The Missions Committee is defined by the word cross-cultural. This has been our focus for the last year: re-defining short term missions (STM) and implementing an idea from that discussion into reality.

We want to encourage Short Term Missions wherever they may originate from while at the same time encouraging all participants to prepare for the trip in a way we haven’t in the past.

Our preparation is in part a six week course (God’s Passion). The other thought is to broaden the actual pre-trip menu to include destination specific issues as well as post trip evaluations, all in concert with the team leader. Our goal in doing this is to enrich the experience of each person not only while away, but as they assume their life journey here at home. This in turn will bless the ‘visited’ and the folk in this town.

The course God’s Passion has been a pleasure to dream about and make things happen.

We give thanks for members, Sharon Crozier and Shirley Vargas, assisted by the others on the team, Barb Horton, Rick Deveau, Anne Marie Deveau, and Bob Biggs. Special awards go to two spouses, Carlos Vargas and Phil Horton (Senior Pastor).

One further aspect of cross-cultural ministry right here at home is the work over the past year with International Students which consists of a Sunday morning ESL Bible class and a lunch following with the college and career aged folks. We are grateful to Kathie Hunwick for providing leadership for the class and to Anne Marie Deveau for organizing the lunches.