This month we will be spotlighting the CIU Prison Initiative. Through this program men who are serving time at Kirkland Correctional Institution have an opportunity to get an education covering courses in core classes, but also in Biblical Studies. Upon graduation of this program, the men are being sent out into prisons all around the state to serve and minister for the sake of the Gospel. Our church has been incredibly blessed by seeing what God has done and continues to do in these men and how he is using them for the Kingdom. CCC continues to help fund and provide this education and is excited about the opportunity to head back into the Prison, once restrictions are lifted, to share God’s word with these students.
This month for our 12 month missions awareness we want to bring our attention to 410 Bridge. We partner with 410 to help communities like Cercady, Haiti and a future community in Guatemala soon! 410 serves communities by helping establish towns and villages with training, resources in order to build them into a self sustainable model. Join us as we pray for 410 Bridge this month.
What can I do?
First, pray. Take time to pray for 410 Bridge, their leadership and their support. As they reach the different communities, and coordinate creating partnerships with churches and communities. Pray for our current partner city Cercady, Haiti. Pray for their leadership counsel, the people in the village, and that as we transition out of Cercady, they will continue to thrive as a community. Pray for our 320 Students mission trip to Guatemala. Pray as we continue to look for our next partner city there as well.
Learn about 410 Bridge and the ways you can partner with them. www.410bridge.org
Partner with 410 by financially supporting a child or a community or 410 directly.
Sumter Pregnancy Center is a non-profit agency offering confidential and free support and assistance to any woman who thinks she may be pregnant, or who is experiencing an unintended pregnancy. We educate, support and empower women in our community by providing life-affirming pregnancy searches and options information.
The following services, completely free-of-charge: • Abortion information • Laboratory-rate pregnancy tests • Adoption referrals • Limited obstetrical ultrasounds • Maternity clothes • Essential infant care items • Parenting classes • Pregnancy options counseling • Post abortion counseling
What can I do?
First, pray! Take time to pray for women who have questions, need help, and just don't know what to do. Pray for the pregnancy center and leadership to continue to love these ladies and families well. Pray for people to provide financially, provide resources, and provide support.
Financially support the pregnancy center. You can learn more at their website, but the Sumter Pregnancy Center is financially supported by individuals who have a heart for helping women in need. You can help provide a one time or monthly support through their ministry.
Update: Currently the Jacobs and the rest of Italy are in a pretty strict quarantine, meaning they are only allowed to leave the house for groceries, pharmacy, or medical emergencies. With two small children, finding ways to entertain them has been tricky, but they are learning and picking up a rhythm. They are going on about 30 days of full lock down.
Prayer Requests: Pray for them at home. That they would be able to manage raising two small children strictly from indoors. As the co-leaders of their team in Rome, pray that God would give them energy and creative ways to keep ministering to their staff and the people in Rome.
Ways to connect/contribute: To learn more about the Jacob’s, what they are doing, and what is going on you can follow their journey through their website: https://thejacobsinrome.epistle.today. If you would like to give financially you can do that here: https://give.cru.org/0715240
Update: There are still at this time no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cercady. Keep in mind that testing is very different in Haiti than it is in the United States. Given what we know and what has been relayed to us, there are still no cases. The country, as a whole, is still functioning with a good degree of normalcy.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for the health of Cercady, including this virus and beyond. Pray for the leadership council and their discernment in making decisions moving forward. Food scarcity is a major concern for the country so please pray that food would be available for the nation.
Ways to connect/contribute: 410 Bridge is currently rolling out a relief plan for the villages across the country. The relief plan will include multiple phases as 410 strives to meet the everchanging needs of our communities and respond to safety regulations. Food scarcity is one of the most pressing need as the realities of price gouging, closed markets, supply chain disruption, and the suspension of school feeding programs become a reality. Leadership Councils are continually identifying vulnerable households in each community. We are seeking resources to distribute Food Supply Kits to each household that will sustain them for 30 days. In addition to food kits, we have created and are distributing general health education/awareness information to the communities (handwashing, social distancing, other preventative measures, etc.) Food Supply Kits will assist families with basic staples (beans, rice, milk, pasta, oil, flour, sugar, Clorox, soap, paper towels etc.) for a period of approximately one month. The cost of each kit, including transportation, is $117 per household.
If you would like to give you can donate online at https://My.410Bridge.org/COVID19. If you would like that gift to be given directly to support Cercady, make a note of that in the comments.
Update: Cape Town is currently under a government mandated, city wide shut down. Similar to cities around the world right now, people are only allowed to leave for essential needs. Parts of Living Hope’s ministry (primarily the medical side) has been deemed essential which has continued to give them an opportunity to minister to their city. The are distributing over 100 chronic medications per day through door to door distribution. They are also distributing over 500 parcels of food into homes around the city. This food will supply the families enough food for 2 weeks time.
Prayer Requests: Please continue to pray for John Thomas, his wife Avril and their entire staff as they continue to serve their city and nation. Pray for their health and that their hands would be continually restored to continue to minister.
Ways to connect/contribute: If you would like to give you can contribute directly to Cape Town’s relief fund here: www.livinghope.co.za/disaster-relief.
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes,and peoples and languages, standing before the throne oand before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands...Revelation 7:9
