Missions - First Christian Church

Kim and Patrick Bentrott with Solomon and Valancia

MISSION AND COMPASSION - 2010

From Kokomo to the Gulf Coast to Haiti and beyond -

Mission is still our priority in 2010!

Each year our outreach to the community and world grows. Our connection to Bon Air Elementary school is vital as more than 20 persons read with students each week as a part of BobCat Buddies and nearly 60 children and their families are fed each weekend through Building Blocks, a program that sends a backpack of food home each Friday with children in need. This is our second year of this vital program.

"Happy Teeth" is a ministry started three years ago that provides basic dental exams and sealants for 2nd grade students in the Kokomo public schools. Happy Teeth was honored in February of 2009 with an "Award for Excellence" by the Indiana Commission on Vocational and Technical Education. This year over 500 students will be served.

We returned to the Gulf Region last summer, with over 20 volunteers, to work with the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Another trip is being planned for this year.

Last fall our youth participated in the annual community "Scavenger Hunt" for food for the Rescue Mission food pantry. They collected the most food by weight of any group in the hunt.

With the January earthquake in Haiti, we have a renewed connection to that area of the world. Our missionaries, Kim and Patrick Bentrott, lost their home and many students and friends in the earthquake. They and their two adopted Haitian children, Solomon and Valancia, survived and have returned to the U.S. for a short recovery before plunging back into their medical and teaching work in Haiti. You can follow their lives at www.kimandpatrick.blogspot.com.

For information on Disciples Disaster Relief go to www.disciples.org.

First Christian Church is committed to mission in our community and around the world. We work with and support:

Habitat for Humanity of Kokomo, which has its office at First Christian www.habitatkokomo.com
The Kokomo Rescue Mission www.kokomorescuemission.org
Barbee Christian Camp (near Warsaw, Indiana) www.campbarbee.com
Disciple related colleges such as Transylvania College, Eureka College, Bethany College, and Hiram College
Disciple seminaries such as Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis www.cts.edu
Missionaries in countries around the world.
Samaritan Caregivers respite care program www.samaritancaregivers.org
CAM (Coordinated Area Ministry) sponsored by the Salvation Army
MUFF (Minister’s Utility & Fuel Fund) which helps cover the cost of fuel bills for the less fortunate)
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
NAMI (National Association for the Mentally Ill) www.nami.org
Selected seasonal projects sponsored by our youth, children and adult groups such as Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army, Heifer Project Walk, and more.
Clinical Pastoral Education and chaplaincy at Howard Regional Health Systems.