Teach Men to Fish Building Project in Uganda
Outreach has two issues at the heart and purpose of the ministry. The first is to provide support for our eight Ministry Partners, and for other ministries at Christ Church as the need arises. The second is to encourage our church members to develop an active role in participating in the outreach needs of our community and the world.
Outreach provided monthly financial support for our eight ministry partners, and provided grants to nine organizations. The Blessing Box was especially active this year with almost 3,000 pounds of food donated by our parishioners to Metro Caring and St. Clare's ministry. In addition, our congregation donated almost $11,000 for the purchase of beef for feeding our needy community. Set Free Prison Ministries continued their crucial work of providing Bible teaching for prison inmates in several states. St. Francis Center continued and even expanded their work in the support and housing of the homeless of our community. Providence Network provides housing, food and support for numerous vulnerable individuals. El Hogar sent seven members on a mission trip to visit their school in Honduras, and were able to visit the new dental clinic and library there. Teach Men to Fish performed a "Topping Out" ceremony in the fall after finishing the roof of the medical center in Uganda. Finally, Outreach added a new Ministry Partner, Locally Haiti, to assist their school, clinic, and farming programs in the Petit Trou, Haiti.
Outreach owes a great debt to the congregation and clergy of Christ Church for their generous financial support of this ministry. At present Outreach has seven board members including Margie Johnson, Janice Woodward, Charles Carpenter, Ron Breaux, Kenton Epard, Nancy Petty and Steve Petty. Each of our Ministry Partners has a Champion who supports their chosen Ministry in various ways. Our champions include Harriett Kazzimir, John Morrison, Kathi Rudolph, Betty Riddell, Bob Arnott, Paula Philbrick, Christi James, Robin Farris.
In the coming year there will be events to promote our Ministry Partners, and to help build up the school library at El Hogar. We hope to send a group on an Eye Project to Arequipa, Peru in July. There will be several drives for donation of food, clothing, books and used eyeglasses. Finally, we are looking for someone with a gift in Evangelism to help us develop an evangelism program in our community.