2022 Santa Barbara mission conference

        The 2022 Mission Conference, “Called to Reconcile”


The 20th annual Santa Barbara Mission Conference Will take place on January 28th and 29th at First Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara.


The keynote speakers are Eugene Cho and Sandra Van Opstal, plus six breakout sessions on ‘reconciliation.’


Register by going online at sbmissionconference.org or by picking up and completing a brochure available in the church office.


Additional information about our Key Note Speakers:

Eugene Cho, CEO of Bread For The World

Sandra Van Opstal, Excutive Director of Chasing Justice

october Mission of the Month

United World Mission

The Vision of the United World Mission is to develop flourishing churches because flourishing churches:

  • Proclaim the Good News of the Gospel that Christ is alive and working in the world
  • Overcome social divisions and creates a loving community
  • Encourages good works through the community with service, mercy and justice

 

How to make that happen? 

 

Nearly 90% of the churches in the world are led by men and women whose heart is in the right place but have little or no training for the ministry.

 

The work of the United World Mission is to provide theological education, practical training and spiritual formation to all leaders, everywhere.

 

Visit the website: United World Mission

 

Picture:  Karen and Gary Griffith, our local faces to United World Mission, and one of the many outreach programs across the world.

July Mission of the Month - Joe and Emily Smith

Cru ministries

The Cru mission is two-fold: Seeking to have a good news presence in the city as we connect with the volunteer baristas and customers, as well as seeking "God's Kingdom come" by fighting for justice and wholeness in the world.


Joe and Emily Smith are currently living in Portland seeking the flourishing of the city and the world through the platform of a volunteer-run coffee shop.  As a non-profit coffee shop they are an excited partner with International Justice Mission by sending all proceeds their way to help free victims of modern day slavery.


Joe' Father, Joseph Adrian Smith passed away.  Attached is a letter from Joe and a link to his father's memorial site.


Connect with the Cru website at:  Cru Ministries

Pictures taken from Joe and Emily’s Cru page and the Cru Blog Let the Nations be Glad


may Mission of the Month

Front Porch

Joel and the others at Front Porch believe that every person and moment matters because the Divine is at work in both.  The Front Porch's purpose is to bring the people and the moments together in a Christ centered environment based on the teachings of Jesus.

 

With everything being free Front Porch works through a combination of volunteers and donations.

 

The staff, all Christ centered, include:

  • Joel Drenckpohl – Executive Director since 2013
  • Dominique Floyd – Associate Director
  • Emily Biekert – Intern
  • Paul Gillis-Smith – Intern
  • Hailey Firstman – Intern

 

Aside from the free coffee, friendship, sense of community (at an open mic night one new person was heard saying “I’m loving the vibe of this thing.”) there are events:

  • Open Mic Night:  OMN is held quarterly and students are encouraged to perform acts ranging from singing, instrumentals, poetry, readings, monologues and stand-up comedy.
  • Camping Trips:  Quarterly 40 students camp in national parks for an inclusive time of spiritual discussion and reflection.
  • Wednesday Night Dinners: During the school year every Wednesday night hundreds of students enjoy a delicious and a free meal complete with trivia games and discussions of current issues; all viewpoints are welcome.
  • Saturday Night Worship:  Every Saturday evening it is a combination church service, small group gathering, and community discussion.  It is a place to discuss what it is like to live in Jesus focused community.
  • Monthly Student Volunteer Event:  Each month an event is planned for the Front Porch volunteers.
  • Pancake Breakfast:  During Cal Poly’s Finals Week, a difficult time for students, Front Porch hosts a free two hour breakfast of pancakes, eggs and sausage.

Photos are Wednesday Night Supper, Saturday Night Worship, The Pancake Breakfast

To find out more visit the Front Porch Website.

March 2021

Lighthouse

For Women and children

The Lighthouse provides a fresh start to women and children who are experiencing homelessness by offering shelter and recovery programs in a comfortable, home-like setting.


Lighthouse Programs Include:

Emergency Shelter:  The Lighthouse Emergency Shelter operates 24-hours per day, seven days a week.  Those accepted include single women and mothers with boys up to 10 (with some exceptions up to 12).


The Lighthouse Life Recovery Program:  The Life Recovery Program is a faith-based nine-month residential program that provides addiction recovery, critical life skills, vocational training, Bible studies, Biblical counseling, and programs for children.


Light Internship program:  The Lighthouse Internship Program is a two-year residential education program for Lighthouse Life Recovery Program graduates who are interested in completing their CDACC Certification. Participants receive tuition assistance and valuable hands-on experience in addiction recovery work.


Light House Transitional Living Program:   The Lighthouse Transitional Living Program is a two-year transitional housing program for Lighthouse Life Recovery Program graduates. Participants are required to pay a small program fee (not to exceed 30% of income) in order to receive valuable aftercare support, including the time to build an employment history and save toward permanent housing.


To discover more about Lighthouse visit their website:  Lighthouse

February 2021 Ministry of the Month

Ministry of Hope Lesotho

Located in the southeastern corner of South Africa is the small high-altitude country of Lesotho.  Near the north western edge of Lesotho on the Caledon River is the capital city of Maseru, a community of approximately 331,000 people.    

 

Lesotho gained its independence from Great Britain in 1966 and has since started its economic growth, but still over 40% of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day.

 

The Ministry of Hope was created by Mamonyane Mohale (nutritionist and public health nurse) and Nancy Dimmock (former mission worker for the Presbyterian Church USA) in 2009 to nurture and improve the health of impoverished orphaned children.

 

To learn more visit the Ministry of Hope Lesotho at their website:  https://www.ministryofhopelesotho.org


The following link takes you to a video of the Ministry of Hope Lesotho:  Ministry of Hope Lesotho

 

Picture:  This is home.  A three bedroom house with one bathroom which at times has been home to as many as 30 individuals at once.  Children balancing against a wall.  Popa ‘Maleng, Consultant Social Worker

August Ministry of the Month

Compassion International

The purpose is the children.  Their need, to be lifted from poverty and given a chance to realize their potential.

 

In 1952 Rev. Everett Swanson traveled to South Korea to minister to the troops fighting there.  What he found were orphans in the streets and Compassion International was born.

 

Since 1952 the work has grown.  Today Compassion International works with thousands of local churches in 25 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America to give nearly 2 million children and young adults an opportunity for a better life.

 

Teaming with local churches Compassion International provides a Christ centered focus to its teaching and program.

 

By sponsoring a child you ensure that through the local church this child will receive the holistic approach to nutrition, health care, education and guidance so they can be responsible and productive to themselves and their community.  Sponsorship has the added advantage of knowing the individual you are helping by sharing letters and pictures on a regular basis. In person visits can also be arranged.

 

The sponsorship cost is $38 per month.


According to the Compassion International website there are 61,808 children waiting for a The following video tells us a little bit about the Compassion International.

 

This is a connection to the Compassion International Website

July Mission of the Month

Witnessing Ministries of Christ

India, a country of over one billion people located on the southern part of the Asian Continent, at one time had a caste system categorizing and stratifying its population.  The old Hindu system ranged through five categories starting with the Brahmans (priests and teachers) at the highest levels to the Dalits (street sweepers and latrine cleaners) occupying the lowest levels.

 

Although the caste system of classifying people was banned in the mid 20th Century, unfortunately the shadows of long established walls are difficult to demolish and cultural prejudices remain today.

 

In steps Witnessing Ministries of Christ founded by Rev. Philip Prasad with the purpose of educating and training the members of the Dalit community.

 

Although Rev Prasad passed away in 2016 his work continues through the Exodus Presbyterian Church of India. 


 A short video about the mission is available at Witnessing Ministry of Christ.


The development of the Dalit community focuses on six fundamentals:

  • Spiritual Growth
  • Mental Growth
  • Physical Growth
  • Economic Growth
  • Social Growth
  • Growing through Witness

 

Our Mission of the Month for July the Witnessing Ministry of Christ, Exodus Presbyterian Church of India is located at:

Witnessing Ministries of Christ

P.O. Box 5516 (4717 N Barton Ave)

Fresno, CA 93755-5516

(559) 226-7349

http://www.witnessingministries.com/index.php

 

June Mission of the Month

Lifewater International

It is a disturbing fact that every minute a child dies in some marginalized region of the world because of a water born illness.  Why this is so distressing is because it is preventable.

 

In these marginalized undeveloped regions of the world where over 800 million people live the problem lies with access.  These families, living on less than $2 per day, represent whole villages and communities who do not have access to safe drinking water.  Their safe water situation is intensified by related issues of poor sanitation and hygiene habits.

 

Since 1977 Lifewater International, founded by William Ashe and family, have given clean sustainable water systems to over 35,000 families in marginalized societies around the world.

 

A Christ based organization Lifewater believes in a comprehensive approach which lifts not only the individual families but the entire community and village.

 

Follow the story of our Mission of Month of June at their website: https://lifewater.org/ or watch the video at: https://lifewater.org/our-model/

Mission of the Month April 2020

Campus crusade

Campus Crusade, in Portland, Oregon is our Mission Of  the Month for April 2020.


From Joe and Emily Smith we  received the following:


We have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on our coffee shop so we can start ministry out of it. Our vision of "creating a common gathering of authentic relationships, around coffee and ending slavery, where the good news is shared and lived out through doing life together" motivates us. With the COVID pandemic shutting down local businesses we are waiting prayerfully for our future launch.

 

Before the shutdown happened we had opportunities to connect a lot with the music teachers who run a music school in the building we share. It was a really neat foreshadowing of what we hope the space can look like, as we made them coffee and built meaningful relationships over having some significant conversations.

 

Thank you so much for your continued partnership! Here's a few pictures of the space we've been building from the ground up with our own hands.