Living by Faith

L I V I N G B Y FA I T H EMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

FAITH PROMISE 2019

REACH

FAITH PROMISE

GO REACH

Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Reaching our world and community is a central part of our mission statement at Emmanuel. It states that we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the purpose of transforming our world. We believe this so wholeheartedly that our vision statement challenges every person to live it out in his or her life, or in other words, “Each One Reach One.” Perhaps you are overwhelmed by the needs in our community or the even more desperate situations in our world. I challenge you to get started by reaching out to one person in your neighborhood, work place, school, or community. You may be surprised to see that one person grow to two. Before long, you might find yourself desiring to connect in efforts that make an even greater impact.

One way to get involved with Emmanuel’s efforts to reach our world is through our Faith Promise program. Each year, we ask you to pray and consider what God might ask you to give above your regular giving to support missionaries around the world as well as mission organizations in our local and global communities.

Let’s lean in and listen to the Lord’s last words to us while here on earth, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Let’s seek how God wants to use each one of us as we listen to His call. And finally, let’s respond by taking our next step.

In His Grip,

Pastor Steven Walker

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FAITH PROMISE

WHAT’S INSIDE

2 4 7

Meet Emmanuel Faith Promise Faith Promise FAQs

8 Missionaries 10 Mission Organizations 11 Listen. Pray. Seek. Serve.

OUR PURPOSE The purpose of the Mission Team is to inspire and engage the Emmanuel UMC family to serve in outreach (local, domestic, and international) by identifying, supporting, and facilitating opportunities to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

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FAITH PROMISE

WHAT IS FAITH PROMISE? We believe Faith Promise Giving is one of the most exciting, faith-building, vision-expanding, world-changing things we do at Emmanuel United Methodist Church.

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FAITH PROMISE

Here’s the premise: God will provide through us for local and global evangelization what God might not normally provide to us for our own use. We believe, and many of us have experienced, that God provides “extra money” when we have made a prior commitment to use that money for sharing the Gospel with others in word and action.

Here’s the promise: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion . . .”

2 Corinthians 9:10,11 Here’s the prayer: “God, what amount of money will you provide through me/us, above and beyond my/our other tithes and offerings, specifically for the cause of the gospel?” We have found this prayer something that God answers abundantly!

Here’s the proof: Since we began trusting God in this way 12 years ago, we have sent nearly $1,000,000 to our partner missionaries and mission projects here and around the world. Emmanuel UMC’s annual mission budget supports church, local, national, and international organizations as well as individual missionaries.

MAKE YOUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO MISSIONS ON:

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Here’s the process: •

Pray to ask God’s direction for a specific amount of money to make as your “faith promise.”

This isn’t figuring out how you can give more, but it is asking God to provide more than you can “figure out” -- exclusively for sharing the Gospel.

•

Seek God, asking the Lord to provide that amount of money above and beyond what you would plan on giving in tithes and offerings. Watch to see how God brings “extra money” for His purposes.

•

Write the amount down on a Faith Promise card and bring it as an offering in worship on Faith Promise Sunday, May 19.

•

Give the money God provides as Faith Promise offering through the church. All money received will be used strictly and exclusively for the Faith Promise Mission Budget and nowhere else. Rejoice, you are a partner in the Gospel!

No records will be kept of what you “owe” on your Faith Promise. That is a matter between you and God. Everyone can be a part of Faith Promise, even children and youth.

It is exciting to see how God provides the means for us to keep our commitments.

FAITH PROMISE SUNDAY May 19, 2019 at 9:00 and 10:30

FAITH PROMISE

MONEY GIVEN

$37,000 contributed to fund Faith Promise supported missions of Emmanuel UMC

MISSIONARIES SENT

60 individuals on local, domestic, and international mission trips in 2016.

HOURS SPENT

3,000 hours of volunteer mission service by individuals from the Emmanuel UMC

COUNTRIES SUPPORTED

12

by Faith Promise giving

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FAITH PROMISE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH PROMISE WHO SHOULD GIVE TO FAITH PROMISE? Everyone! Children and youth may have less money than adults, but it’s crucial to train them in systematic giving and faith living.

WHAT’S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH PROMISE AND TITHING? Faith Promise giving is over and above the tithe. Tithing is a clear scriptural principle, dating back to the earliest pages of Genesis. Tithing recognizes God’s ownership over you and all that you have. In practical terms, tithe money runs the local church and its ministries. Faith Promise is a way for us to give specifically to reaching the unreached of the world. Faith Promise giving tangibly expresses our desire that the whole world know the Good News.

HOW DO I GET THE FUNDS TO FULFILL MY FAITH PROMISE? God may increase your income. God may decrease your expenses. God may lead you to sacrifice.

DO I GIVE MY FAITH PROMISE BEFORE I GET IT? A Faith Promise is a FAITH commitment. Promise only what you believe God wants to give through you. Then trust God to be faithful in this promise.

YOUR FAITH PROMISE INVOLVEMENT SAYS THAT YOU BELIEVE: Reaching the world for Christ is vital to accomplishing the mission of the church. The Gospel can change lives. Giving to missions, although

important, is secondary to faith and praying.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF FAITH PROMISE GIVING?

HOW DO I GIVE MY FAITH PROMISE?

One major advantage in giving to missions on a per week or per month basis is that you can give far more to missions that way than you can by giving one or two big sacrificial gifts per year. Faith Promise enables you to give to missions in amounts that reflect what you’d like to do. Faith Promise enables you to reach out to the unreached on a regular basis (rather than just one or two special occasions during the year).

Give regularly if you can. Missionaries need regular support. Some Faith Promises, however, depend on annual, one-time income. These can be paid when those monies are received. Contributions can be given through the Sunday morning offering or online at www.emmanuelumc.org.

IS THIS A PLEDGE AND WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF MY PROGRESS? This is a promise to God, not a pledge to the church. Your Faith Promise amount is between you and God. No one will notify you or keep track of your progress toward your commitment.

HOW LONG DOES MY FAITH PROMISE COMMITMENT LAST? Generally, Faith Promise commitments are made once a year on the Faith Promise Sunday.

The weekly or monthly or annual commitments extend for one year from that time.

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IS FAITH PROMISE THE ONLY WAY I CAN PARTICIPATE IN MISSIONS GIVING? Not everyone chooses to give weekly or monthly through Faith Promise. As God provides, perhaps you will want to give a special offering throughout the year.

FAITH PROMISE

Tiffany Graves is serving with the CRU U.S. Campus ministry. She is in Operations mobilizing young people to use their talents and passion for missions.

Kurt & Cynthia Zimmerman have been serving on the Texas/Mexico border with WGM - World Gospel Missions.

Darren and Erica Sharpe are serving with Open Door Church through Global Service Network in Ireland.

Dave & Shelley Smyth serve through CRU and have been leading several training sessions assisting others in learning how to prepare devotionals and lead teams spiritually as well as reaching out to various campuses across the nation.

Josh & Toni Simos are serving in the Dominican Republic with Freedom International.

Jim & Mary Newman serve with World Gospel MIssions through MMS aviations where they prepare aircraft for the missions field.

Shane & Kim Jones serve through Tri-Grace Ministries in Utah for the past 5 years. They have also started overseeing the college ministry of Tri-Grace as well as managing the Solid Rock Cafe and advising the Solid Rock Christian Club. They are so excited to see how witnessing to the Mormon community is helping “Reach, Teach, Mend and Send.�

Lamar and Kay Ziegler make a yearly trip to Brazil to help David and Conce Roof with their work through One Mission Society. They assist in building projects, fellowship, and Kay teaches at the school.

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David & Conce Roof serve in Brazil through One MIssion Society. They have recently been working on the Icoaraci church, building walls for the church and also building discipleship for this church. They continue outreach along the Amazon river.

FAITH PROMISE

Daniel Buck is working with OMS in Hungary partnering with churches to promote discipleship.

Jonathan and Corinne Long lead a team of OMS missionaries working with Hungarian churches and English Camps for kids.

Turkey: Missionary serving through CRU.

Robyn Moore serves in Kenya through World Gospel MIssion where she has been focused on ministering to orphans and children who are abandoned, abused, neglected, and/or have special needs.

Jonathan and Amanda Degler are serving with HighRise Ministries in Bangkok, Thailand.

Lowell & Claudia Wertz are serving in Tanzania. They have been working on the Beck House, building radio towers and continue to keep the ministry of Joy in the Harvest thriving.

Abbey Snow Hofmeyr is working with East Mountain in South Africa that partners with churches to develop leaders for global missionsal-service through one-on-one mentoring, training workshops, theological cohorts, and partnerships with surrounding ministries.

Ken & Deb Vance serve in Zambia through the United Methodist Church.

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EMMANUEL UMC MISSIONARIES SUPPORTED BY FAITH PROMISE

FAITH PROMISE

MISSION ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED BY FAITH PROMISE PROGRAM:

WHAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDES:

ADULT/YOUTH MISSION SCHOLARSHIPS

Provides scholarship support for those within or connected to our congregation to serve in the mission field.

ANGEL TREE

Provides joy through a Christmas Party and gifts for the children of parents in Hamilton County Jail.

CHRISTMAS IN ACTION

Area volunteers who unite to provide hope by doing neighborhood projects

COME TO ME FOOD PANTRY

Provides food and spiritual support to families in Hamilton county, based at Fishers UMC.

EMMANUEL BENEVOLENT MINISTRIES

Provides needs and support such as utilities and Christmas for church family.

FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL

Provides an opportunity to share the Word of God with children and families through a Christian school in the Dominican Republic.

GOOD SAMARITAN OF HAMILTON COUNTY

Provides a network of non-profits that offers resources and services to residents of Hamilton County.

Lamar Ziegler

HAMILTON COUNTY CHAPLAINCY

Provides spiritual support to inmates through worship service and Bible study.

Lamar Ziegler

HELPING HANDS

Provides assistance with needed home repair projects.

Lamar Ziegler

HENDERSON SETTLEMENT

Provides help by serving under resourced people of the Appalachia region.

Lamar Ziegler

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Provides Christmas gifts and needed supplies to children around the world

Monte Thacker

PILLOWCASE MINISTRY

Assemble pillowcases for children with serious illnesses for comfort during their treatment and doctor visits.

Betty Hardesty

SERVE NOBLESVILLE

Partnership of neighbors, churches, businesses, and organizations whose goal is to “Connect Compassionate Neighbors.”

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CONTACT PERSON: Bill Oliver

Wilma Robison

Lamar Ziegler

Susan Janowski

EUMC Church Office

Craig Dyksen

Lamar Ziegler

FAITH PROMISE

LISTEN. PRAY. SEEK. SERVE

WHERE WILL GOD TAKE YOU NEXT?

whether on a mission trip or volunteer locally to support the efforts of Emmanuel’s mission outreach.

An amazing mystery of this world is that an all-powerful God WANTS to use our surrendered lives to transform the world. God, who created all things and provided all gifts, simply asks us to give Him back all that is already His.

Our challenge for you is to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your life and pray about how God might be calling you to serve in outreach to share with the world the hope and love found in Christ.

There are at least two significant ways to get involved in Emmanuel’s REACH efforts. The first is contribute financially to support the mission outreach in 12 countries and many local organizations. The second is find a way to personally contribute your time

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To financially contribute, bring your Faith Promise commitment card on Sunday, May 19, or turn your card into the church office by Thursday, May 23. For information on service opportunities, contact Bill Oliver at eumcmissions@emmanuelumc.org.

GIVE INTERNATIONAL

50%

of Faith Promise giving supports international ministries in 8 countries

GIVE DOMESTIC

28%

of Faith Promise giving supports ministries in the United States

GIVE LOCAL

22%

of Faith Promise giving supports outreach in our local community

Approximately less than 1 percent of Faith Promise contributions are given to the United Methodist Conference for outreach and administrative costs.

LIVING BY FAITH is a publication of Emmanuel United Methodist Church. For more information about Emmanuel or any of the ministries in the publication, visit us on the web at www.emmanuelumc.org or call 317-773-4406.