How one church engaged their community for global missions
Want to support missions in a meaningful way that goes beyond writing a check? Not sure now is the best time for a short-term mission trip? You’re not alone. In fact, more and more churches are rethinking their approach to the Great Commission. They’re finding creative ways to engage their congregation and benefit their local community through advocacy and action on the home-front. Grace Bible Fellowship Church (GBFC) is just one example.
Driven by a passion to see France transformed by the Gospel, GBFC holds a “France Challenge Weekend” annually. More than just missionary speakers, the weekend also features a three-day book sale and a banquet –all to raise awareness and resources for church planting in France.
This kind of event allows church leaders to harness the energy and enthusiasm of people-power! Volunteers spend months planning, organizing, and promoting the book sale. This subsequently opens doors for local outreach and partnership development.
A greater level of involvement also generates passion to support missionaries abroad, and a depth of awareness that informs prayer. And by focusing on one area of the world, the church body has a strategic destination to send both short- and long-term missionaries.
Events like the book sale also generate goodwill in the local community. Other churches can be invited to participate in the weekend’s festivities. Left-over books can be donated to local ministries in need. And volunteers and organizers are blessed to know their impact is felt in their communities and abroad.
This year, GBFC gave away free books to Covenant Christian Academy, Mission Central of the United Methodist Church, O.I.C. (an inner city agency that teaches literacy), and an organization that supplies Christian books and literature to four African countries!
They also raised over $6,500 through the book sale alone, and additional funds for ministry initiatives in France. In the five years they’ve held the “France Challenge Weekend”, over $35,000 has been raised!
Grace Bible Fellowship is accepting book donations for their 2010 sale. Please call Rachel at 1-800-967-7109.
If your church wants to find creative ways to actively advocate for missionaries and the communities they serve, please contact us or call Rachel at 1.800.967.7109.