Missions at Centenary are funded entirely through the Faith Promise gifts. Centenary's annual Faith Promise Missions week-end occurs during the month of February. In 2012, Dr. Tim Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, will be our guest speaker Sunday, February 26 at our 8:30, 9:45, and 11 a.m.
What is Faith Promise giving?
The follower of Jesus looks to God "in faith" asking how much God would have the follower give, then promises to give as God directs.
What is the biblical basis of Faith Promise giving?
II Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 forms the general basis for Faith Promise giving. II Corinthians 8:3 mentions "to their power" or according to the regular means of income and tithes and offerings that result from that. "Beyond their power" relates in a unique way to Faith Promise giving, since looking beyond any known sources of income is to look to the Lord for His special enabling.
What is the relationship between the Faith Promise plan and the paying of tithes, or the giving of offerings?
Tithes and offerings are taught in the Bible and are urgently needed in the work of the church. But these are not sufficient to get the gospel to the world in this generation. Tithes and offerings look to, and depnd on, a stated income. Faith Promise looks directly to God, asking in effect, "How much can I trust God to give through me?" This offers God a channel through which He can pour limitless amounts into His work through His children.
Centenary is involved in a variety of mission projects, including our own Volunteers in Mission (VIM) group. Our VIM teams have traveled to both coastal and mountain regions in Venezuela. They have assisted with medical care, Bible school and construction labor. Our VIM teams have journeyed more than seven times to Pass Christian, Mississippi to provide assistance for Hurricane Katrina reconstruction. Numerous trips have taken teams to The United Methodist Children’s Home in Versailles, Kentucky as well as Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky.
Faith Promise giving currently supports six missionary families and their ministries:
David and Lori Persons serve with The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in the Republic of Congo. David teaches at Mulungwishi Theological Seminary. You can email the Persons at: persons_mulungwishi@hotmail.com. For more information on the ministry in Africa, check out www.apmethodist.org/congo or http://umcongo.blogspot.com.
Brent and Kim Burdick serve with OMS International in Manilia, Phillipines. Brent pastors Faith Fellowship Missionary Center, a congregation of more than 1500 persons. The Burdicks have served with OMS since 1991 and are involved in field leadership and church development. You can email the Burdicks at bburdick@omsinternational.org. For more information on the Burdicks, check out www.omsinternational.org/missionaries/bkburdick or www.burdicks.homestead.com.
Jim and Shawn Ramsay serve through the Mission Society for United Methodists in Norcross, Georgia. Jim serves as the Director of Field Ministries. The Ramsays served for almost 10 years in Kazakstan. You can email Jim at jimbobka@securenym.net. For more information on the Ramsays, check out www.themissionsociety.org.
Andrew and Margaret Howell serve with the Mission Society for United Methodists in La Ville du Bois, France. The Howells have served in France for the past eight years. They are involved with the French counterpart to Focus on the Family and lead small groups, conferences, seminars and family camps. For more information on the Howells, check out www.themissionsociety.org/missionaries/howell.
Rev. Jack and Lora Short are serving the New Springs United Methodist Church and the Faith Ministries outreach in the Red Bird Missionary Conference. A missionary conference serves in an area where local resources cannot meet the needs - therefore mission support from the whole Church is necessary. Outreach services minister to the whole person (spiritually, physically, socially, and economically). The Red Bird Missionary Conference is one of only three missionary conferences in the United States.
John and Katheryn Heinz are responding to God's call to live and serve in downtown Lexington, KY - a small city experiencing "big city" dynamics which include increasing diversity, complexity, social problems, and spiritual hunger. The Heinzes' ministry is to help the traditional downtown church navigate the changing urban culture, and to learn how to effectively communicate the Gospel in word and deed to this culture. They are working diligently to build strong relationships with their neighbors based on honesty, respect, and personal growth.
Centenary also supports Kids Hope USA, a nationally recognized program that pairs churches with schools to provide mentors for elementary students with academic, social or emotional needs. Centenary’s school partner is Toliver Elementary School. Adult church members spend one hour each week with their students, developing life-changing relationships that help at-risk children succeed. Each mentor-student pair is assigned a prayer partner. The prayer partner is another Centenary member who volunteers to pray for the mentor and his/her student each week. To learn more about this program or to help change someone’s life by becoming a mentor or a prayer partner, please contact Suzannah Kondik or Patti Rowland.
The Outreach team seeks to share God’s love in the local community through a variety of activities. The team supports special events designed specifically to reach non-Christians for Christ, including: free movie nights, video telecasts, Vacation Bible School, Country Carnival for children, and social outings. Other projects are designed to share Centenary’s ministries with the surrounding community, including participation in the Boyle County Fair and Constitution Square Festival.
