Mission
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
"SHORT TERM SUPPORT FOR
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS"
(click on the logo
for more information)
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
Mission Center
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)
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)
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
