From Curtis Drever, Director of Local Missions
// Wow, what a dynamic year! As 2018 winds down, I find it helpful to reflect on some of the great Outreach events on our campus that have really helped bring us together as one community. I don’t have space to list them all, so let me share what we have done together just since September.
Irvine Feeds The World | September 14-16
Together we helped fight world hunger by packaging 50,000 meals over three days with over 385 people serving at various times. This family-friendly event helped unite Jenny Hart Preschool, Woodbridge High School, Irvine Police Department, our church family, and people from all over Orange County! What a special time it was, and gave me great joy seeing so many different groups all serving together. I can say without a doubt that our church made a positive impact with our community. We also raised $12,328 to pay for the meals, which will be sent to South Africa through our partner, Kids Around The World. Thank you to all who contributed —financially and through serving. We will do this again, so stay tuned!
Alternative Christmas Bazaar | November 18
In case you missed it, the world was here! Our Missions staff and team transformed the Fellowship Hall into a colorful, international bazaar where guests could speak with our mission partners to learn how they are impacting the world while shopping for meaningful holiday gifts to give family, friends, or colleagues. Guests could purchase “shares” of various items such as orphanage support, food and nutrition programs, livestock, farm equipment, building supplies, scholarship funds, books, computers, and more. Over $15,000 was raised, with all proceeds going directly to our partners in Orange County, Africa, Asia, Mexico, and India. Again, thank you!
Operation Christmas Child | November 1-18
Together we collected over 200 shoeboxes! As people returned their boxes, many shared stories about how meaningful this was. Each gift-filled shoebox will bring joy and smiles and the Good News of God’s love to children around the world. Great job — and thank you for participating with such enthusiasm!
Tijuana Christian Mission (TCM) Christmas party | December 8
A big “muchas gracias” (thank you) from TCM! For over 40 years our church has sponsored this party by buying Christmas gifts for each child and staff member, then driving to Tijuana to join the celebration! Santa arrives and calls each kid forward to receive their gifts. Each student must wait patiently until everyone has theirs, there is a countdown, and whoosh … the gifts are opened in seconds accompanied by lots of joyful noise! If you’ve never witnessed 100 kids all doing this at once, you should! Our group is then treated to a tasty, authentic Mexican food for lunch and afterwards, we head back home. Join us next year if you didn’t make it this time around.