Projects Funded
(Reflects funding granting during the last 3 years.)
2011 Funding
November 2011
Caring Communities Resource Centers (Central Mission Center)
Approved $16,538 – 3rd year
The Centers provide opportunity for older adults to have access to health care assistance, case management, chronic disease education, and related activities in their own environs. The Groves Congregation in Independence is a major partner in this program, along with Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Seven centers are currently in operation in the Independence and Kansas City areas.
Gateway to Peace Museum (Gateway Mission Center)
Tentatively Approved $9,750 – 2nd year (subject to an updated budget and report on fundraising being received)
Purpose of the program is to teach and promote peacemaking skills to children and their families in association with several school districts in the Greater St. Louis area.
In 2011 nearly 7000 children will have experienced the museum, learning peacemaking skills through the museum’s hands-on activities.
Latino Mission Family Center (New England Mission Center)
Approved $12,000 – 2nd year
Purpose is to provide a safe place where families and individuals can gather to gain skills. Programs include ESL (English as Second Language); improving in Heritage Language skills (Spanish), work skills, homework helps, job bank, thrift shop. Located in Harrington, Washington County, Maine.
Peacemobile Coordinator (British Isles Mission Center)
Approved $4,075 – 3rd year
Employs a coordinator for the project. The program centers on Peacemobile (four at the moment) exhibits used in schools, faith-based organizations and community groups.
Camp MITIOG (Midlands Mission Center)
Approved $10,000 – 3rd year
An annual camp event for children with Spina Bifida. In 2011 the camp once again reached full capacity with 56 campers and 56 counselors.
Furniture Project (Michigan/USA Mission Center)
Approved $7,000 – 2nd year
A voluntary outreach program in its 5th year of operation in the Blue Water region of Michigan, in which donated new and used furniture is stored until donated to requesting persons/families living within national poverty limits. Since its inception over 1,000 homes have been served.
Overflow Emergency Night Shelter (Fort Collins, CO Congregation)
The congregation through Northern Colorado Catholic Charities provides emergency overflow night shelter for up to 50 homeless persons seven nights per week. The funding will be used for sleeping purposes in the night shelter.
AGAPE (Bloomsburg, PA Congregation)
Approved $2,000
Provides financial support through the congregation on behalf of a local Christian Community program titled AGAPE. The funding will provide shelter on an emergency basis for persons ineligible for other available housing.
Jesus & Me Jamboree (Salem, OR Congregation)
Approved a matching grant up to $12,000
Jesus & Me resources and model now used in several areas of the church.
Health Ed Connect Internship Program for Young Adults (Kasompe and Chipulukusu, Zambia)
Approved $9,400 – 1st year
The program will provide internships for young adults from the U.S., to broaden their exposure and deepen commitment to the mission of the church by serving essentially as interns in the two community schools in the locations listed above.
World Accord (Canada)
Approved $288,950
Provides financial support to ongoing programs in El Salvador, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, Nepal.
World Accord works with partners in these nations to help people in poverty achieve food security and meet basic needs. The fund will aid food production and income generation. Work includes skills training and capacity building, providing access to agricultural inputs, micro-credits and entrepreneurship.
April 2011
Camp MITIOG (Made In The Image Of God) (Midlands Mission Center)
Approved 2nd year request - $15,000
The camp is an annual event, beginning its 42nd year. Designed specifically for children with Spina Bifida. The 2010 camp had 57 campers, with the anticipation that a larger number will be present for the 2011 experience.
Campers have the opportunity to experience camping in an environment that accommodates for their disability. Doing the ‘normal’ camping activities allows them in a sense, to be free of their disability for a while. Crafts, swimming, campfires, etc are activities that many have never experienced.
Family Focused Parenting (Dacula, Georgia) (Southeast Mission Center)
Approved 2nd year request - $2,805
This is congregational outreach and ministry program directed toward preparing prisoners for re-entry to the community and their families.
Mom and Me Clothing Ministries (New Albany, IN) (Kentucky-Indiana Mission Center)
Approved 3rd year request - $3,500
The project provides free clothing to families in the community. Coats, blankets and diapers are also provided. In the 3rd year laundry detergent and personal care items will be added to the program for at least 25 families. A “Back to School” program is been added, giving at least 25 children enough underwear, socks, and clothing for 7 days, as well as personal care items.
Fire Victims Outreach (Port Richey, FL) (Florida Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request - $15,000
Program provides ministries of restoration and wholeness through the assembly and distribution of food boxes, clothing, personal hygiene products, toys and stuffed animals for children, household items and limited furniture items to families that have suffered a house fire. Along with tangible assistance, they will provide spiritual care, pastoral presence, prayer and emotional support for long term recovery.
Friends United/Amigos Unidos (Central America Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request - $18,000
Program will address providing students with the opportunity to complete grades 1-6 versus the typical completion in Honduras of only grades 1-2. A little over 2,000 students will be served at two model school locations in Tegucigalpa and Juticalpa.
Orphans Africa (Tacoma, WA)(Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request - $25,000
Program to build a dormitory for orphaned girls, a kitchen, dining hall, and toilet/showers facilities, at the Mwaji Secondary School in Bujela, Tanzania; Eventually build a boys dormitory. Provide educational support, such as textbooks, school supplies, and teacher training.
Share & Care House (Puyallup, WA) (Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request - $10,000
Independence House for Men is a new permanent housing project for six chronically homeless men at a time in rural Puyallup/East Pierce County, WA where no transition or permanent homeless housing services exist for the population.
It is the intent to help these hurting men gain their self-esteem and self-worth back utilizing compassionate individualized case management, life and job skills training, benefits and entitlements assessment, drug and substance abuse and mental health counseling.
Nigeria Mission Womens Rental Project (Nigeria Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request - $7,500
This is an income-generating project for the women in the mission center. They buy bridal accessories and then rent them to the public.
Ikot Oku Mfang Lock-up Stores Project (Nigeria Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request - $6,000
This is an income-generating project for the congregation. They provide rental lock-up storage for the community.
2010 Funding
Caring Community Resource Centers (Groves Congregation) (Central Mission Center)
Approved 2nd year request for $32,795
The Centers provide opportunity for older adults to access health care assistance, a case manger and nurse, transportation, chronic disease education, and related health activities in their own neighborhood settings.
Community Youth Camps (Kentucky-Indiana Mission Center)
Approved 3rd year request for $3,800
Provides at-risk children and youth of Southern Indiana with opportunity for physical, emotional, and spiritual growth through a one-week camping experience.
Community Youth Program (Middletown, Ohio) (Western Ohio Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request for $10,000
Program to empower children though education. A computer lab will be created, and will be used by youth in the neighboring community and provide instruction in using the technology available to take control of their education and learn to use the resources available.
Family Life Outreach (Hot Springs, Arkansas) (South Central States Mission Center)
Approved $3500
A program stressing family living/parenting for families ordered into the program by the Juvenile Court because of drug and/or alcohol problems of the parent(s) or child(ren), dependent neglect cases, family separation resulting in parenting issues, problems in school, and/or other legal or social problems.
Gateway to Peace Museum (Gateway Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request for $10,000 (subject to receipt of required reports)
Purpose is to teach peacemaking skills and promote peacemaking among children and their families. In 2009 over 6800 children learned peacemaking skills through the museum’s hands-on activities.
Latino Mission Family Center (Jonesport, Maine) (New England Mission Center)
Approved 1st year request for $15,000
Provides a safe and welcoming place where families and individuals can gather to gain skills to improve their lives. Programs include ESL (English as Second Language), Heritage Language skills (Spanish), work skills, homework helps, job ban and thrift shop. Programs supported by a new Latino Mission Plant.
Peacemobile Coordinator (British Isles Mission Centre)
Approved 2nd year request for $5,110
Peacemobile consists of 20 interactive exhibits. It has been used primarily in nurture groups in mainstream primary school settings. This past year the Peacemobile has been used in more than twelve schools.
Shamrock Senior Health & Advocacy Ministries
Approved $15,000 subject to additional information being provided
Designed to meet the needs of senior members, families and communities to better experience the wholeness of body, mind, spirit and relationship as an “Enduring Principle” of the Community of Christ.
Using a nurse to create, train and activate a Health Ministries Team providing support to sixteen congregations. Creating resource materials, do home and hospital advocacy assessment and link with community based organizations providing thereby caring for those that might not be able to fully care for themselves.
T.R.U.T.H. (Teaching Real Unity To Heal) (Columbia, Missouri) (Gateway Mission Center)
Approved 3rd year request for $7,500 (subject to receiving required reports)
Providing a safe place for African refugees and African Americans. Funding provides bilingual services, materials, employment and transportation.
Youth Building Positive Relationships (Midlands & Central Mission Centers)
Approved 3rd year request for $12,500
Helps at-risk youth in the Kansas City metropolitan are build positive relationships by supporting them in the use of appropriate conflict resolution skills. At least 400 youth will be served with: mediation, circle processes, anger management classes and mentoring.
Healthy Re-Entry (Gateway Mission Center)
Approved $7,070 (Third Year Request)
Program in St. Louis, Missouri assists in the re-entry process of ex-offenders by providing mentoring teams for them; by training and supporting the mentors; by teaching conflict resolution and problem-solving skills; by teaching those same skills to the teenaged children of women ex-offenders; by providing a supportive environment for the ex-offenders and the teen-agers; by training some of the ex-offenders to work with at-risk youth; and by providing a supportive congregational environments for the ex-offenders and their families in two or more CofC congregations.
Community of Helping Hands (Council Bluffs, Iowa Central Congregation)
Approved $16,000 (Second Year Request)
Project is designed to positively impact the Council Bluffs community by providing a combination of new and newly expanded, high quality, life affirming ministries which are relevant to the children of the community.
The Community of Helping Hands focuses on educational and community development through coordinated ministries, including an expanded and improved school approved program designed to offer one on one reading assistance and peace making skills, and a family centered ministry in which families will dine together and then participate in age specific ministries. Classes for adults include English as a Second Language, Parenting Support, Addiction Recovery, Cooking on a Budget, Job Finding Skills.
PeaceMakers Club – Puttalam (Sri Lanka)
Approved $5,425 (Third Year Request)
Clubs are now operational in five congregations with 170 regular participants and an additional 50 part-time participants.
Objectives include: Training workshops for leaders and teachers; providing snack and food for the children; counseling services based on Peace Makers principles; provide religious experiences along with social opportunities; develop peacemaking skills and talents of the children.
Mom and Me Ministries (Kentucky-Indiana Mission Center)
Approved $4,000 (Second Year Request)
Provides support for a Mom and Me Clothes Closet Ministry operated by the New Albany, Indiana Congregation. The project has served 442 people and distributed 3,847 items for families ‘at risk’ and unable to afford the clothing.
Wednesday Evening Family Program Project – Dundalk, MD
Approved $15,150 (Second Year Request)
The program has been renamed The Community Empowerment Center. The program acts as an umbrella provides services such as: GED programs; Family Literacy; Parent Effectiveness; Nutrition; Computer Literacy.
Every Wednesday evening the congregation provides participants with a cooked meal, a worship service, family-friendly entertainment and youth ministries.
2007–2009
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM (Raleigh, NC) to address the compassionate needs of the children who reside in the Chatham Street area within a mile radius of the church. We provide a quiet, safe place for the students to complete homework assignments and other related work. (2006, 2007, 2008)
BRICK MAKING PROJECT (Congo Katanga Mission Center) The demand for housing in this area is growing due to the mining industry. With a shortage of building material a brick molding project provides a source of income to the youth of the area. (2009)
CAMP MITIOG (Made In The Image Of God) (Midlands Mission Center) MITIOG is devoted to organizing and creating quality life experiences and lasting memories for children born with Spina Bifida. (2009)
CEDESPAR SOCIAL PARTICIPATEIVE PROJECT (Bolivia) To provide services and technical direction in participatory social development and economic productivity, organize the producers, search for a development style base upon economic sustainability with the active participation of the poor. (2008) (2009)
COMMUNITY CONFLICT SERVICES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SCHOOL PROJECT (St. Louis, Missouri) To create an environment that accepts diversity, holds those that harm accountable for their actions, attempts to repair the harm to the victim, and works toward building a safe school community. (2007, 2008, 2009)
COMMUNITY OF CHRIST FURNITURE PROGRAM (Michigan Blue Water Mission Center) Accepts donations of furniture. Supplies furniture items to establish a home for those unable to afford to purchase the same.(2009)
COMMUNITY OF HELPING HANDS (Council Bluffs, IA) Will focus on educational and community development through coordinated ministries which include an expanded and improved school approved program designed to offer one on one reading assistance and peace making skills, after school ministries for elementary through high school students which will provide nutritious food, places to play, socialize and explore their spirituality in a safe, wholesome environment. (2008)
COMMUNITY SENIOR CARE SERVICES (The Groves, Independence, MO). To assist to create faith and health based ministry programs that will serve seniors within their congregation and community. (2006, 2007, 2009)
COMMUNITY YOUTH CAMPS (Derby, Indiana) Seeks to provide at-risk children and youth of southern Indiana with an opportunity for physical, emotional, and spiritual growth through a one-week camping experience. (2008, 2009)
FAMILY CONNECTIONS (Louisville, Kentucky) The Forest Hills, KY congregation is the primary support for the program. The project is designed to provide support for families involved with Ronald McDonald House. Funds to cover needs for which they have no resources and for activities on behalf of children and their families, providing a break from the strain of ongoing treatment. (2009)
FAMILY FOCUSED PARENTING (Southeast Mission Center) Supports re-entry of prison inmates to community and to successful re-connecting with families, in collaboration with the Family Nurturing Center of Georgia. The Dacula, Georgia Congregation is the primary support base for the program. (2009)
FOLK-TIME (Portland, Oregon) A project for meeting human needs of chronic mentally ill adults in the metropolitan area. (2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009)
FREEDOM (Pensacola, Florida) This project is to assist persons who have been institutionalized, to re-enter society with a better lifestyle than they had before. (2001, 2002)
FREMONT CHILDREN'S PEACE PAVILION (Fremont, California) A pilot satellite of the Children's Peace Pavilion that will promote peace among the many different cultures represented in Fremont. (2005)
FRIENDS UNITED TEACHER'S TRAINING (Oak Hill, Missouri/Honduras) Work with Honduras Department of Education to establish a model school that will increase their nationwide standards. (2003, 2004, 2005) Designed an educational coloring book to be distributed with shoes and crayons teaching children and parent's hookworm protection. (2007)
HEALTHY RE-ENTRY (St. Louis, Missouri) To assist in the re-entry process of ex-offenders by providing mentors for them; training and supporting those mentor’s by teaching conflict resolutions and problem-solving skills; teaching those same skills to the teen-aged children of women ex-offenders; and providing a supportive environment for the ex-offenders and the teen-agers. (2008, 2009)
LIGHTHOUSE MISSION DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM (Clovis, New Mexico) To expand the program to more individuals who are homeless and disadvantaged in a alcoholism and substance abuse program. (2008)
LUSAKA TAILORING PROJECT (Lusaka, Zambia, South Central Mission Center) – This project is designed to be a school to teach women in the Community of Christ church and in the community sewing/tailoring skills. (2009)
MOM AND ME MINISTRIES (Kentucky/Indiana Mission Center) – The purpose of this project is to provide physical and educational support to families by establishing a clothing closet and family education resource center. (2009)
PEACE SUPPORT NETWORK (Crosses jurisdictions in a collaborative venture) Illustrates and defines the work of peace as it relates to the Gospel of Christ. Forms a constantly growing network of relationship, pathway, and portals to energize and synergize justice and peacemaking ministries. Creates an integrated mechanism which effectively connects people, ideas, experience, models research education, advocacy, and action. (2008)
PEACEMAKERS CLUB (Puttalum, Sri Lanka) To provide a sound and effective program that addresses the compassionate needs and hope of the Children in the Puttalum area. (2007, 2009)
PEACEMOBILE (British Isles Mission Center) Funds to be used for the employment of a Peacemobile Coordinator in order that more opportunities are provided to promote peacemaking skills with children in and through public schools. (2009)
TEACHING REAL UNITY TO HEAL/T.R.U.T.H. (Columbia, MO) To provide a safe place for African refugees, heal and reconcile a broken past and build a new signal community for peace and justice. (2008, 2009)
THE PLACE/H.A.R.T. Ministries (Kansas City, Missouri) Creates a safe community to find healing, self worth, and personal growth through education, advocacy, and community collaboration. (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM (Independence, Missouri) To provide a rental house for 6-12 months rent free and give support including family financial management, parenting skills, job/career assistance, addiction programs and youth programs. (2008)
UGUNJA ORPHAN’S CARE UNIT (Ugunja, Africa) To provide education for HIV/AIDS orphans. (2007, 2008, 2009)
WEDNESDAY EVENING FAMILY PROGRAM (Chesapeake Bay USA Mission Center) – Every Wednesday evening the Community of Christ church is open to people in the neighborhood who are in need of a meal, counseling or just a place to get in out of the cold/heat. (2009)
WORLD CONFERENCE 2010 – Boys/Girls Club Makeover Project (Independence, Missouri) The Leslie Branch of the Boys and Girls Club is in need of repair, updating and refurbishing. The goal is to provide a usable and safe location for the children and youth of the community. (2010)
VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION (Independence, Missouri) Provides restorative justice opportunities that can heal lives and reconcile relationships for juvenile offenders and their victims referred by the court. (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
YOUTH BUILDING POSTIVE RELATIONSHIP (Jackson County, MO) To help at-risk youth build positive relationships by supporting them in the use of appropriate conflict resolution skills. (2008, 2009)