2009: The Year In Mission
When I was asked to come on staff at the end of 2008, I was tasked with promoting and strengthening the mission and out-reach ministries here at First Christian. I personally saw my task at First to help us enter a “missional” age, where we as a faith community discern what God is up to outside the doors of the church and join in God’s mission. I wanted to take the time in this column to share a bit of where we have joined God in mission to help our sisters and brothers.
- We restarted FoodShelf Sunday in February. Every Third Sunday, we bring our non-perishable food items and our donations to help Groveland Foodshelf.
- We went to Feed My Starving Children in June, August and October and were able to feed thou-sands of children around the world.
- We were represented for the first time at Twin Cities Gay Pride.
- We established a relationship with Community Emergency Services, a local agency that helps the poor in South Minneapolis.
- We took part in a back-to-school drive to help Whittier Elementary;
- We gave children’s books to Project Homeless Connect to give homeless children stories to read and enjoy;
- We baked cookies for the Aliveness Project;
- Raised $1000 for the Heifer Project.
And so much more.
As a community, we also were able to help restart our children’s Sunday School program with Art of the Covenant. We have seen kids come and learn the stories of the Bible by using the arts. It has been a smashing success of which we thank God for. We are also thankful for Deb Murphy’s willingness to step up and create this rewarding ministry.
What’s on tap for 2010? Things are still forming, but we hope to see more continued involvement with Feed My Starving Children and Community Emergency Services, increased work in helping the community become more diverse in all forms, working with other community groups such as Tubman, an agency that helps those dealing with domestic violence, and continued work with the Downtown Congregations Ending Homelessness.
First Christian, I am thankful for you for not only going to church on Sundays, but for being church everyday of the year through your acts of compassion, love and jus-tice. May God bless you all in 2010 and may we together as First Christian Church in Minneapolis continue to be church.
Dennis Sanders
Associate Pastor for Diversity and Mission
