The Christian Church.............................................................................................................................................. West Union, Illinois

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International Missions

The Christian Church in West Union, Illinois supports several international missions. From The Christian HolyLand Foundation in Israel to Marcia Kay Thomson in Zimbabwe to the Gonzalez' in Texas or David Filbeck in Thailand, all are doing God's work and we are honored to be able to support them.

Good News Productions, International grew out of the 14-year ministry of Ziden and Helen Nutt in Zimbabwe, Africa. Ziden worked with African leaders in producing culturally-accurate filmstrips and films using pictures taken in local villages to illustrate the gospel message. These materials proved tremendously effective in not only attracting crowds but in communicating the gospel in the language and context of the people.
As missionaries in other countries heard about this strategy being used in Zimbabwe, some asked Ziden to expand the work to include their countries as well. In 1975 the Nutts moved to Joplin, Missouri, and began the ministry of Good News Productions, International. The work is now reaching into more than 96 countries with materials at various stages of production in over 105 languages. The ministry is moving to the next generation as Ziden retires from the day to day work and others take on that role, allowing him to focus on the transition to the future.

Although Al and Mary Gonzalez are now in Texas, we still consider them an international mission. Sponsored by our church, the past several years they were in Queretaro, Mexico starting a church. They have been in South America and Australia as well. They have been in Miami, Oklahoma in a Spanish language church start up with the Central Christian Church of Miami. They just recently moved to McAllen, Texas to allow them to be nearer their children and grandchildren and work more across the border in Mexico.

David L. and Delores Filbeck are leading the Christian Mission to the Orient in Thailand. What started as a Bible translation to an isolated people has grown into a Christian School. It has grown and merged to become Lanna Christian Center,

The purpose of Christian Holyland Foundation, Inc. is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Holy Land and its surrounding areas, and to establish and maintain a base of operations from which churches patterned after the New Testament order may be started.

Marcia Kay Thomson has been known to us for years. When she began working in Africa she was in Rhodesia. Today Marcia Kay is in Zimbabwe (same country, new name). She has held several positions, and currently operates the CAMELS print shop providing needed printed material support to the Christians in Zimbabwe.

Cory Fountain served as our Youth Minister before joining Team Expansion. Although based in Louisville, Kentucky, Cory does background work for missions all over the world. Their mission statement says their purpose is"to glorify God by partnering with local churches to send and sustain teams of interdependent missionaries to plant indigenous churches among unreached people groups worldwide".

Caregiving missions

For over twenty years the Christian Churches Disability Ministry (formerly known as Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped) has ministered to the disability community. CCFH strives to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities through

Enabling others through training, resources, and encouragement to effectively minister with persons with disabilities.

Seeking partnership with individuals, churches, and other organizations to meet the physical and spiritual needs of persons with disabilities.

Providing a full range of services for persons with developmental disabilities including residential options, opportunities for social interaction, and opportunities for spiritual growth

Pleasant Meadows Christian Village is a 109 bed / 14 apartment full-service retirement community in Chrisman, Illinois. Pleasant Meadows is a part of Christian Homes, Inc., providing care for over 2,200 residents in 15 locations in 4 states.
Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch almost needs no introduction. It is an 1100 acre ranch in Western Montana founded by Bob Larsson. Pinehaven has several houses where kids live with house parents as families. They live, learn, work, and play on the ranch. It receives no government support.
There may be no other American facility like Mountain Mission School, a non-profit foundation dependent solely on charitable contributions. It is the only known entity to educate and board seriously disadvantaged children from birth through high school and sometimes beyond. More than 20,000 youngsters from every state except Alaska and 20 foreign nations have received tuition-free care and love, guidance and sustenance from the school. For more information go to Mountain Mission School
Camp Illiana is a year round Christian service camp. In other words, it isn't just for kids any more. The summer camping season is still the focus of the camp, but it now includes retreats and seminars the other 3 seasons of the year. When you ask everyone in our church to stand who has been to Camp Illiana as a camper, counselor, or in some other capacity, the folks left setting are few and far between.
Oblong Children's Christian Home was established in 1970 to care for troubled children from 5 to 17 years of age providing them:

uncondtional love
a stable, structured environment
family-style group home . One of the goals of the home is to get troubled kids the help they need and get them back with their families.

Crisis Pregnancy Center of Eastern Illinois is pretty much what the name says. They give women help and guidance to care for themselves and their unborn baby. CPC has 4 locations offering help and answers about pregnancy, abortion, and related issues.

Bible colleges

Through our Missions program we have supported several Christian Colleges. Starting with the 2006 missions budget we have focused on two Bible colleges, Johnson and Lincoln:

Johnson University (formerly known as Johnson Bible College) is a unique institution, offering a quality education in a Christian environment. Resting on a proven foundation of more than a hundred years of history, tradition, experience and achievement, Johnson is committed to preparing students for life and service in the twenty-first century.
Not only is it the oldest Bible College in the country, but several of our our minsters, Cory Fountain, Jim Freeman and Tom Cooperider, graduated from Johnson.

Lincoln Christian University, (formerly known as Lincoln Christian College) Lincoln, Illinois is a Christian higher education community whose mission is to nurture and equip Christians with a Biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world. Founded in 1944, Lincoln has grown to an annual enrollment of more than 1,200 with more than 5,000 graduates serving in every state in this country and in more than seventy other countries worldwide.

Eastern Illinois Campus House, while not a "Bible College" may have more influence on young people's lives than may Bible Colleges do. Roger Songer and staff minster to the students at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

Local Benevolence

The missions committee has been charged with the task of providing what we call "local benevolence". That means caring for folks here at home that need a little help.

If there is a need contact a Missions Committee member or the church office.

We distribute the Faith Promise on a percent basis. If we get $10 or $10000 in a month it is split by percentage and given to the missions we support. Here is how it is broken down:

Big Valley Radio Al & Mary Gonzalez	9.0%	Mountain Mission School	7.0%

EIU Campus House	4.5%	Camp Illiana	5.5%

Mission to the Orient (Filbeck's)	6.5%	Johnson University	3.0%

Good News Productions	7.0%	Lincoln Christian University	3.0%

Christian HolyLand Foundation	2.5%	Oblong Children's Home	4.0%

Pinehaven Christian Ranch	7.5%	Crisis Pregnancy Center	3.5%

Marcia Kay Thomson	5.0%	Rally & misc	2.0%

Cory and Cassidy Fountain	8.5%	Missions speakers	2.0%

Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped	6.0%	Scholarship (currently unused and fund "max'd out")	0%

Pleasant Meadows	3.5%	local benevolence	10.0%