| "Delighted by Balloons" |
| Children at Prayer |
| Children at School |
| Reverend Carr with Healthy Baby Boy |
Hospital in La Romana
MISSIONS
First Baptist Church of West Hartford
| Dedicated to bringing Christian Faith and Life together through Worship, Outreach, Education and a Caring Community |
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| First Baptist Church of West Hartford 90 North Main Street West Hartford CT 06107 |
The Protestant University of the Congo
The missions committee recognizes the importance of higher education for
all people particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The
country has been ravaged by civil war, destruction of its infrastructure and
loss of much of its educational opportunities. The Protestant University of
the Congo was formed by the multiple cooperative churches including the
American Baptist Church. The University has suffered multiple destruction
of its campus facilities and disruption of its program. It has been
reestablished on a new campus in Kinshasa. It currently has colleges of
business, law and theology and in 2007, it has begun the new school of
medicine. In the fall of 2006, 200 students were accepted over a 6 to 7
year period to study the science of medicine and be granted the MD
degree. More about this university can be found on the following website:
www.upcpublicrelations.org
The missions committee recognizes the importance of higher education for
all people particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The
country has been ravaged by civil war, destruction of its infrastructure and
loss of much of its educational opportunities. The Protestant University of
the Congo was formed by the multiple cooperative churches including the
American Baptist Church. The University has suffered multiple destruction
of its campus facilities and disruption of its program. It has been
reestablished on a new campus in Kinshasa. It currently has colleges of
business, law and theology and in 2007, it has begun the new school of
medicine. In the fall of 2006, 200 students were accepted over a 6 to 7
year period to study the science of medicine and be granted the MD
degree. More about this university can be found on the following website:
www.upcpublicrelations.org
Our church is committed to relieving suffering, enacting justice, and
spreading the Gospel, locally, nationally, and abroad. This commitment is
evidenced in our budget and the use of our members’ time and talent.
In 2007, we plan to give $27,100 to support the United Mission program of
the American Baptist Churches, USA. In addition, we plan to contribute
money to a number of religious and social-service agencies including
Covenant To Care (www.covenanttocare.org) and Loaves & Fishes (www.
loavesfishesministries.org). Our total Mission/ Social Action budget for
2007 is $84,609.
In addition, our members give to four annual special offerings. The Retired
Ministers And Missionaries Offering is used to provide emergency aid to
these retirees and their spouses, and to give them a Thank You check to
supplement their monthly pension payments.
The America For Christ Offering supports over 1,300 chaplains. Pastoral
counselors, new-church planters, and workers in 20 Neighborhood Action
Christian Centers in the USA and its territories.
The One Great Hour Of Sharing Offering is sponsored by nine
denominations and Church World Service. It aids refugees of war and
victims of natural disasters (for example, victims of Florida’s 2004
hurricanes and of Indonesia’s tsunami).
The World Mission Offering supports more than 130 American Baptist
overseas missionaries, adding to what was pledged to the United Mission
program.
For more on our wider American Baptist Mission, go to www.abc-usa.org.
This commitment is also demonstrated by the stewardship of our building.
We provide space to the Chinese Baptist Church of Greater Hartford, the
Center For Serenity (www.centerforserenity.org), Hopeworks
(www.hopeworkscentral.org), Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Our Children’
s Center (a day-care center), and Dr. Henry Millan (a pastoral counselor).
This commitment is further evidenced by our concern for the environment.
Our Senior Pastor, Rev. Tom Carr, was a founding member and past
director of the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network. Earth Prayers are held in
our chapel on one Monday evening each month. In May, 2005, we became
one of the first congregations in Connecticut to contract with Sterling
Planet, agreeing to buy 100% of our electricity from clean, renewable
sources (see www.sterlingplanet.com). Several of our church’s families
have also signed this contract.
In addition, several adults and youth from our church served meals and
interacted with senior citizens at the Manna Senior Café sponsored by
Center City Churches in Hartford. Other members served meals at Loaves
& Fishes in Hartford, which ministers to the hungry. Many others donate
back packs, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts, and Easter baskets to
Covenant To Care. Others give used clothing to the poor through Shiloh
Baptist Church. Still others deliver Meals On Wheels to the elderly, while
others raise money for Food Share. Our Sunday School raises money for
Heifer Project International (www.heifer.org), which provides animals and
tools to low-income people around the world. In April, 2006, two of our
members went to the Dominican Republic to help build water purification
systems in the bateys where Haitian immigrant sugar-cane workers live in
poverty. We are now planning to send volunteers to the Gulf Coast in
2008, to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
We also fund mission projects through our Christmas and Easter offerings,
and our Deacon’s Fund. Beneficiaries in 2007 have been the Soup Kitchen
at Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford, the Protestant University of Congo,
and the Congo Peace Center.
The Women’s Fellowship of our church also supports our mission through
donations to Love Gift, White Cross, and Church World Service (www.
churchworldservice.org). See the Fellowship’s page on our web site.
spreading the Gospel, locally, nationally, and abroad. This commitment is
evidenced in our budget and the use of our members’ time and talent.
In 2007, we plan to give $27,100 to support the United Mission program of
the American Baptist Churches, USA. In addition, we plan to contribute
money to a number of religious and social-service agencies including
Covenant To Care (www.covenanttocare.org) and Loaves & Fishes (www.
loavesfishesministries.org). Our total Mission/ Social Action budget for
2007 is $84,609.
In addition, our members give to four annual special offerings. The Retired
Ministers And Missionaries Offering is used to provide emergency aid to
these retirees and their spouses, and to give them a Thank You check to
supplement their monthly pension payments.
The America For Christ Offering supports over 1,300 chaplains. Pastoral
counselors, new-church planters, and workers in 20 Neighborhood Action
Christian Centers in the USA and its territories.
The One Great Hour Of Sharing Offering is sponsored by nine
denominations and Church World Service. It aids refugees of war and
victims of natural disasters (for example, victims of Florida’s 2004
hurricanes and of Indonesia’s tsunami).
The World Mission Offering supports more than 130 American Baptist
overseas missionaries, adding to what was pledged to the United Mission
program.
For more on our wider American Baptist Mission, go to www.abc-usa.org.
This commitment is also demonstrated by the stewardship of our building.
We provide space to the Chinese Baptist Church of Greater Hartford, the
Center For Serenity (www.centerforserenity.org), Hopeworks
(www.hopeworkscentral.org), Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Our Children’
s Center (a day-care center), and Dr. Henry Millan (a pastoral counselor).
This commitment is further evidenced by our concern for the environment.
Our Senior Pastor, Rev. Tom Carr, was a founding member and past
director of the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network. Earth Prayers are held in
our chapel on one Monday evening each month. In May, 2005, we became
one of the first congregations in Connecticut to contract with Sterling
Planet, agreeing to buy 100% of our electricity from clean, renewable
sources (see www.sterlingplanet.com). Several of our church’s families
have also signed this contract.
In addition, several adults and youth from our church served meals and
interacted with senior citizens at the Manna Senior Café sponsored by
Center City Churches in Hartford. Other members served meals at Loaves
& Fishes in Hartford, which ministers to the hungry. Many others donate
back packs, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts, and Easter baskets to
Covenant To Care. Others give used clothing to the poor through Shiloh
Baptist Church. Still others deliver Meals On Wheels to the elderly, while
others raise money for Food Share. Our Sunday School raises money for
Heifer Project International (www.heifer.org), which provides animals and
tools to low-income people around the world. In April, 2006, two of our
members went to the Dominican Republic to help build water purification
systems in the bateys where Haitian immigrant sugar-cane workers live in
poverty. We are now planning to send volunteers to the Gulf Coast in
2008, to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
We also fund mission projects through our Christmas and Easter offerings,
and our Deacon’s Fund. Beneficiaries in 2007 have been the Soup Kitchen
at Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford, the Protestant University of Congo,
and the Congo Peace Center.
The Women’s Fellowship of our church also supports our mission through
donations to Love Gift, White Cross, and Church World Service (www.
churchworldservice.org). See the Fellowship’s page on our web site.
Hands-On Mission Opportunity
In March, 2007, a group of teen and adults from Westminster Presbyterian
Church in West Hartford went to the Gulf Coast to rebuild homes destroyed
by Hurricane Katrina. They had such a great time; they decided to invite
other congregations to join them on April 13-19, 2008 (W.H.'s school
vacation). Volunteers will leave Bradley on April 12th and arrive in New
Orleans around Noon, where they'll do limited work. On Sunday, April
13th, they'll worship, sight-see in New Orleans, the travel to D'Iberville,
Mississippi (roughly ninety miles away). April 14 - 18 will be devoted to
homebuilding in D'Iberville, with time off on the 16th. On Saturday, the
19th, the group returns to New Orleans and flies home.
The estimated cost of the week is $525.00 per-person. Details regarding
funding are yet to be worked out. Our General Board has endorsed the
project as part of our church's 150th anniversary celebration. I can say
that each volunteer will be asked to raise some money for him/herself. Our
church will defray the costs and the BYF will do some fund-raising. This
event is for youth in grades 9 through 12, and adults. All volunteers must
attend one of two training events in CT before leaving home. Dave
Colletta is our team leader. If you are interested in this trip, please let
Dave Roones, Chair of Missions know as soon as possible.
In March, 2007, a group of teen and adults from Westminster Presbyterian
Church in West Hartford went to the Gulf Coast to rebuild homes destroyed
by Hurricane Katrina. They had such a great time; they decided to invite
other congregations to join them on April 13-19, 2008 (W.H.'s school
vacation). Volunteers will leave Bradley on April 12th and arrive in New
Orleans around Noon, where they'll do limited work. On Sunday, April
13th, they'll worship, sight-see in New Orleans, the travel to D'Iberville,
Mississippi (roughly ninety miles away). April 14 - 18 will be devoted to
homebuilding in D'Iberville, with time off on the 16th. On Saturday, the
19th, the group returns to New Orleans and flies home.
The estimated cost of the week is $525.00 per-person. Details regarding
funding are yet to be worked out. Our General Board has endorsed the
project as part of our church's 150th anniversary celebration. I can say
that each volunteer will be asked to raise some money for him/herself. Our
church will defray the costs and the BYF will do some fund-raising. This
event is for youth in grades 9 through 12, and adults. All volunteers must
attend one of two training events in CT before leaving home. Dave
Colletta is our team leader. If you are interested in this trip, please let
Dave Roones, Chair of Missions know as soon as possible.
America For Christ Offering
In March, our church will join thousands of other ABC churches in giving
to the America For Christ Offering. It is sobering to know that the U.S.A. is
the third largest mission field in the world, according to Aidsand Wright-
Riggins, the Executive Director of our Board of National Ministries. Millions
here do not have the comfort, hope, and strength that come from faith in
Christ. Millions live in poverty, which impacts their family life, access to
health care, and ability to acquire an adequate education.
As ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), we share God’s love
through a variety of ministries in our country and Puerto Rico. American
Baptists have sent hundreds of volunteers to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild
homes and lives devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We have helped resettle
more than 96,000 refugees since World War II. Our chaplains, endorsed
through National Ministries, serve on the battlefield in Iraq as well as in
hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons in the U.S.A.
The American Baptist “Children In Poverty” initiative, developed and
implemented by National Ministries, is working to transform the lives of
children with limited resources, while evangelism training is helping to equip
clergy and laity for sharing the Good News and planting new churches. Our
Board of National Ministries also touches hundreds of teens through camps
such as Camp Wightman and the National Gathering of American Baptist
Youth in Estes Park, CO, in July.
The America For Christ Offering funds all of this vital, Christ-centered
work. This year’s theme is “For the love of Christ urges us on” (2 Cor.5:14-
15). Our goal in West Hartford is $1,600. Offering envelopes are available
in the pew racks. Read the bulletin inserts; pray for all who carry out
ministry in the U.S.A.; and faithfully consider your role in winning America
for Christ.
In Him,
Dave Roones,
Chair, Missions
In March, our church will join thousands of other ABC churches in giving
to the America For Christ Offering. It is sobering to know that the U.S.A. is
the third largest mission field in the world, according to Aidsand Wright-
Riggins, the Executive Director of our Board of National Ministries. Millions
here do not have the comfort, hope, and strength that come from faith in
Christ. Millions live in poverty, which impacts their family life, access to
health care, and ability to acquire an adequate education.
As ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), we share God’s love
through a variety of ministries in our country and Puerto Rico. American
Baptists have sent hundreds of volunteers to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild
homes and lives devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We have helped resettle
more than 96,000 refugees since World War II. Our chaplains, endorsed
through National Ministries, serve on the battlefield in Iraq as well as in
hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons in the U.S.A.
The American Baptist “Children In Poverty” initiative, developed and
implemented by National Ministries, is working to transform the lives of
children with limited resources, while evangelism training is helping to equip
clergy and laity for sharing the Good News and planting new churches. Our
Board of National Ministries also touches hundreds of teens through camps
such as Camp Wightman and the National Gathering of American Baptist
Youth in Estes Park, CO, in July.
The America For Christ Offering funds all of this vital, Christ-centered
work. This year’s theme is “For the love of Christ urges us on” (2 Cor.5:14-
15). Our goal in West Hartford is $1,600. Offering envelopes are available
in the pew racks. Read the bulletin inserts; pray for all who carry out
ministry in the U.S.A.; and faithfully consider your role in winning America
for Christ.
In Him,
Dave Roones,
Chair, Missions