Our 2014 Missions season begins this month with a team from Brooklake Church in Federal Way, Washington.
Brooklake is one of a growing number of ‘radical’ churches who are partnering with Adoption Ministry to meet needs in Ethiopia (see the video they did about this partnership here). Because they are committed to a long-term relationship with those they serve, the church is sending a team of 12 people who want to meet those they are sponsoring through Adoption Ministry 1:27 in Shashemene. Two churches in this city have identified over 50 at-risk families that Brooklake has found sponsors for and the team will be serving many of those families, spending time getting to know them and also working on a small construction project at the Mana Gammachuu orphanage.
Fundraising is a huge part of any mission trip and together this group organized a “Mission Dinner and Auction” with entertainment and lots of items up for both live and silent auction. They raised almost $13,000 to help with airfare and in-country projects. Some creative team members sold handmade jewelry and art pieces in their church foyer on Sunday mornings. One guy bought 100 lbs of green Ethiopian coffee beans that he roasted himself and sold to church-goers as a unique “Brooklake Ethiopian roast”! One couple, who we featured on our blog in January, has been raising money specifically for a house for the woman they have adopted through AM 1:27. The good news is that all $5000 was raised, which was the goal to reach by the time the group leaves next week!
This team has met weekly for the three months leading up to their departure and their preparation serves as a great example for any group going on a mission trip. Our missions director, Mark Wolbert, used the video series “Missions Dilemma” as a teaching tool (view preview trailer below) and a catalyst for some great discussion. It has impacted each team member, helping them approach the trip with less of a Western mindset and with a desire to be culturally sensitive in serving. Their goal is relational: to plant seeds of friendship with the families they sponsor and to bring Christ’s encouragement and practical help.
You can follow this team on their Facebook page and we’ll also be linking to blog updates!
Missions Dilemma–7 part series for Missions preparation
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