Friday, May 13, 2022

Churches in Missions April 2022 Prayer Letter

 


Churches In Missions P.O. Box 1559 Sanford, NC 27331

“Mobilizing the Church Through Short-term Missions”


   John Denver wrote “Country Roads” in 1971 and has become the state anthem since.  The chorus says “Country roads, take me home, to a place, I belong.”  Every West Virginian knows this song and can sing it from memory.  West Virginia is built on old rugged country roads.  Those country roads take you to displaced communities far off the beaten path.  They take you into broken places where drugs, abuse, sickness, hopelessness, and sin reign.  The people in Southern West Virginia battle intense poverty each day.  They are typically a reserved people and are skeptical of outsiders since many people pick on ‘those dumb hillbillies.”  They think that they are a forgotten people and that no one cares, even God.  But thanks to faithful teams we are able to show the love of Christ to these lost places.

    We traveled to Southern West Virginia twice in the month of April.  Matt was with Boonsboro Bible Church from April 8-10thThe team worked incredibly hard at God’s Grace Ministry in Welch WV to provide food, groceries, care packages, Bibles, and organization.  We had quite a few conversations with people despite the fact that the weather would drop into the lower 30’s, sending hail and snow.  That afternoon the team traveled to Gary WV to help out with the School for Life.  The team helped sort clothing and clean the gym.  School for Life desperately needed a team to help them prepare for their summer ministries.  It was such a joy to work alongside Pastor Allen and his congregationMatt also used this trip as a chance to survey new towns, to meet with city officials, and to meet contractors for future ministry.

      The second trip consisted of a team of 30 people from four different churches.  They served from April 22nd to 24th.  They served at God’s Grace Ministry too.  This team provided care packages, hot food, Bibles, groceries, built industrial shelving for the food ministry to children, organized the baby pantry, provided 100’s of diapers, had a large clothing donation, and deep cleaned the ministry.  The team ministered to over 120 people during the lunch hour.  They then switched gears and headed to a local park to celebrate a family fun fest.  The family fun fest had games, a bounce house, prize bags for kids (with Gospel tracts), hot food, nail painting, face painting, HUGE clothing donation, and more.  We were expecting around 75 people but God blessed us with over 200.  One person said that it was the largest community outreach in DECADES.  This team worked so hard to serve the Lord that evening.  We built such deep relationships and had A LOT of Jesus related conversations.  We also had multiple ministry partners there to invite the folks to their churches the next day.  We were so privileged to be a part of this fun, faithful, and fruitful team.  The community has since requested that we come back.  They were in awe of how the team loved them and cared for them!

      Many of you have already noticed the new CiM logo.  We are busily working as a team to update our ‘brand.’  We are launching a new website, Facebook page, and Youtube channel in the next few weeks.  Look for that exciting information in our next update.

      Keep praying for us we continue to plan three more mission trips (Welch, New Mexico, and Ansted WV), lead two vacation Bible Schools, and work with two different camps.  The summer is a SUPER busy season for us.  Also pray for us as we are presenting the mission to multiple new churches in the next few weeks.  Thank you for faithfully loving us!

Gifts sent to:  P.O. Box 51519 Durham, NC 27717

Or give online via www.churchesinmissions.org      

Designate for Matt & Tiffanie Robinson























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