Appreciating an Awesome Staff

October is commonly known as 'Pastor Appreciation Month', but at at MCH we took it to the next level by not only blessing our pastors (we have 4 on staff), but also all our ministry staff leaders. First, we attended the No Need Among You Conference in Dallas where we received training and encouragement relating to Christian Community Development. Pastor David preached one of the nights and Pastor Jeff shared about our mission work through the Compassion Center as a workshop panel member.

The workshops and ministry tours we attended gave us fresh insights and ideas to inspire and enhance our ministries. But the blessing didn't stop there! The following week ended with all of us going out to dinner together, followed by an evening at a concert featuring Tauren Wells and Chris Tomlin.

The concert was amazing and it turned out to be an incredible night of worship. As we sang songs like, "How Great Is Our God", "Your Grace Is Enough", "Holy Forever" and many others we were refreshed and our spirits were recharged. Being able to do this as a unified staff was truly a blessing, allowing our bond in the Spirit to grow even stronger. We were all anxious to get back to our respective mission work, ready to pour into others.

This is the first time since 2016 our staff had the opportunity to enjoy time together being trained and encouraged, while at the same time spending time in prayer and worship. October 2024 is a month we will never forget and we are grateful for the support we received to make it all possible. To God be the glory!

New Experiences at Joy Center

At the Joy Mission Center, we are experiencing the transformative power of community engagement in our youth programs as we continually seek innovative ways to connect with students. This past month, our youth program was filled with exciting activities, from baking delicious brownies and crafting pizzas to hosting fun-filled movie nights.

These initiatives have not only expanded our youth club, but have also ignited a sense of enthusiasm among the participants, who are now eagerly inviting their friends to join in the fun. Rooted in our Christian values, we are dedicated to fostering an environment of love and acceptance while learning Biblical truths. It is a winning formula that will make a meaningful impact in the lives of each young person who walks through our doors.

A Compassion Partner Celebration

Abiding Fellowship Christian Church, a church plant who is partnered with our Compassion Center, recently celebrated God's provision of a new worship space. They called their celebration 'Friends Day' and invited the surrounding community to attend. The Compassion Center supported their outreach by providing resources for food, games, and raffle items. The event created meaningful connections, resulting in prayer with ten community members and building exciting momentum for this growing congregation. We are so thankful that we are able to partner with churches to reach under-resourced communities with the Gospel.

One for the Kingdom at Gano

The Gano Mission Center has a Bible study ministry for women called Women With Purpose (WWP). At the beginning of this year, they began a study based on Rick Warren’s book, A Purposed Driven Life. During the year more and more women started joining the group and found it to be a huge blessing in their lives. In February, Monica was invited by one of the women to join the group. She and her husband recently came as refugees from Venezuela. Two months after attending Monica interrupted the class leader, Lucy, to tell her in tears, "I need Jesus! And when I have Him everything will be alright!" Sister Lucy paused the class to lead her to faith in Jesus Christ while all the other ladies prayed in silence, astonished at what they were witnessing.

One month later all the ladies were shouting with Joy when Monica announced that she was going to have a baby. Everyone was praising God because she and her husband had been trying to get pregnant for years. Last month the WWP organized a baby shower for Monica, where they gathered around her to lift her and her unborn child up in prayer. This month Monica gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl named Hannah. We love being a part of God's blessing to those who place their faith and trust in Him. To God be the Glory!!!  

Paul Martinez is our newest volunteer to join Joy Mission Center. He’s been faithfully serving the seniors every week for a month now. From taking out the trash, to helping in bingo, Paul does it all! He always has a big smile on his face, and he always has this great attitude to serve everyone. Paul has shared with us that some of the seniors that attend our program are friends of his, so he’s excited to be able to serve them while giving back to the community. Paul is now also attending our Tuesday morning senior adult Bible study where he is learning more and more about the Bible and how to live a life that pleases God. The fact that Paul has made the decision to get baptized is a testimony to his growth as a follower of Christ. We are so thankful to have such an awesome volunteer as Paul serving at Joy, as well as all our other volunteers. We couldn’t do what we do without them! 

In a heartwarming display of faith and generosity, Panera Bread has stepped forward to support Joy Mission Centers by donating fresh bread and pastries to aid our programs and mission. This collaboration not only provides vital nourishment for our community but also reflects our shared commitment to serving others in the spirit of Christ’s love. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and look forward to working together to fulfill our calling to serve those in need, spreading hope and compassion throughout our community.