GENEROSITY TREE

We’ll gather up your generous offerings during advent in anticipation of upcoming Compassion Kit Builds in the Mark & Cyndi Toone Gathering Place on Sunday January 12, at 10:00 or 11:45 am (following either the 9:00 or 10:30 am worship service). The Tacoma Rescue Mission Search and Rescue ministry will hand-deliver the hygiene and snack kits that you and your family will assemble that morning.

Here’s a compiled list of other ways to serve in local outreach during the Advent Season.

Pray

We invite you into a season of extending Jesus’ justice and mercy through prayer for our local and global outreach partners. You can learn a little about each partner’s people, projects, and prayer requests below. Have some conversation around the table about the ways Jesus cares for us and our neighbors. How different or the same do you think the communities below are from your own? How does knowing about this ministry inspire you to share Jesus and love your own neighbors? Add your own prayers to the ones below. In celebration of Advent, we invite you to pick one local and global partner to pray for each week.

Tacoma Rescue Mission
Tacoma Rescue Mission shares more than a meal, a warm bed, and safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. They also share our hope in Christ! Pray for holistic, life change in the New Life Recovery program. Pray for stable families and for safety on the streets for those visited by the Search and Rescue team. May all guests know that God is with them.

Cambodian Hope Organization
For villagers vulnerable to human trafficking across the Thai border, the Cambodian Hope Organization offers a quality Christian education for their kids and practical tools to provide for their families. Pray for protection from hunger, disease, and despair. Pray for Cambodian pastors to keep the light of faith burning brightly.

FISH Food Bank
FISH Food Bank provides groceries and household items to individuals and families in need in the greater Gig Harbor area. They offer caring connections and services to help them overcome poverty. Pray that God will sustain all of us with our daily bread and be nourished by a supportive community

Thai Christian Foundation
Our global partnerships in Thailand bring compassion and the word of God to prisoners in Bangkok and through a health clinic at the Burma border. Pray that many experience new life in Christ, and that these many new believers would learn to walk with him all their lives. Pray for our upcoming global visit to House of Blessing in Bangkok in February.

World Relief Haiti
World Relief empowers local churches who are going out to bless their own communities. They demonstrate the good news by bringing hope and healing for marriages, finances, health, and a future beyond poverty and violence for their young people. Pray that God will protect, unify, and multiply our Haitian church family.

World Relief Western Washington
When families fleeing global unrest arrive in our region, World Relief embraces them with Christian community. Employment, medical, and legal services provide tools to make a life here. Pray over the trauma of leaving a hostile homeland–that they may heal, thrive, and adjust to the language and culture. Learn how you can lift your voice in support or volunteer at the Welcome RV in Tacoma.

Coffee Oasis
Coffee Oasis connects local young people who have nowhere to call home with a safe place to feel welcome. A personal caseworker helps set them up for success in education, counseling, job skills training and more. Pray for young people feeling isolated and stuck to find belonging, hope, and the power to thrive in the Coffee Oasis family.

Aqua Viva Ministries
Agua Viva Agua Viva trains up Mexican pastors and trains visiting campers like us to share Jesus in word and deed. Pray for God to give them grace to meet people right where they are…whether at rehab centers, neighborhood outreach, or among indigenous migrant workers. Pray for spirit led interactions for our student team going to Agua Viva in February. Or consider going to Embrace Family Camp in the summer.

Northwest Furniture Bank
Northwest Furniture Bank supports families in the South Sound working to rebuild their lives, often coming out of homelessness, foster care, or domestic violence. Pray that families experience dignity, stability, and restoration as they get a good night’s sleep and gather at their own table. Find ways to be part of bringing stability and a fresh start for families by building furniture or volunteering in the warehouse.