worship service for this day.
PowerPoint presentation to support the story.

For stories about what’s happening in Apostle Mary Jacks Dynes’ Canada/North Central USA Mission Field, read the March Herald “Sharing in the Field” section or visit www.CofChrist.org/offertory.

 A. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: World

Prairie Bluffs and Lamoni Heartland USA Mission Centers—The Sanctuary of Christ’s Peace

Each Sunday we are invited to “share equally” with Mission Tithes for local and world ministries. These stories are provided to keep us in touch with how your contributions to Mission Tithes are spreading the peace of Jesus Christ.

This story, Become a Sanctuary of Christ’s Peace, takes us to Prairie Bluffs and Lamoni Heartland USA Mission Centers, part of Apostle Mary Jacks Dynes’ Canada/North Central USA Mission Field. So often we hear the phrase, “life circumstances get in the way.” Many times members and friends of the church become inactive during their collage-age years because of their life circumstances—they are at a college or job that is far away from their home congregation, their schedule is so demanding that it doesn’t leave time for church, or they feel that church just doesn’t meet their needs. As these young adults lose their connections to church, they sometimes reinvest their lives in other activities. The church, in turn, loses the opportunity to have these young adults become its future leaders.

Enter College Camp—a week designed to help busy young adults have the opportunity to experience the sanctuary of Christ’s peace. The Prairie Bluffs and Lamoni Heartland USA Mission Centers realized the importance of sanctuary time, especially for this age group. The mission centers developed a week that offered time for young adults to feel the love and connection to their Community of Christ brothers and sisters, despite the challenges of their demanding schedules and locations. The week, designed to be exactly like senior high camp, featured contemporary worship, campfires, sharing services, leadership development, late-night movies, and time for simply hanging out with friends. Through support from World Ministries Mission Tithes, ministers such as Steve Veazey, Scott Murphy, and myself provided leadership and ministry. The young adults who attended were moved to know that the church still cared about them, despite the hectic time in their lives. They intend to return and bring their friends! Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing so very generously.—David Ettinger, president, Prairie Bluffs USA Mission Center

B. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: Local 

What is happening to you or in your congregation as a result of giving to local ministries through Mission Tithes? Share those experiences as part of your congregation’s Disciples’ Generous Response.

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C. Blessing on Our Offering

From Doctrine and Covenants 162:8c, we read: Continue your journey, O people of the Restoration. You have been blessed thus far but there is so much yet to see, so much yet to do. Go forth with confidence and live prophetically as a people who have been loved, and who now courageously choose to love others in the name of the One you serve.

Sharing our Mission Tithes equally between local and world ministries as a financial resource of life grows in the life of others. Let us share in the prayer of blessing for our offering.