Outreach Ministry Team

The Outreach Ministry Team had a productive and fruitful year stimulated particularly by the witness of Pastor Sandy following the Purpose Driven Ministry conference which she attended in Florida. Because of this focus we began early to build on the gains following the “Reach Out, Catch His Spirit” fair in October, 2006. This culminated in the “Ministry Fair” of October 14 and the “Mission Fair” of October 21. The result was over 80 responses from members wishing to become volunteers in various church activities.

The Outreach Core Ministry Team consisted of Peg Bushnell, Barb Cole, Carol Goetz, Jane Hawkins, Lee Hawkins (chair), Stan Holzhauer, Deb Morrow, Loraine Mottern, Nancy Muhlig, Pastor Sandy Murray, Jim Wadsworth, and new members, Terri Kimble, Charlene Hansen, and Dennis Prebee.

The Core Team was involved in numerous activities including organizing the events surrounding the visit of Saul and Pilar Cruz representing Armonia in Mexico on Jan 5. This was followed later in the winter by the programs featuring Bob Lenz, and Dr. Peg Meeker. During the summer we received a request from the Presbytery to consider raising $35,000 over the next three years to help Presbytery Point build a new kitchen and dining hall to replace old, unsafe facilities. The total cost of the construction will be about $320,000. Outreach brought this matter to Session and Session approved an Ad Hoc committee consisting of Peg Bushnell, Lee Hawkins (chair), Jane Hawkins, Henry Shantz, Dale Wagner and Ted Shaw. Jane Hawkins developed graphic brochures for interested donors illustrating the deteriorated kitchen and dining hall, now some 60 years old. Ted Shaw was able to accomplish significant material cost reduction at Brown Lumber. Brown Lumber is actively assisting Presbytery Point in the supply of construction materials. In 2007 over $20,000 has been raised in the first year of a three year commitment by members of our church. The old kitchen and dining hall have been torn down and construction of the new facility is under way.

Peg Bushnell made regular, significant changes in the Bulletin Board illustrating current Outreach projects. In August a backpack and coat drive for Copper County Christian Fellowship resulted in a large contribution of coats and backpacks. Outreach developed a booth for the October 14 Ministry Fair which was well attended with three new members joining the Outreach Team. On October 21 Outreach presented a Ministry fair staffed by eleven agencies receiving support from our church. Again this was well attended with more volunteers signing on.

These volunteers were contacted several weeks later by the Core Team.

The Outreach Mission Team is further divided into three smaller Teams, Local, National and International.
The Local Ministry Team, chaired by Deb Morrow supports 21 agencies in the local area with funds and volunteers. The Local team disbursed a total of $18,000 to these agencies in 2007.
The National Ministry Team, chaired by Peg Bushnell, operated with a budget of $8500 disbursed among ten recipients including Eagle Village, Copper Country Christian Fellowship, Camp Quality, Presbytery Point Dining Hall, Alma College and others.
The International Ministry Team chaired by Stan Holzhauer operated on a budget of $8500 distributing funds to thirteen agencies including Verhage Romania Fund, Armonia US, Christian Aid Mission, Gambell church and others.

A significant function of the Outreach Mission Team is the recommendation of funds for Session approval from the Endowment Fund. On Nov.18, Stan Holzhauer spoke from the pulpit explaining the importance of this fund, the good uses of the fund, and the need for contributions to make the fund grow. This year the Outreach Ministry Team recommended expenditures from a budget of $27,800 derived from interest on principal in the Endowment Fund. These included support of Caitilin Richardson at Union Theological Seminary, and Brittany Rice at Emmanual Bible College. Caitilin graduates in June 2008 with a Master’s in Divinity degree. Brittany Rice also worked as an intern under Saul Cruz in Armonia for six weeks this past summer. Endowment funds were used for support of the educational portions of “40 Days of Purpose”.

2007 ANNUAL REPORT