We are a congregation built on mission. In other words, "missions" is not a department in our church, it is central to what our church is and does. We believe that every believer is a missionary (Matt. 5:13-16; II Cor. 5:20). Following the example of Jesus who left the comfort of heaven and clothed Himself in our flesh in order to reach us, we should be willing to go to whatever extents it takes to reach those in our community He died for.
We don't believe the church should be a cultural ghetto, isolated culturally from the rest of the world. We want to take the kingdom of God into the arts, business, education – and every other dimension of our community. We believe that real "ministry" happens outside the church Mon-Sat, not inside our auditorium for an hour on Sunday. We believe there is not one square inch of our community over which Jesus does not declare Mine!
In other words, we're not here to condemn our culture or simply survive it. We're here to transform it for God's glory. Along with our commitment to encourage and equip the members of our church to have a missional heart and lifestyle, we give away at least 10% of our budget each year to the following specific missions:
Grace Network
The Grace Network of Martinsville & Henry County is a first stop center of resources for residents of Martinsville and Henry County where essential life needs and referrals are provided by caring volunteers building a stronger community.
Good News Jail and Prison Ministry
We support our local chapter of the Good New Jail & Prison Ministry. Chaplain Joseph Carter is actively involved in witnessing in the jails to inmates and their families; aiding in a physical and spiritual rehabilitation of men and women upon their release from jail; and overseeing an educational program within the jails to encourage continuance of formal education among the inmates. The Good News Jail & Prison Ministry has more than 45 years of service to Sheriffs, Directors of Corrections, institution staff, and inmates in correctional facilities across the United States and abroad.
Mission Center
The Mission Center is a local ministry that shares the Good News of Jesus Christ with the less fortunate of Martinsville and the surrounding area through the following ministries:
Soup Kitchen: Boxed meals are provided to the needy each week. Meals are planned and served by volunteers. A devotion where the gospel is shared is also presented before the meals are given out.
Crisis Referral/Discipleship Ministry: The Mission Center offers rehabilitation services through trained volunteers to those who are dealing with life controlling addictions. It is an intensive 12 month residential program that involves teaching, counseling and opportunities to serve within the ministry. It is staffed by volunteers and paid staff, with all rehabilitation costs borne by the Mission Center.
Funding & Operations: The Mission Center was established in 1992 through Piedmont Trust Bank's generous donation of the use of the old YMCA building as a youth center. The ministry now operates exclusively as a Mercy Ministry and occupies its own facility at 231 Starling Avenue. The Center operates under the guidance of a Board of Directors that represent different churches and denominations. The ministry depends entirely on donations for their annual operating budget of approximately $80,000.
Christmas Dinner at the Mission Center is a very special time of sharing and caring. Each year volunteers help prepare, serve and deliver nearly 1000 traditional dinners, including turkey, ham and all the trimmings, giving them an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the community.
A testimony from one whose life was transformed by the ministry:
"The Mission Center reached out and helped me when no one else was willing. I had alienated my family due to a drug addiction. I had lost all material possessions and had lost all hope in having a better life. I am grateful today that there were people who believed and supported the cause of the Center. Through their support (physical, financial, and spiritual), I had the help needed to turn my life around. I have been drug free and living for Christ for more than six years."
Tom Anthony (World Impact)
World Impact is a Christian missions organization dedicated to ministering God's love in the inner cities of America. Their purpose is to honor, glorify and delight in God in the inner cities by knowing God and making Him known. World Impact ministers cross-culturally to people unreached by the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism, follow-up, discipleship and indigenous church-planting. They seek to empower urban disciples; training leadership for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Christ's Church supports the Chester Ministry of World Impact, an inner city mission just south of Philadelphia. Along with providing monthly prayer and financial support, we have sent summer mission teams to serve in the Frederick Douglass Christian School in Chester.
Our teams have served in the summer day camp ministry, participated in community outreach, helped with various work projects in the school, as well as been a source of encouragement to the World Impact missionaries who are serving in Chester. It has been a life changing experience to all those who have participated.
But the highlight of this outreach has been the Lord enabling us to send Tom Anthony to Chester to serve full time as one of the missionaries. Tom came to know the Lord here at Christ's Church, and as "one of our own," what a blessing it has been to have a part in helping him grow, become equipped and sent out!
Jerry & Pam Headen (Philokalia Ministries) 
Philokalia Ifi-lo-ka-lee-a): "love of that which is beautiful or excellent," from The Philokalia, a collection of ancient Greek devotional texts written to enable one to find that which is truly beautiful and excellent in a relationship with God. Missionaries Jerry & Pam Headen serve with a team in the Sansai district of Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Along with a desire to share the gospel with the Thai people, they lead a ministry which serves people with HIV/AIDS, those affected by HIV/AIDS and other disadvantaged people in Thai society. Their ministry is implemented by spiritual formation and evangelism through a growing Christian community.
Samaritan's Purse
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. This ministry of Samaritan's Purse provides an opportunity for people to all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas – Jesus Christ.
Clothes Closet
We have recently begun clothes closet ministry on site that is open to the community on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 am until noon. If you would like to volunteer or have clothing to donate, please contact the director of this ministry, Debbie Beaumier.
