Mission & Mercy Ministry Update - 2024, Issue 9
Table of Contents
Prayer Focus: The Unreached People of West Africa
Spotlight: UBC Partners with IFI to Welcome International Students to Dayton Area
Mercy Highlight: UBC Hosts Concert “Overcoming Generational Poverty”
Opportunity: Operation Christmas Child Sewing & Craft Open House - October 5
Opportunity: Pro Life Team Sponsors Diaper & Snack Drive for Hope Rising - September 15-29
Upcoming UBC Mission Trips: Planning for 2025
Prayer Focus
The Unreached People of West Africa
This month our prayer focus missionally will be on the area of West Africa. According to the UN, this region includes 16 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. As of 2021, the population in this region was approximately 419 million and is one of the fastest growing in the continent both demographically and economically.
Islam is the predominant religion of West Africa and was introduced to the region through traders in the 9th century. Islam is also the religion of the area’s largest ethnic group by population.
According to the Joshua Project, there are 231 Unreached People Groups (UPGs) and an additional 120 Frontier People Groups (FPGs) in the region of West Africa. A UPG is defined as a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance (<2% Evangelicals and </= 5% professing Christians). FPGs are a subset of UPGs with 0.1% or fewer Christian adherents with no reported church movement.
It is estimated by the Joshua Project that 3,193 pioneer workers are needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups in this region. Estimates are calculated only for UPGs and are based on a ratio of 1 worker-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an UPG by country. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.
UBC is the sending church for the N.’s who are long-term medical missionaries in Togo, West Africa. Togo has a population of about 9.2 million people. There are 56 people groups in Togo. 8 of these groups are listed as UPGs (1 is FPG).
Let us intentionally pray for West Africa this month. Below are suggested prayers.
Prayers
Pray earnestly for LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into HIS harvest as the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. (Luke 10:2)
Pray many will hear the call of the LORD and respond, “here I am LORD send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)
Pray for GOD to awaken these peoples from their darkness and stumbling and see the LIGHT in Jesus so they will understand their need for HIM. (Proverbs 4:19 and 1 Cor 2:14)
LORD, we pray that you remove the stumbling-block out of the way of these people. (Isaiah 57:14)
Pray with thanksgiving for the multitudes that cannot be numbered, from every nation, from all tribes, peoples and languages, that will be standing before the throne of the LORD crying out with a loud voice “Salvation belongs to the LORD”. (Rev 7:9-10)
Spotlight
UBC Partners with International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) to Welcome International Students to Dayton Area
During the month of August, thousands of college students flood college campuses across our local community. UBC members had the opportunity to attend the International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) welcome party and build connections with international students attending the University of Dayton (UD) and Sinclair College. The joyful atmosphere at this gathering gave us a glimpse at God's loving care for this group and the impact our congregation can have in supporting students from around the world.
International students often struggle with culture shock, stress, and loneliness when leaving their homes to study in the US. IFI is a national organization that partners with local churches, universities, and volunteers to provide life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students. IFI exists to make the world feel at home and extend God’s love globally from right where we are.
UBC looks forward to partnering with this rewarding ministry and making a difference in the lives of international students during the upcoming school year. If you would like to learn more about how you can build a relationship with an international student that may lead to sharing Jesus with them, please let us know here.
Mercy Highlight
UBC Hosts Concert "Overcoming Generational Poverty"
On August 2nd, UBC’s Mission & Mercy Ministry hosted singer-songwriter Jennifer Jolene for a concert devoted to the theme of “Overcoming Generational Poverty.”
Jennifer sang original music highlighting her personal experience of growing up in poverty. In between songs like “The Dark” and “I’m Hanging On,” she recounted stories from her early life growing up with a single mom who survived a traumatic injury that affected her ability to hold a job and to parent consistently. They moved often and as she got older, Jennifer’s awareness of their situation brought a sense of shame. But there always seemed to be loving family members and friends from her local church to provide stability and a sense of hope. It is with that hope, that both she and her mom found in Christ, that Jennifer concluded her story singing “Let There Be Light”.
For the second half of the program, Jennifer was joined onstage by two of her daughters demonstrating that musical talent truly runs in the family! Jennifer’s longtime friend, Christine Duncan, performed a selection from her musical Saving Cinderella, a project that educates communities on the hurdles a person faces coming out of poverty.
Jennifer’s performances are meant to raise awareness and understanding of those trapped in the poverty cycle. All proceeds from the concert were donated to Bridges of Hope, a shelter and resource center in Xenia. Shelter Director Steven Taylor spoke after the intermission about the organization’s mission and ministry.
Jennifer has released three CD's and is currently working on her 4th. You can find her music on iTunes, Spotify, and ReverbNation.
Opportunity
Operation Christmas Child Sewing & Craft Open House
On Saturday, October 5th from 9:00AM - 12:00PM the Sewing & Craft Ministry will be filling 15 Operation Christmas Child boxes. There are jobs for crafters and non-crafters alike! The group will be making items during the open house, but you are invited to bring items to add that are handmade or purchased in advance.
Suggestions for homemade items: pencil cases, drawstring bags, hand puppets, scrunchies, small homemade toys, crochet or knit a winter hat or other fun critters.
Suggestions for purchased items: small cars, toothbrushes (no toothpaste or soaps), plastic cups/bowls, etc. If you would like to purchase a Jesus Loves You Soccer Ball and pump for $4 to include in boxes, they will be available at the event.
Learn more about Operation Christmas Child here.
We hope to see you on Saturday, October 5 from 9AM-12PM. Come be part of this fun ministry and bring a friend! Sign up on the event page here.
What else has the Sewing & Craft Ministry been up to this summer? They have been busy making blankets and burp cloths for Hope Rising Xenia and foldable shopping bags for 55 missionary women serving in Asia. UBC supported missionary, Krista McCutcheon, and her team are holding a retreat in remote Asia in October. Join us in praying for each of the women that will be attending, for those leading the retreat, and that God will refresh and encourage the women in attendance and ready them to return to the work God has called them to.
Save the date for a fellowship on Tuesday, December 3 6:30-8:30 PM @ UBC East. Bring a friend, enjoy snacks, make a craft or gift, and enjoy a night of games and getting to know others. If you are interested in being part of planning this event, please contact Kathy Gallagher at 937-356-9253.
Opportunity
Pro Life Team Sponsors Diaper & Snack Drive for Hope Rising
The Pro Life Ministry at UBC is sponsoring a diaper and snack drive to support the ministry of Hope Rising this month. Donations can be dropped off at the ministry table September 15-29. The team is collecting diapers, baby wipes, and snacks. Pullups for mothers with older children are really useful and boys clothes up to 5T are needed. Suggested snack items for the staff and volunteers are individually packaged chips, pretzels, candy, water bottles, mints, or gum.
The UBC Pro Life Ministry exists to share Christ mercifully by coming alongside the pro life community in our area with love and support. Hope Rising Xenia is committed to caring for women with compassion when facing unplanned pregnancies. They offer confidential care at no cost. You can learn more about their ministry, here.
If you would like to get involved with the pro-life ministry at UBC, share your interest here, and someone from the team would be delighted to get you connected.
Monthly Mission Quote:
It is not of secondary importance to be engaged in this ministry of sending. It is a very high calling. It is walking in truth...There is a world of difference between a church “having” a missionary and a church “sending” a missionary. But when we we send them in a manner worthy of God, then God is glorified, our souls prosper, and we are fellow workers with the truth. We are in sync with God’s heartbeat and his purpose to be glorified among all the peoples.
— Tom Steller; from the afterword of Let the Nations Be Glad!
Upcoming Mission Trips
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news..." Romans 10:15
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How beautiful are your feet?
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"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news..." Romans 10:15 ~ How beautiful are your feet? ~
Planning for 2025
UBC is currently planning for mission trips in 2025! There will be local, national, and global trips offered. Here are some of the trips currently in the planning phase (watch for more details as dates become firm):
Builders for Christ (we will again pursue helping with the next building project)
Argentina
Bangladesh
Namibia
Uganda
Paraguay
Additionally, if you are planning to participate on a mission trip with another organization (e.g., Cedarville’s GO trips), please contact us to let us know more!
If there is a nation or a people group that God has placed on your heart, share it with us. We would love the opportunity to hear and to help you find a trip in the coming year. Reach out to Jim Corbin (jim.corbin@ubcbeavercreek.com).
Contact to learn more:
Jim Corbin
jim.corbin@ubcbeavercreek.com
To read past Mission Updates or to get more information about UBC on Mission, visit
https://www.ubcbeavercreek.com/mission-and-mercy-ministries.