The Acts 1.8 Missions is our approach to a Biblical foundation for mission work. Our Acts 1.8 Missions Team prayerfully guides us as we reach out into our Local community, the Regional area, and the International arena. Why? Because Jesus, in Acts 1.8, clearly calls His disciples to go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. So, we extend our ministry from First UMC across this city, into the surrounding region and around the world.
We also reach into the places that are difficult to go (Samaria). Where is that for us? We have a Jail Ministry Team made up of both men and women. And we are helping to lead this city in efforts to address the personal realities and daily experiences of poverty.
Our Acts 1.8 Mission work is funded through a budget totally separate from our general operating budget. It is raised through our annual Missions Festival Weekend and Faith Promise Giving for Missions.
Our Missions Festival Weekend is held each spring. During the weekend we seek to inform, involve and inspire. We inform and expose our congregation to the breadth of our mission work nearby and far away. We give people a variety of ways to become involved in meaningful mission work. And we offer opportunities for people to receive inspiration from our many speakers. Each Missions Festival Weekend approximately 12 missions representatives will be invited to be on site. They will set up tables, share information, and offer workshops focused on their ministry work.
At the end of the Missions Festival Weekend everyone is given an opportunity to prayerfully discern the amount of financial support they believe God is calling them to give by faith specifically to missions work. This is what we call Faith Promise Giving for Missions.
We are currently assembling cleaning buckets and health kits to help the flood victims in Holston Conference and Middle Tennessee. If you would like to put together either of these kits, contact the church office for a list of contents.