Welcome to a glimpse into the work of our church’s Outreach Team, previously know as the missions team.
The team meets once a month to oversee a $150,000 annual budget that supports 26 different missionaries and ministries locally, nationally, and abroad. Most of the budget goes toward consistently supporting them, and a portion is allocated for emergency relief (recently food and supply boxes for families in Uganda), special projects for local ministries, and short-term mission trips (when possible) to visit the missionaries the church supports in India, Haiti, Mexico, and Iceland.
The team is praying about opportunities to take UFC’ers on these trips once international travel becomes possible again. The team members know from firsthand experience that short-term trips ignite a passion for missions, the people who devote their lives to sharing the gospel, and the people who have yet to hear about Jesus Christ.
Team members have been working through chapters from Center Church by Tim Keller, When Helping Hurts, and other books to reflect on what they are doing as a team and why they are doing it. During their monthly meeting, they pray over the ministries UFC supports and for God’s direction for the team.
Cailyn Prewit, the UFC intern for this ministry, connects regularly with the missionaries to get updates and learn how the church can better support them.
“It has been great to build deeper relationships with these partner,” she said.
After gathering information, she then compiles the updates into a monthly newsletter, which is mailed to those who have requested it. Email ufcmissionsupdates@gmail.com to be added to the list.
Part of Cailyn’s work includes connecting small groups within the church with missionaries abroad to learn how to pray for them and to support them with time and energy (not financially as that is already provided for through the outreach funds). If your small group might be interested in taking part in this, or in the Local Outreach Dinner in September, Cailyn will get the information to you! She can be reached via email at the address given above.
For more information on the ministries UFC supports, click here to be taken to UFC’s global missions page.