OUR STORY 301 E. CAPITOL AVE.
/// JEFFERSON
CITY, MO
/// FBCJC.ORG ///
573-634-3603
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
A partnership of mutual encouragement and hope
First Baptist Church gears up for another year supporting South Elementary School
A
s buses start their engines, pencils are sharpened to a point, and backpacks sling onto shoulders, First Baptist Church looks ahead to another year of partnership with South School Elementary. “The primary function is to encourage the teachers and to love on the students and their families with the unconditional love of Christ through their community,” Director of the Partnership and FBCJC member, Cindy Swanigan said. This ministry proves Cindy Swanigan serves important for South School lunch to a South School student at the 2014 picnic. in particular as the bulk of the student body “is situated in a lower socioeconomic section” of the city, according to Swanigan. Throughout the year, the partnership supports teachers via supply donations, encouraging notes, and luncheons. In addition, the partnership donates matching t-shirts to every student at South School. According to Swanigan, this solidarity creates a sense of community among the students. This camaraderie is reinforced by the dedication of partnership mentors who spend the year investing in the students on a weekly basis. According to Swanigan, the mentorship program is positive for both parties involved. “Mentoring allows students to have a consistent, weekly connection with an adult who simply shows up for them. The benefit to the adult is to enjoy the laughter and blessing of a child,” she said. Along with weekly programming, South School benefits from Mission JC each spring through donation of free labor
ANNOUNCEMENTS
and supplies. In addition to these mainstays, plans are in place to foster a budding relationship between South School and FBCJC’s Kenyan Partners. Last year, after a visit from House of Hope orphanage founder, Joel, South School students were challenged to raise money to purchase an indestructible soccer ball for use by House of Hope. The students returned overwhelming support, ultimately collecting funds to purchase 10 indestructible soccer balls. “What a joy these kids experienced to be able to raise money for children across the world they had never even met,” Swanigan said. South School teachers have also provided support via donations of school supplies to House of Hope classrooms. FBCJC can best support the South School partnership through dedicated prayer for students, mentors and volunteers, school supply donations and monetary gifts for t-shirt purchases, and spiritually discerning a call to mentorship. “We sometimes think that a mission project has Kenya partner, Joel, to be in a foreign country or foreign city, but South works with South School School has given us the op- students during visit. portunity to support families and children right here in our hometown,” Swanigan said. Through the faithfulness of the congregation, the goals of the South School partnership can be accomplished this school year. “Our hope is that the students and families at South School associate Christ followers as people who offer support, encouragement, and unconditional love,” Swanigan said.
September 13, 2015
September 19 and 20, 2015
Join us for our annual Missions Sunday as we celebrate all God has done this past summer through our mission partnerships. 8:15am and 10:45am.
More than 30 adults, youth and children will perform traditional and contemporary melodies on 5 grand pianos. 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary.