Missions

 The Fellowship Sunday School Class recently raised money for Escuela San Quintin located in Nayarite, Mexico. Edd Bissell, who began mentoring the school in 2007, writes this on the school's Facebook page,

In a short 3 years San Quintin Escuela [ school ] had improved from a VERY rural, mountain, small village facility into the 23rd ranked academic school out of 1,100 school in the State of Nayarite, Mexico. Loads of my friends primarily from the U.S. have donated school supplies, Spanish library books, toys and MONEY. And is mandatory for anyone who visits me to bring things of value [ their determination] for the kids and/or school. We now have 5 computers and internet connection. Tuition / fees / etc. thru the rural Conafe School System is free thru the 6th grade. But to continue past Primary grades the parents are liable for ALL expenses. This past year we have paid this for the two 6th grade students from last years San Quinten class to Bucerias , the closest Public School available and within a reasonable bus ride each day. These expenses include tuition, bus fare, uniforms [ mandatory], books, school supplies, etc. Many parents earn in the neighborhood of 200 pesos per day [ about $16 USDs] so normally sending their children past 6th grade is impossible PLUS they are needed to go into the work force to add income for the normally large families. Our two students from last years 6th grade class were ranked 2nd and 30th respectively in the entire State of Nayarite. And both have received Certificates of Academic Achievement in this years 7th grade. These are the best case scenario because some of the student have fallen by the wayside --- BUT these students are going into the work force with a far better knowledge of math, language and science that in any previous years.

      

Some members of the class delivered funds to Mr. Bissell this summer and got to visit with some of the kids as well.  Take a look at the Mexico Photo Set in the Mission Picture Gallery by clicking here.

If you would like to learn more about the school, visit its public Facebook page here.  Read more about the education system in Mexico here.

UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE

Mr. Bissell may have recently found someone to check the eyes of students and San Quentin Escuela.  Word has been received that school supplies will be coming soon from Chattanooga. Also the older children are about to open a clothing stand of sorts.

Also thought I would let you know that Domitilla has a 4.0 average and Adolfo has a 2.2 GPA -- both are in the 8th grade this year.  And will sort of clue you all in on what those two [ also with help from Esmaralda and Abel in the 6th grade in the Village this year ] will be doing starting this weekend.  Primarily Donna Curry has gathered up and I have been able to get about 1/2 of 100s of pounds of very good used clothing down here.   Will bring back the other clothing this next trip.

Adolfo and Domitilla are going to start selling this clothing for those students that will be going on after they complete our 6 grades in San Quintin.  This will be COMPLETELY their undertaking -- I want them to price everything / to be in charge of selling it / to have a complete inventory and pricing  for everything they have and sell /  This money they gain will be used solely for the kids in the upper grades.  We will put all money into the general San Quintin School account BUT it will be used by them only --  I explained to them today that the MORE money they made the more they would have to spend  !!  Capitalism  via the Edd Bissell method.  They don't make it then they only get the basic / tuition and uniforms and book-packs -- BUT make MONEY and then they can reap other benefits like school trips / extra curricular activities that they normally can not afford.  I want to reiterated to all of you again -- after the rural or Conafee kids leave the Village the entire SCHOOL EXPENSE is footed by the parents --- or in our case you all.  

 

In August our church along with several other churches, scouts and volunteers participated in the first East Tennessee Fishing with Friends Day.

Here is what the Doug Goddard, director of Fishing with Friends (now a part of Access Life) said about the day,

Wow, what an event!

Our 1^st Fishing with Friends Day in Tennessee was blessed by over 400 folks attending as workers, buddies and participants living with disabilities. We had nearly 200 folks take boat rides, over 100 fish from the dock and served over 500 hot dogs!

God was very gracious in not only bringing everyone together for this time of service and ministry but also connecting folks through the boating, fishing, photography, craft and game activities. EIGHT area churches were involved as well as several local agencies and our hope/prayer is that God will use this time as a starting point for long term relationships within the community.

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See all photos from this gallery.

Some recent posts from our blog.

• Day 4- The Rainy Day - 06/01/2010 - by Jack Boatman
• DAY 3- I'm proud to be an American - 05/31/2010 - by Jack Boatman
• DAY 2 NEW EXPERIENCE - 05/30/2010 - by Jack Boatman

See all posts from this blog.

A few years ago, church member Denise Davenport heard her Call into the mission field full time.  Since then she has been serving in Kenya in several capacities.  Recently, she was married in Kenya.  To learn more about the Kenyan ministry or to sponsor a child, please view her website.

http://web.me.com/denisedavenport

The role of the Missions Team is to identify opportunities for the congregation to support outreach ministries in the community, the country and the world and then organize congregational participation in these ministries.

The team actively pursues ideas for missions from the many resources available to them and from church members. An integral part of the activities is to keep the congregation informed, updating their thinking about mission, confronting them with the people hurting around us. Mission programs are the foundation for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

The Mission Team is responsible for leading the congregation in participating in the outreach ministries, both financially and in active projects. Once the mission opportunity is identified, the Missions Team presents a statement of the mission of the congregation. The team enlists volunteers for both near and far-away missions, such as building programs and community assistance programs and country-wide and world-wide relief projects identified by the UMC.

The leader/coordinator of missions is nominated by the Committee on Lay Leadership and elected by the charge conference and is a member of the Administrative Council as well as the charge conference.

Meet the Team:

Team Leader - David Jones

Members - Tom Jenkins, Sandra Knarr, Laurie and Richard Mitchell, Julie Wilbur

Staff Liason - Pastor