Dear Members of the BGLUMC Church Family
Our Mission Committee has been hard at work during the past three days to formulate a plan for our Church to make a significant and immediate impact on “very local” individuals and families suffering from the effects of IAN. We have raised a Challenge Fund from the remaining Mission Committee budget, five of our Committee members, and $10,000 from Rev. Matthew’s Trinity United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. After 24 hours, our Challenge Fund stands at $80,000, which means we will match your contributions dollar for dollar up to this amount.To help manage our giving, I am pleased to announce that we have formed a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF), which will work as follows:
1. WGCCF is setting up a separate fund called the Boca Grande Methodist Church IAN Disaster Response Fund (IDRF) both in their system and on their website
2. GCCF will then have the ability to receive and manage funds from you, from our church, or from any other source.
3.GCCF understands our area of interest are communities nearest us with high damage and need. They are in a rough rectangle bounded byEnglewood, North Port, Port Charlotte and Placida.
4. Based on GCCF’s decades of work in this area with NFP agencies, they will pull together a list of those agencies most qualified and ready to assist IAN victims based on a survey they are undertaking as we speak.
5. From this list, the Mission Committee will select a subset of “targeted agencies”, which would receive awards based on our assessment of their speed, impact, and nature of need being addressed.
6. GCCF will have the responsibility of reviewing proposals from these targeted agencies, selecting recipients, and disbursing funds.
Speed with precision are essential here. We expect GCCF can move in a couple days. What we need is more funding ASAP!
Please consider using this solution for your contribution to help IAN victims in our immediate area. While we understand you may be pursuing other targeted aid, please remember that you can make a real difference through receiving a 1:1 match while joining our Church Family in SHARING THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST. Your prayerful consideration is requested. You can send your tax-deductible cash contribution or stock contribution to the Church Office (note on your donation “IAN Response”), or send a check, credit card, stock, or other philanthropic vehicle contribution to GCCF through clicking on
https://www.gulfcoastcf.org/BGLUMC.
In HIS Name,
Peter & Elsa Soderberg, Mission Committee Co-Chairs
Rev. Dr. Martyn Atkins, Senior Pastor
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Below is a digest of the missions partners of the Lighthouse Church for 2022. We encourage you to become involved by contacting the representative for these partnerships and learning about ways you can engage in Sharing the Light!
AGAPE FLIGHTS
www.agapeflights.com
A mission to provide excellent aviation service delivering mail and humanitarian aid to our missionary partners serving Jesus Christ.
CARING PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL
A Christian ministry that equips others to meet the healthcare needs of people around the world.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION
http://cchomelesscoalition.org/
Assisting individuals and families in need, not only the chronically homeless, but many families and individuals affected by the economy.
Contact: Judy Sandbo -
CUBA SISTER CHURCHES
A partnership with two Methodist Churches in Cuba to aid in pastoral assistance, feeding programs, and outreach.
ECHO
A global Christian organization that equips people with agricultural resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor.
Contact: Richard Klepser -
FLUMC CHILDREN'S HOME
A home for orphans and other children that have nowhere else to live, where everyone can be safe, loved, and treated as unique and special people of God.
Contact: Pam Bayly –
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
A global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God's love into action by building homes, communities, and hope.
Contact: David Senior -
HELPING HAND OF ENGLEWOOD
Since 1983, Englewood Helping Hand has been providing food, rent and utility subsidies for people in Englewood, Grove City, Rotonda West, Placida and Gulf Cove. Red tide, hurricanes and seasonal unemployment make this service to our kids, seniors, veterans, the disabled and the homeless life changing.
Contact: Jane Caple -
HOPE INTERNATIONAL
Investing in the dreams and families in the world's underserved communities through micro-financing and living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Contact: Linden Hustedt –
KIDS NEEDS OF GREATER ENGLEWOOD
A mission dedicated to helping school children and their families by collecting and distributing donations of clothing, school supplies, and hygiene items.
Contact: Becca deRosa –
SOLVE MATERNITY
Christ centered maternity homes offering housing, education, counseling, and adoption assistance.
Contact: Marilyn Witt -
TWELVE CHURCHES, NICARAGUA
A ministry to aid, equip and train pastors, sustainable farming to support children’s feeding programs, and volunteer medical health teams to serve those in need in Leon and Estelí, Nicaragua.
Contact: Sheila Dorst –
YOUNG LIFE
Young Life’s vision is that every adolescent will have the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and follow him.
Contact: Anna Boney –
YOUR MISSIONARY OUTREACH
A ministry led by missionaries Mitch and Debbie Martinez in the city of La Vega, Dominican Republic and surrounding areas.
Contact: Pete Durno –
ZOE EMPOWERS
Building God’s Kingdom through transforming the lives of thousands of orphans and vulnerable children.
Contact: Chris Steinhelper –