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The Heart of Mission
July 7, 2020
2020 RAINDROP PROJECT
It is raindrop time again. Some of you may ask: Raindrop? What does that have to do with us? Symbolically, one raindrop may make an insignificant impact in our daily lives, but enough of them added together provides us with all of the water we drink and foods we eat. In alternate years our local and world mission groups collect rain drops from you all so that we can provide extra help to one of our many agencies we support. Think of the many drops ranging from a dollar or so up to many dollars. For example, a dollar may provide a drink for someone, while other raindrops provide for a piece of clothing, a place to stay, or something to eat. All drops come together in a large pool which can make a significant impact in the needs of one agency. During the month of July, we will be collecting funds from each of you represented by each raindrop, your gift.
This year, World Mission agreed to select a mission that is suffering from the Coronavirus epidemic such as we are facing in this country. We did not have to look far. Mark Adams and Miriam Escobar, married coworkers (one of four PC(USA) mission co-worker couples we support), who were with us a few years ago explained the ministry at Frontera de Cristo, our neighbor.
Frontera de Cristo is a Presbyterian border ministry located in the sister cities of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico and Douglas, Arizona. They have their hands full right now. The Mexican/US border is now closed, they are ministering and providing for Mexican citizens that have escaped from life threatening communities in the south, the border conflict to the north, and now, most recently, the COVID-19 virus which has hit their town with casualties and job layoffs such as we are experiencing.
As one of five binational ministry sites of Presbyterian Border Region Outreach (presbyterianborder.org), Frontera de Cristo works with churches, presbyteries, and secular organizations on both sides of the border to do justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Their different ministries include the New Hope Community Center, Mission Education, Migrant Resource Center, Family Ministry, Church Development, CAME (Migrant Exodus Ministry), and a Health Ministry. (http://fronteradecristo.org/)
The cost of living at the border is about the same as it is in the United States. The difference is that people working in Mexico do not get government subsidies when they lose their job. Covid-19 has increased the loss of jobs and the border conflict has restricted commerce for our neighbors on the border.
How to Give in 2020
Each raindrop may not be much. All the raindrops together can make a big difference.
Each dollar may not be much. All our money together can make a big difference.
Choose an amount to give. Together our giving will help reduce the impact of COVID-19 and the increased financial need at Frontera de Cristo because of it.
You can give either through check or online giving.
Please write the check to First Presbyterian Church, indicate “Raindrop” on your check or online giving information line. https://firstpres.church/raindropoffering/
First Presbyterian Church will be sending one check to Frontera de Cristo at the end of our collection. The Raindrop Offering will be collected in the month of July.
During the month of July
This month you will be hearing bits and pieces from our World Mission Committee about the Douglas/Agua Prieta story which led to Frontera de Cristo. You will see a short video that shows many of the issues facing Frontera de Cristo as they provide for all of the needs of these displaced families. On July 8, Wednesday 7pm zoom prayer service, Rachel will interview Claudia Kirby about what she and her husband, Bob, witnessed several years ago when they spent three weeks at Frontera de Cristo and the surrounding area. We have also set up a fun webpage explaining how to give to the Raindrop project and allowing you to give online. https://firstpres.church/raindropoffering/
First Presbyterian Church will be sending one check to Frontera de Cristo at the end of our collection. The Raindrop Offering will be collected in the month of July.
Some things have changed since Claudia and Bob’s visit. The United States/Mexico immigration policies have complicated border relationships. Now the pandemic has exacerbated practically all of the difficulties that the border ministry already experiences. Our goal is for the Raindrop Offering to help reduce the impact of this virus. Of course, we are hopeful that each of you will give an amount that you can afford. If you have any desire to go deeper in learning about our ministry on the border, Frontera de Cristo has lots of information on their webpage, Facebook page, and various webinars.
Learn more about Frontera de Cristo on Thursdays, 7pm CT
We are fortunate that Frontera de Cristo has extended their Coffee, Conversations and Campassion Thursday zoom evenings. Note the time change to 7pm CT. They have been running these Thursday evenings since May with great success. So far through these conversations, they have impacted 120 families (600 people) affected by Covid-19 with 2 weeks of emergency food relief, 6 Covid-19 tests were provided, 338 pounds of coffee were bought, $2283 in donations were made to Covid-19 relief. 30% of Cafe Justo’s coffee sales went to this Covid-19 relief.
Cafe Justo will continue to offer their coffee special through August 31. The next conversation will be The Impact of Mission Delegation Ministry: We talk with Young Adult Volunteer Hannah Singerline about Cultivating Relationships and Understanding Across Borders. Email “conversation” to office@fronteradecristo.org to get the Zoom link. Here is the link to order coffee online from Cafe Justo here.
First Presbyterian Church Champaign’s Raindrop Offering will build on this success.
Thank you for your generous support.
Peace,
Rachel Matthews, Temporary Mission Coordinator
Let us keep all our mission partners in our prayers, those who are waiting to go back to their place of ministry and those who are able to work where they are. Listen for God’s call to you in their ministry.
Our PC(USA) Mission CoWorkers:
Mark Adams and Miriam Maldonado Escobar (Mexico)
Farsijanna Adeney-Risakotta (Indonesia)
Jeff and Christi Boyd (Central Africa)
Jo Ella Holman (Caribbean and Cuba)
Bob and Kristi Rice (South Sudan)
Our regional and global mission partners:
Kemmerer Village (and Camp Carew)
Lifeline Pilots
Marion Medical Mission
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Opportunity International
Friends of Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan Presbyterian Cuba Partnership
Special Offerings of the PC(USA)
Theological Education Fund
Young Adult Volunteers
Here in Champaign – Urbana:
CU Better Together
CU at Home
CANAAN S.A.F.E. HOUSE
CANTEEN RUN
COURAGE CONNECTION
DREAAM
eMPTY TOMB, INC
FAITH IN ACTION
JESUS IS THE WAY PRISON MINISTRY
THE REFUGEE CENTER
RESTORATION URBAN MINISTRY
SALT & LIGHT
Here at First Presbyterian Church
FPCC Amateur Preachers
FPCC Environmental Committee working with Faith in Place
FPCC Presbyterian Women
FPCC ESL
FPCC Children, Youth and Families
FPCC Mission Possible/Go and Serve
302 W. Church Street
Champaign, IL 61820
217-356-7238
info@firstpres.church |
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