Missions Festival of Praise

 

 

For over 25 years EFCMM has held a Festival of Praise during the month of November.  On this special evening we have traditionally gathered for fellowship around supper and a special worship program.  Each year we have participated in a special offering that alternated from year to year between ministry projects within EFCMM and around the world.

 

 

In 2002 the Council of Elders, sensing God's direction for this important annual event, requested that the Missions Ministry Team plan the Festival of Praise around a missions theme.  We invited missionary spokesman Doug Nichols, head of Action International Ministries, to come and challenge us for the cause of world missions. 

 

 

Along with the change to a missions theme, we also decided to split the special offering between an inside and an outside project.  Prayerfully we set a challenging goal of $28,000, which would be divided between both projects.  Half of the goal would go toward air conditioning for our sanctuary, with the other half (and all additional gifts) to be sent to provide food and Bible club materials for orphaned African children in the countries of Malawi and Zambia.  What an overwhelming joy it was to see God provide over $35,000 though the offering!  This was a 75% increase over our largest Festival of Praise offering to date.

 

 

In 2003 the Missions Festival of Praise focused on church planting among Turkish immigrants living in Germany.  The offering was given toward the purchase of a building for outreach to these Turkish people.  The ministry of the facility, known as "The Bridge", is underway with a teahouse and German language help for Turkish women.  Homework help and an Internet cafe are possibilities for future outreach.  Our speaker was Craig Ott, Associate Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies and EFCA International Mission Chair of Mission at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  Prior to these assignments he served 21-years in Germany as a church planter, theological educator, and as Central Europe church planting consultant for the EFCA International Mission.  He brought a challenging message about missions in a post-9/11 world.  The Missions Festival offering for the year was over $32,000.