Making Someone Feel Safe At Home

A team of men from CFC traveled down to Southeast DC (Anacostia) to install cameras on a staff residence. Under the leadership of Dan Zwart, Community Outreach Team Member and Work Projects Coordinator, the men were able to install 8 cameras for security. This particular location has been robbed several times and so this will give the residents some new found security. The residents are a staff of a ministry which conducts "Sidewalk Sunday Schools" throughout the city to over 1500 children weekly!

Here is the note of gratitude from the director of the ministry:

"Dan, please forward this heart felt thank you once again. The cameras work great at night. It is amazing how far I can see into the yard. One camera flickers a lot but I think it is because it is near a light. Both Sherrita and I really feel secure now that we can see what is going on in the back of the building. You all are a blessing."

Teri Mullen, Director

Great job men! Thanks for bringing a sense of security and peace to a difficult neighborhood so God's Kingdom can continue to advance!

For more pictures of the effort, please go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43191350@N03/sets/72157625830939834/show/

Scarves, Scarves, and More Scarves!

For the last several months our faithful volunteers have been sorting scarves that have been hand-made from all over the world in partnership with Orphan Foundation of America. Under the leadership of Suzanne Vel, Community Outreach Team Member and Liaison to OFA, we have sorted thousands of scarves! These will go out in care packages as prepared by OFA to college students who were, at one time, in the foster care system.

It is truly amazing to see the amount of scarves that we have received and have process for them! It is also a real joy to see families working together for a great cause!

Keep up the great work and may those who receive care packages know profoundly that someone cared.

2011 Strategies for Local Outreach

Strategic Steps -- 2011

Local Outreach

1. To adopt at least one school in Loudoun County and work with the school officials to support the teachers, their students, families, and the community for a meaningful contribution to education, a positive learning environment and relational support.

2. To develop a partnership over the next 12 months with the local Muslim congregations (All Dulles Area Muslim Society) and the local Jewish congregation (Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation) for the purpose of serving together and building fellowship opportunities.

3. Continue to offer weekend days of service opportunities that allow our congregation to experience serving with minimal commitment of time or resources with the goal to exceed 750 different people involved in 1300 acts of service.

4. To continue in the collection and analysis of data that will be used to identify which organizations offer the potential of long-term strategic partnerships that would allow us to facilitate our people committing to deeper levels of on-going service outside of CFC.

5. To collaborate with the faith community of Loudoun County to identify an issue or crisis and then develop a strategy to address that community need.

6. Sports and Recreation offerings will have a compassion-ministry serving experience.

Looking forward to a great year!

A Christmas Message

Christmas Message:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

Once again we are reminded by the Advent and Christmas that we are still waiting for the second coming of Christ. In view of the irresolvable problems and the sufferings in the world, we understand that change and renewal can only take place in Jesus.
On the personal level, do not give up! Think big! God has plans for you, even when you fail. Keep on keeping on. The problems you solve today, determines your future!
Perseverance is not a popular idea and inspiration today! But it carries a lot of weight and significance in Heaven. A dark tunnel is a shortcut around a huge mountain. God’s help is only a prayer away!

That is why Jesus came into this world. Jesus came to take away sin, pain and problems from this world. And preserve your dignity and give you hope for the future! Turn your attention to Jesus. Talk to Jesus. Try Jesus. Ask Jesus. And keep on, keeping on.

I wish you, for this Christmas season, the nearness of Christ and for the coming New Year God’s leading.

Cheer up!

A Thought for This Week: Jack Miller, a late missionary and seminary professor, used to summarize the gospel with these two phrases: “Cheer up: you’re worse than you think. But cheer up: God’s grace is greater than you ever dreamed.” The same gospel that saves sinners also sanctifies the saints. The gospel doesn’t just make you right with God; it frees you to delight in God.

Recently our volunteers, under the direction of Gary and Sherry Fisher, were involved in the Oktoberfest event located at Walter Reed and sponsored by Operation Homefront. The volunteers were recognized for their servant's heart and commitment to excellence! Praise the Lord! My prayer is that, each and every time we have a chance to serve, the love of God will show through. I am very proud of the efforts of our volunteers to rise to every occasion and, when recognized, are careful to glorify God in it.

Boys With Guns

This is what we, the members of a team who visited the Holy Land in September, saw occasionally in the street and in a refugee camp we visited. It would be easy to believe, "Oh my - terrorists in training!" But after getting to know the boys and gaining a little understanding of their culture I see something totally different now when I view this image - I see 10 year old boys playing war with toy guns just like I did when I was 10. When I was their age I loved to play war - even though I grew up in a peace lovingfamily in the woods. It's what normal boys do. If someone came by with a camera I totally would strike a pose and point the toy gun at them. I got to know some of the boys in the West Bank (as we stayed with a family there) and they are good kids - playing in the street. Another good perspective from traveling through the Holy Land seeing it with Jesus' eyes of compassion.