Episcopal, Anglican & other Missions
1. The Barnabas Ministry
This ministry in Kampala, Uganda was started by Mananja Yusif, a former Muslim who is now a Christian and was one of our students at the Nairobi Leadership Seminar in 2004. This ministry provides food and shelter to Muslims who convert to Christianity, to care for them and nurture them in their faith. It is an important ministry because these new Christians are forced out of their Muslim community when they become Christians.
2. Campus Crusade for Christ (VA. Tech. – Blacksburg, VA)
For several years, we have supported a young couple who are full-time ministers for Campus Crusade at Va. Tech.: Michael and Laura Stevenson, the daughter and son-in-law of parishioners Val and Denis McMullan.
3. The Church in Jerusalem (Good Friday Offering)
Every year the National Church takes up the Good Friday offering from all churches nation-wide for the suffering Anglican Church in the Holy Land.
4. The Compass Rose Society
A society under the Archbishop of Canterbury whose mission is to communicate, connect and share gifts around the Anglican Communion to those churches need. Holy Comforter joined in 2002 with an initial gift of $ 10,000 and we try to give a minimum of $2,000 each year. On-site visits by members provide the catalyst for ongoing relationships and opportunities for project funding by individuals or churches.
5. Episcopal Relief and Development Fund
In the past, this fund was called the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief. It has provided funds to help those struggling from crisis, emergencies and other developmental work around the world for over 60 years. We usually respond to emergency appeals such as the recent Tsunami Disaster and the earthquake in Iran. Our Maundy Thursday offering goes towards the General Fund.
6. Faith Alive
This Episcopal Renewal ministry sends teams of lay people into churches to stage weekend-long, church-wide events. These weekends are designed to energize and refocus the Parish’s attention on evangelism and mission. Parishioner Tom Riley is President of this 8000 member national and others serve on the teams.
7. Five Talents
An Anglican micro-enterprise development initiative with projects ongoing in a dozen developing nations. The mission helps poor entrepreneurs to start businesses and ongoing struggling businesses by providing spiritual development, business training and micro-loans - usually $50 to $250. Holy Comforter provides rent-free offices in Rodman House and financial support annually. Two parishioners now work as staff members and a number do volunteer duties, including Joe Paulini who serves on its Board of Directors.
8. Iglesia Santa Maria, Hispanic Congregation, Arlington, VA
To support the many new Hispanic Episcopalians in the Arlington area, The Diocese of Virginia solicited pledges from many churches in Northern Virginia to support a new Hispanic church in Falls Church. The Diocese purchased an old Baptist Church on Arlington Boulevard in 2004. After renovations, it is a flourishing church.
9. Kairos Prison Ministry
A national ministry that sends teams into the prisons to provide a weekend of renewal. Holy Comforter supports the participants with prayer vigils during the weekends, hundreds of dozens of cookies as gifts to the prisoners, and monetary donations to fund team members and the ministry.
10. Listening Hearts Ministry
This ministry focuses on the act of spiritual discernment – a prayerful, informed, intentional effort to distinguish the voice of God from other voices that influence us. Trained discerners serve in groups to help individuals who seek God’s guidance for their lives.
11. McGregor Ministry, Kenya
The McGregors are American Episcopal Missionaries working outside of Nairobi, Kenya both in operating St. Julian's Conference center as a ministry of the Church of Kenya and in front line missionary work in Northern Kenya to the various tribes. In Northern Kenya they are teaching, training evangelists and pastors, and building churches along with other community development projects. Todd, an Episcopal priest, hosted us on our Leadership missions to Madagascar and Northern Kenya in 2005.
12. Mississippi Mission
In response to Hurricane Katrina, the CHC partnered with an Episcopal School in Long Beach, MS. Through monetary and material donations, we have sent contingents to Long Beach to assist in their rebuilding efforts in an area annihilated by the hurricane. CHC sent two mission groups in 2005 to assist with the clean-up efforts, and this year we plan on at least two more trips to help build homes: an adult trip during Spring Break (April 8-15), and a summer youth trip (July timeframe). It is our vision to continue this partnership as long as needed to help this school/church/clinic/food shelter as it ministers to the surrounding community.
13. Phocas Nshimiyimana, Tanzania
Phocas is an Anglican Priest from Tanzania (originally from Rwanda) who is now, with our assistance, studying for a Bachelor's Degree in Theology at Uganda Christian University in Kampala, Uganda. His wife and two daughters are staying in Tanzania during his studies.
14. Projecthonduras.com
Begun in 1998, by parishioner Marcos Caceres, this ministry is a response to the overwhelming needs of the second poorest country in the western hemisphere after Haiti. It has three elements: a user-friendly website to serve as an information clearinghouse; a Yahoo groups listserve forum to link up people and ministries ; and, an annual conference so that people within the projecthonduras.com network could meet face to face. The concept that drives this ministry is to find constructive ways to draw people and resources into constructive relationship with others working in Honduras to achieve the most effective use of talent, expertise, and energy possible.
15. United Thank Offering
Twice annually, the Episcopal Church Women nationwide take an offering in the familiar little blue boxes to assist with mission and development needs around the world. Nationally, last year’s grants totaled nearly $3.0 million and covered a variety of projects on all areas of the globe.
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