Mission of the Month

Matthew 25:37-40 [NIV] (37)“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? (38)Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? (39)When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ (40)“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters you were doing it to me!’

The Mission of the Month (MOTM) is a program to emphasize the need for giving, above and beyond, what is given to the Church. By serving others, we serve Christ and fulfill the mission that he left us.

Vida Joven, Nicaragua http://www.younglife.org/Giving/GivingOpportunities.htm

1 Chronicles 16:24 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

Again this year a group from Geneva will be traveling to Nicaragua to partner with “Vida Joven” (Young Life). Vida Jove Nicaragua was founded by Jacksonville area Presbyterian pastor named Jim Hornsby.

Why Vida Joven? In Nicaragua the average age is 16 years, needless to say there are many youth with desires to prosper mentally, culturally, and spiritually, but given the low development that afflicts the country, that has been affected by wars, natural disasters, and the socioeconomic growth issues, the development of youth in Nicaragua is impaired. As a result, many have become alcoholics, drug addicts, handicapped, delinquents, apathetic about being able to overcome, with neither ability nor technical possibilities to produce, and without organizations or projects with the appropriate resources to back up these youth. As result La Vida Joven was founded.

Objectives and Goals: The program attends to youth of both sexes, without discrimination of race, religious or political creed. They focus on youth from marginalized neighbors, with problems of conduct, who do not have alternatives of recreation, sports, culture, healthy life, or Christian formation. Vida Joven helps the youth find themselves, accept Jesus Christ as the center of their life, and provides leadership training. They hope to see each youth transformed into a new person capable of valuing themselves, surviving, growing, and developing through the difficulties of life, and helping others. They help youth become young adults who are useful in the society in which they live. Vida Joven provides a wholesome environment outside the city where teenagers can build healthy Christian relationships and develop job skills. In partnership with Young Life, Vida Joven developed a 130-acre camp in a rural, mountainous area north of Matagalpa, near Jinotega. The Young Life “farm” serves as a weekend retreat center for outreach camps, discipleship and leadership training seminars, as well as a practical teaching tool for farming and construction.

Prior Missions of the Month

February 2010 - PCUSA Camp Montgomery http://www.pcusa.org/
Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

January 2010 - Community Hospice Foundation http://www.communityhospice.com/
Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God."

December 2009 - PCUSA Christmas Joy Offering http://www.pcusa.org/cjoffering/
Matthew 2:11 "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

November 2009 - Bread for the World http://www.bread.org/
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

October 2009 - PCUSA Peacemaking Offering http://www.pcusa.org/peacemakingoffering/
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

September 2009 - Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council http://www.nfcscouting.org/
Romans 12:10 "Love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor."

August 2009 - The Blood Alliance http://www.igiveblood.com/
Hebrews 13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Donate a Pint of Blood and Give the Gift of Life.