This #Giving Tuesday, help the world

#GivingTuesday is a social movement that helps people give back by donating time, money, or influence to a cause that they feel passionate about. Giving Tuesday is celebrated the Tuesday after Cyber Monday as a day to encourage kindness and generosity. 

Grace Church is all about giving to help others. At Grace Church, we believe that it all belongs to God.  We inspire each other to give everything we have to God in worship understanding that all we have and all we are belong to God.  We’d encourage you to take the next step in your journey: Help other people share in that same experience by giving to the Greatest Gift Christmas Offering.  (Under the fund, select the drop-down menu option, Greatest Gift)

You can watch what your gift will do to help in the Greatest Gift Christmas Offering this year! 

2016 Greatest Gift Christmas Offering from Grace Church on Vimeo.

Help others in our community.

Volunteering is another way that you can participate in Grace Church's mission. All around Wayne County (Ohio), you can help people from all walks of life to become a more fully devoted follower of Christ. All you need is your hands & feet, a little time, and a passion for using your gifts to serve others. Join the Movement of #ForWayneCounty!

Help us spread the word.

Share that you gave, and encourage your family and friends to join you in giving back on #GivingTuesday. Tell them why you support Grace Church, and remember to include the hashtag #MyGivingStory, so other people will be able to see your story. Use the ShareThis sidebar to share your story.

What the Greatest Gift Christmas Offering will do to impact the world

For decades Grace Church has been known for its generosity. Each year we participate in The Greatest Gift Christmas Offering as a way of encouraging and supporting ministries that are among “the last, the least, and the lost” of the world. 

Give now to help us impact the world!

This year we have a goal of $175,000 to serve people in Wayne County and around the world. The projects we will help include:

• Orphan Care: $50,000 for SE Asia Orphan Home projects including the purchase of a van, motor scooters for our university students, college scholarships, equipment/appliance replacement and start-up costs associated with the construction of a school for our kids. Learn more here. 

• Refugee Relief: $25,000 for emergency relief for Christians who have fled from Syria into Jordan because of the threat of ISIS. As we partner with Grace Brethren pastor, Dr. Randy Smith and Global Vision Outreach, funds will be used to purchase blankets, heaters, sweaters, & coats, etc. for families during the coming winter. You can view a video here. 
• #ForWayneCounty Food Drive: $20,000 for the completion of the #forWayneCounty food drive. We’ve already received several thank you notes from area agencies for the support we have provided coming from this emphasis at the Wayne County Fair. These funds will help complete the project to provide 1 million meals for those in need in the coming months. Hear from those in our community here.
  
• Local Housing Project with Wayne Metro Housing Authority: $15,000 for the purchase of special building materials to help construct a home for a disabled couple funded through Metro housing.  Learn more here.
• Leadership Development: $40,000 – These funds will provide internships for young adults in our church who are considering ministry and/or missions involvement in the future. 
• Church Planting: Grace would love to see new churches started. We will give $25,000 to help Josh and Andrea Kuck who are staring a new church in the community of Chelsea, MI. Several years ago Josh served as Middle School Director at Grace Church in Wooster, so it’s our privilege to partner with his family in this venture of faith. See his video here. 

Give now to help us impact the world!

Saved People Serve People--Developing Leaders in the Jungles of Brazil to reach the world for Christ

Andy, Sara, Miles, Jack, Jude Royer

Andy and Sara Ungerer Royer moved to Brazil in December 2013. Andy & Sara left with their boys: Miles, Jack, and Jude to Jacutinga, Brazil (3 hours North of Sao Paulo). Andy equips Brazilian nationals to reach the unreached people groups of Brazil teaching at the Peniel Bible Institute with New Tribes Mission.

Penial Bible Institute, Juctinga, BRAZIL

Grace Church envisions boys and girls growing up with the DNA of developing everyone into fully devoted followers of Christ. We seek to offer ways for students to reach the world for Christ.

"Over the twenty years growing up in this church, I was able to witness that Jesus Christ and His Word changes lives," reflects Sara. Now the family serves in Brazil to teach Brazilian nationals to reach the unreached people groups within Brazil and perhaps go to the world.

Grace Church is excited to partner with Andy and Sara Royer and their boys to develop fully devoted followers of Christ in Brazil with New Tribes Mission.

How to support the Royers:

• Pray.  Please pray for the family as they live in Brazil, learn the language, adjust to the new culture, make Brazil their new home, and make new friends. Pick up a prayer card by emailing Pastor Daron dbutler[at]woostergrace.org to request a prayer card.
• Give.  Grace Church supports the Royers' financially. So, when you give to Grace Church, your offerings will help support the Royer family from our Great Commission budget.  
• Connect.  Please follow what God is doing in and through the Royers by reading their blog, www.anotherdaytolove.blogspot.com. You can see how they are developing everyone into fully devoted followers of Christ. 
• Share.  When you read their blog, please post encouraging comments and share their blog posts, prayer requests, and pictures to share what amazing things God is doing through their ministry.

Links:

What the sending church, Christ's Covenant Church says
What the sending agency, New Tribes Mission says

Saved People Serve People--Serving on two continents to develop godly leaders

Bruce & Lisa Triplehorn

Email Bruce and Lisa

Mission Location: Moundou, Chad

Sending Agency: Encompass World
 
Our Missionary Partner: Bruce & Lisa Triplehorn came to Christ at Grace Church. They took their next steps for baptism and began training for misisonary service.  God called them to develop fully devoted followers of Christ in Brazil as missionary partners from Grace Church. They have served in Brazil for over 20 years.  Most recently, God has placed them in Uberlandia, Brazil.  


Their Mission: The Triplehorn's have made a transition from South America to Africa.  The need to equip African church leaders is great.  Bruce is an excellent Bible teacher.  Lisa excels at building relationships with women.  Together, God has called them to serve in Moundou, Chad.  

They have spent a few months back in Brazil. But as of January 2016, Bruce & Lisa return to serve in Chad.  You can learn more about their ministry in Chad by visiting their Facebook page.

How to Be Involved

PRAY: Pray for Bruce and Lisa as they transition to Africa. May God empower them to get used to their new city, Moundou, Chad.  Ask God to give them strength in the Lord to develop fully devoted followers of Christ in Chad.  Ask the Lord to help them "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3)." 
 
ENCOURAGE: Bruce's birthday is November 21.  Lisa's birthday is on October 13. 

CONNECT: Bruce Triplehorn on FaceBook Lisa Triplehorn on Facebook

Saved People Serve People--We love Kevin and Jill who serve in Cambodia

Kevin and Jill Kane

• Email Kevin and Jill 

Mission Location: Battambang, Cambodia
Sending Agency: Encompass World
 
Our Missionary Partner: Kevin and Jill embody the Grace church value--saved people serve people.  They have stoked a passion to be involved in God’s work in Cambodia serving the Khmer people. They came to Christ and got baptized in August 1990.  They explored ministry opportunities through short term trips and ministry skills assessment, even taking a special assignment in January 2002.  Then in 2006, God sent Kevin and Jill to develop fully devoted followers of Christ in Cambodia as missionary partners from Grace Church. 

Their Mission: The Kane's live in Northwestern Cambodia in a city known for its rice, Battambang.  The Khmer language is a challenge to learn, but the Kane's have learned the language and use it to develop Khmer leadership.  They worked together with Kent and Becky Good. Kent and Becky returned to the US in Dec 2014.  Now, Kevin and Jill will help with the transition to Khmer leadership. Ever sharing the Gospel and equipping church leadership, Kevin and Jill intend to delegate more ministry responsibilities to the Cambodian Ministry Partners.  The end goal is to raise up indigenous pastors and leaders who will lead their own churches.

How to Be Involved
PRAY: Ask God to give them strength in the Lord to develop fully devoted followers of Christ in Cambodia.  


Pray for time with Ted and Jason from Encompass who are coming next week (week of Nov 15) to equip the Kanes in the art of reaching people who come from an Honor and Shame culture. Ask God for the ability to capture truths to communicate to the Khmer leaders and people. Ask the Lord to raise up great leaders for the Khmer church.

Pray for the launch of the Women's Dorm/Training Center where women can learn sewing, screen printing and Hair/Nail Salon work. This endeavor is linked to the existing Grace Center in Battambang. Ask the Lord to help us raise the funds needed. 

 
ENCOURAGE: Kevin's birthday is March 8. Jill's birthday is on September 1. Their anniversary is July 9, 1978. 

CONNECT: Kevin and Jill on FaceBook  

Saved People, Serve People on the college & university campuses

Grace Church partners with a group of people who serve on the university and college campuses. One of our missionary partners is Ben & Sandie Dyke.  

 

We praise God Ben & Sandie Dyke. Please pray for them as they develop fully devoted followers of Christ on the university campuses. 

Ben & Sandie Dyke with Cru

Ben & Sandie Dyke with Cru

Ben & Sandie serve with Cru. Ben is the Director of Operations, Great Lakes Region.   Their family lives in Fishers, IN.

Please pray for Ben & Sandie. Ben recently lost his grandma Bonna. Ask God to help the family mourn and process their grief. They will miss great grandma Bonna. View her story here.
You can read more about the ministry of Ben & Sandie from these links:

• Learn more about Cru
• Check out Ben's FB profile

Saved People Serve People--sharing Christ on university campuses is a challenge

Email mark.johnson@cru.org
Location of Ministry: Bloomington, IN USA @ Indiana University
Sending Agency: Cru

Our Missionary Partner: Wooster Grace partners with Mark and Roxanne Johnson.  The Johnson's serve with Cru on the University of Indiana campus in Bloomington, IN. 

Roxanne grew up in Wayne County, OH, in Apple Creek.  She knew about the Lord but made a commitment to Christ in her freshmen year at Ohio Northern University.  Roxanne wanted to serve God in a significant way.  She served with Student Venture, the high school ministry focus of Cru. She and Mark are now serving college students with Cru.

Mark grew up in North Carolina. He came to Christ while studying music at Indiana University (Bloomington, IN).  God challenged him to join the staff of Cru even taking the Gospel to an unreached city in Asia.  Mark's desire is best captured on his Facebook page under employers, "I get to tell people about Jesus for a living." 

Their Mission: Mark & Roxanne serve with Cru in Bloomington, IN on the campus of Indiana University.  Mark serves as one of the Campus directors.  Cru is an on-campus interdenominational ministry that helps students in their walk with God.  God has called Mark & Roxanne to challenge university students from all around the world to be fully devoted followers of Christ.  

Cru is an inter-denominational ministry on campus that is here to help students grow in their walk with the Lord - See more at: http://iucru.com/about/#sthash.bZg1XKg4.dpuf

Cru is an inter-denominational ministry on campus that is here to help students grow in their walk with the Lord - See more at: http://iucru.com/about/#sthash.bZg1XKg4.dpuf

Cru is an inter-denominational ministry on campus that is here to help students grow in their walk with the Lord - See more at: http://iucru.com/about/#sthash.bZg1XKg4.dpuf

How to Be Involved

PRAY:

• Please pray for consistency & perseverance in their walk with the Lord.
• Please pray that Mark & Roxanne will navigate the new school year challenges as they equip staff and student leaders to impact the campus for Christ.
• Please pray that as the Gospel is presented, not only will it touch people individually to turn to God for salvation, but that it would also influence the city of Bloomington, IN.
• Please pray for an effective, fruitful ministry (John 15:16). May God empower Mark & Roxanne to lead the campus ministries faithfully towards effective, fruitful ministry.
  
• We praise God for His grace in our marriage!  Pray that we continually keep that grace in view so that we keep short accounts with the Lord, and with each other.
  
  

ENCOURAGE: Mark's birthday is April 9.  Roxanne's birthday is August 20.  Anniversary is in August 22, 2009. 

CONNECT--You can read more about the Johnson's from these links:

• Learn more about Cru
• Check out Mark's FB profile
• View the testimonies of life change at IU-Before-And-After on YouTube 
• Send email to Mark Johnson to get their prayer newsletter.

GIVE--Give a gift online here

Saved People Serve People--Caring for Orphans around the world

 
Email tomp@visiontrust.org

Country Lead: Central African Republic,Togo, Sierra Leone, Haiti
Sending Agency: VisionTrust
 
Our Missionary Partner: Pastor Tom and Sue have served in our church for many years. Pastor Tom served as Missions Pastor for ten years.  Sue has always worked helping special needs kids in Smithville at Green Local Schools.

God called them to develop fully devoted followers of Christ first in Africa. Then God called pastor Tom to serve at Grace Church.  Later, God called him to serve in Africa with ICDI, now with VisionTrust as country lead for orphan care in Central African Republic, Togo, Sierra Leone, and Haiti.  We support Pastor Tom as our missionary partner from Grace Church.  


Their Mission: Pastor Tom oversees the orphan care ministries of VisionTrust in Africa and Haiti.  He travels a lot. He has logged over 78,000 air miles in one year for VisionTrust. He quips that it is no wonder he has a sore seat. 

The needs of orphans and their extended families is exacerbated with war, displacement, and disease.  In the Central African Republic civil unrest hampers the care of orphans.  In Haiti, the recovery efforts from the devastating 2010 earthquake are slow and challenging.  In Togo, sustainable income to support families is daunting, but God is making a way for families to support themselves. In Sierra Leone, Ebola ravages families and brings death and despair.  If you want more information, please contact Pastor Tom Peters via email. Or you can learn more about the ministry of VisionTrust by visiting their webpage.


How to Be Involved

PRAY:

• Please pray for consistency & perseverance in their walk with the Lord.
• With helping to oversee four countries for VisionTrust, sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming.  Please pray that Pastor Tom will see the work through God’s eyes, and with the end in mind, so that the immediate challenges don’t overshadow what God is doing in each country long-term.
• For the last three years, the Central African Republic has been subjected to war, continued violence and a virtual total lack of law & order.  For a period of time under the rebel Muslim government, it looked like there would be restrictions enforced on the ability to share the Gospel.  God intervened & the rebel government was overthrown, but the violence continued.  Please pray that as the Gospel is presented, not only will it touch people individually to turn to God for salvation, but that it would also touch the society as a whole so that the violence would subside & people can live at peace with God and with each other.
• Please pray for an effective, fruitful ministry (John 15:16). A couple of the countries that we’re working in are looking at trying to expand their outreach to orphans and vulnerable children.  Two of our national leaders in particular need special wisdom from the Lord right now; Josué, and Semira.
• We praise God for His grace in our marriage!  Pray that we continually keep that grace in view so that we keep short accounts with the Lord, and with each other.
  
  

ENCOURAGE: Pastor Tom's birthday is April 28.  Sue's birthday is December 15.  Anniversary is June 25, 1982. 

CONNECT: Pastor Tom on FaceBook

 

Pastor Tom with their sponsored orphans. Scan his blog