Along the way we also discovered that that were many wonderful missionaries right in our own congregation – people for whom Life Church is home when they are not on the mission field. We came to know the Thomforde’s (Serving our World - Thailand), Evelyn Komuntale (Outreach to Africa - Uganda) Camille & Esther Ntoto (Light of Africa Network - Congo) and Pastor Moses Vegh (the whole world!). We already were connected to Pastor Phil’s parents, Pastor Frank & Ruth Munsey and the great work they are doing in Bulgaria through the American English Academy.

So, essentially, we assembled a diversified “portfolio” of ministries that would represent the broad spectrum of biblical ways to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus in a world with many needs. The other ministries are Honor the Mothers, Toby’s House, Orange County Rescue Mission, Words of Comfort, Hope & Promise and the Orange County Jail Ministry. You can read a brief description of each below and you can also read more about most of them here on this website.

Okay, so here is the information about what is changing. The financial support for the various ministries started with sending a fixed amount of money to each ministry on a monthly basis (whether or not we actually received enough monthly contributions to cover what was being sent). This formula worked for awhile, but now, with giving to both the general fund and the separate mission’s fund both down significantly, it has become necessary to change the format.

With the exception of our commitment to Acres of Love, the checks that each ministry will receive this month will be the last one that they will receive at the “old” fixed, monthly amount. Starting in September, each ministry will be sent a check for whatever has been designated for that ministry for the giving period of August and it will be sent in mid-September. That will be the pattern going forward; the proceeds from the prior month that have been designated will be passed through the following month. In addition, there are funds that come in “undesignated” to the general mission’s fund. The Mission’s Team will meet quarterly to decide where to best utilize those funds after all expenses to operate the missions program have been met.

It’s really important to understand that “the church” is not supporting these ministries, but, rather, it is us, the congregation, who must “step up” and make sure that we are giving over and above our tithes and offerings to support these incredible people who are out on the front lines.

The next section of this newsletter will give a short description of each ministry and at the end we will tell you specifically how you can participate on a monthly basis to support a specific ministry or to donate to the general mission’s fund. 

International Ministries

• Acres of Love is a ministry with homes for abandoned and orphaned HIV/AIDS babies and children in Johannesburg, South Africa. Pastors Phil & Jeannie and a group from Life Church traveled to South Africa in April, 2005 to officially dedicate the Albertyn/Life Church Forever Home and the children to the Lord. God continues to bless our precious 10 girls who are the victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
  
• Serving our World is a ministry to Thailand and Indonesia led by Mike and Gwen Thomforde. The focus of the Thomforde’s ministry is to rescue children from becoming victims of human trafficking. In 2005, a major project to build an orphanage/community center in Thailand called the Good Life Home & Center was built with significant support from Life Church. This building can house 50 orphaned children and it is also used to train, educate and support the local community.
  
• Outreach to Africa - Evelyn Komuntale is the founder of Outreach to Africa. Evie is former African princess from Uganda who has a burden to minister to the people in her homeland. Current projects are educating & caring for orphans, a medical center in Western Uganda and a diagnostic center. Future projects are building a school for orphans, a Vocational Training Institute and their own hospital. Pastor Jeannie took a group of women to Uganda in November ’06 and they were a real blessing to the locals.
  
• Light of Africa Network - Camille & Esther Ntoto. They are from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have been called by God to live and minister in that very dangerous and troubled part of the world. We are standing with them as they are ministering through a Christian radio station that is bringing the Word of God to many people on a daily basis.  They moved to the Congo in a few years ago and in addition to the radio ministry, they have also had the opportunity to minister to the victims of the civil unrest there – many women who have been brutally raped.
  
• The American English Academy in Bulgaria, headed by Pastors Frank & Ruth Munsey, continues to equip the next generation of international leaders through a unique educational environment where Christian values are taught. Recently, a few of the AEA students have started a ministry called International Youth Culture (IYC) that has ministry events designed to connect with the Bulgarian Youth. Life Church financial support has helped these energetic students reach their generation for Christ.
  
• Pastor Moses Vegh is an Ambassador of Hope to the nations - he goes on several international ministry trips and also attends key meetings here in the U.S. where he has influence with key leaders in the Body of Christ. Life Church contributions enabled Pastor Moses to build a school in China in partnership with believers who have a ministry to the local people.

Local Ministries

• Honor the Mothers' Ted Powers, after the second week of the Partnership class, received a word from God. He was told clearly to begin a new ministry in this church and call it Honor the Mothers. He was told that there were widows and single mothers who do not have the skill or the financial ability to repair their homes. This team has worked on several homes so far as they are answering the James 1:27 mandate to help widows!
  
• Toby’s House is a pregnancy crisis ministry that is part of Birth Choice, a leading pro-life organization in Orange County. Toby’s House provides temporary shelter for young women who have made the courageous decision to keep their baby instead of having an abortion. They receive counseling and career guidance that helps them get “on their feet”.
  
• Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise is a ministry that offers encouragement to our troops and their families as they make such awesome sacrifices on behalf of all of us. They are linked primarily to the troops down at Camp Pendleton and there are several events throughout the year that we can participate in on behalf of Life Church.
  
• Orange County Rescue Mission ministers to the 35,000 homeless people in Orange County. We typically help out twice a year – once at Easter and the other at Thanksgiving with food or other essential items that they might need.
  
• Orange County Jail Ministry has been ministering in the Jails of Orange County for the past 75 years.   They also provide correspondence Bible Studies and counseling to inmates. All volunteers serve without pay. Our own Life Church Jail Ministry Team conducts several services every month in which both men and women are set free by the preaching of the gospel and they receive Jesus as their Savior. 
  
  

How You Can Get Involved

The best way to participate in supporting one of these great ministries is to commit to a monthly contribution, preferably through a recurring credit card donation. The monthly budget to support all the ministries at the level they were getting previously is about $10,000 per month, although it is our strong hope & desire that they end up with stronger support than before. You can designate a monthly amount to one of the ministries or you can give to the “general” mission’s fund and we will spread it around as the needs dictate. Please use the regular giving envelope to make you contribution. We are trusting God that you will hear His voice and respond with great enthusiasm for these wonderful ministries! If you have any questions, please contact Paul Danchik [email ] or 949.248.9504