Mission & Mercy Ministry Update - 2025, Issue 1
Table of Contents
Prayer Focus: United States of America
Mission Highlight: Gospel Opportunities in the Beavercreek Schools
Mercy Highlight: Cedarville Growth Groups Serve at Bridges of Hope
Opportunity: Perspectives Class Begins January 19th
Opportunity: Local Outreach and Mission Trips
Upcoming UBC Mission Trips: Planning for 2025
Prayer Focus
United States of America
As we begin the new year, our nation faces many challenges. After a long and contentious election season, a new President will be installed. There
are economic concerns, ideological divisions, violence at home and abroad, and communities still reeling from destruction wrought by natural disasters. Yet there are also opportunities that we, the Church, can mobilize toward. For example, “in an October 2022 Barna survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, three out of four (74%) say they want to grow spiritually. Additionally, the same proportion (77%) say they believe in a higher power. Nearly half (44%) say they are more open to God today than before the pandemic.”
As believers, our first and best approach to these challenges and opportunities is to pray. Following are four general categories you can focus on when praying for our nations, along with specific prayer points for each. Let us intentionally pray for our nation this month.
Prayers
Pray for our leaders at the national, state and local levels. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
That officials will govern according to the principles of unity, justice, peace, safety, the welfare of all, and the blessings of liberty.
For officials to lead with wisdom, integrity, courage, and humility.
That all government officials will be held accountable and that those who continue to govern with evil intent will be removed.
That leaders would fear God and come to know Him as their personal Savior.
Pray that God would heal the divisions within our nation. (1 Peter 3:8-12)
That we would see each other through God’s eyes, recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
That God would pour out a spirit of love and forgiveness across our land.
For reconciliation where there is strife and understanding where there is misunderstanding.
For God’s people to break down barriers that divide and fill their communities with the love and compassion of Christ.
Pray that Christians would live out their faith with boldness and authenticity. (1 Peter 1:13-25)
That we would be good stewards of all that God has given us, using it to bless others and honor God.
For a renewed commitment to the Word of God and to prayer.
For repentance and turning from any idols that keep us from loving and serving God with our whole hearts.
That our actions and words would point others to God and that we would be examples of God’s grace, truth, and compassion.
For boldness and courage to share the Gospel and to stand for what is right, regardless of the cost.
Pray for transformation in society. (Jeremiah 29:7)
For a move of the Holy Spirit that replaces national rebellion with widespread repentance and many putting their trust in Jesus.
That life at all stages would be respected and protected.
That God’s design for family structure is once again honored and recognized for life in our nation.
That God will protect the minds and hearts of our youth from hopelessness, fear, and anxiety.
Additional resources that can help you pray for our nation are:
Prayercast
40 Days USA
Mission Highlight
Gospel Opportunities in the Beavercreek Schools
This school year has seen huge growth in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Beavercreek High School. Since last school year, the group has doubled in size and averages 48 students each week. A lot of the students are Freshmen and Sophomores. Because of this growth, the school has given us a larger room to use!
A solid group of 10 student leaders meet once a month to plan the meetings and take ownership of the different aspects of the group. The goal of the group is to build Christian community. Students are encouraged to invite friends, share the gospel, and be an example of Jesus at school.
FCA has had guest speakers from local churches and area ministries like Athletes in Action and Young Life. One of the biggest highlights has been three of our student leaders sharing their testimonies at FCA. In October, one of our UBC students shared their testimony and clearly presented the gospel to 50 of his peers. Owen Hart said, “Preparing to share my personal testimony at FCA helped me to think about what the gospel has done in my life. It was cool to freely share the gospel in my public school.” He taught the group how to use the 3 circles gospel tool that he learned and used on the STUMIN mission trip to Utah last summer. When student leaders share their testimonies, the other high school students tend to really listen and engage with what is being shared by their peers. Ten to twelve UBC students attend FCA each week and the group is sponsored by Rob Slouffman and Bobbie Schell.
An FCA chapter also began at Coy Middle School last year. The group averages 8-10 middle school students at each meeting. It’s been harder to grow this group because of the school start and dismissal times, but the group has been consistent and the students keep inviting their peers to come to FCA.
One of the highlights for this group was when two of our UBC students (Hudson Hart and Liam Augsburger) got to share about FCA with all of the new 6th grade students at the school involvement fair last month.
Mercy Highlight
Cedarville Growth Groups Serve at Bridges of Hope
Back in November, the Wilson and Harmon Growth Groups of Cedarville teamed up to serve the guests at the Bridges of Hope shelter in Xenia. They prepared and served a meal to about 80 shelter guests. The group also spent time visiting and talking with the guests. If your Growth Group, family, or friends would like to serve in this way, check here for more
information or to sign up.
Bridges of Hope is one of the local organizations UBC’s Mission and Mercy Ministries will partner with in the coming year with the goal of sharing the gospel, conducting Bible studies, and discipleship. Anyone interested in joining this effort can let us know of your interest here.
Opportunity
Perspectives Class Begins January 19th
Start off 2025 with a life-changing decision! Register for the Perspectives course and gain a new “perspective” on how God is actively building His Kingdom around the world and how YOU can be part of it!
Perspectives is a 15-week, non-denominational course that examines the story of God’s global purpose from four vantage points: biblical, historical, cultural and strategic. Each class features a different instructor who will provide insight from his or her experiences in missions and ministry.
Students can enroll at 3 levels: key reader, certificate and credit. The in-class experience is enhanced by at-home study depending on your level. This can include selected readings, reflections, or review questions.
Our local class will be hosted by the Ledbetter Road Church of God in Xenia on Sundays from 6pm – 9pm, from January 19th through April 27th. You can attend the Orientation at no cost on Sunday, January 12th to learn more. The cost for the course is $250, and UBC Missions will reimburse 50% of the fee to any member or regular attender who completes the class.
Stop by the ministry table to speak to Mission Core Team members who can tell you more and answer your questions.
To register or for more info: https://perspectives.org/courses/xenia-oh-s25/
Opportunity
Local Outreach and Mission Trips
There are many great opportunities in the coming year to serve in local outreach and on short term mission trips. To find out more about upcoming short-term mission trips, please see the UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS section below. This section is updated each month.
In 2025, University Baptist Church (UBC) currently have the following mission and/or mercy local outreach opportunities to participate:
OneBistro (Xenia): UBC attenders serve a community meal to those in need in Xenia on a Wednesday night once a quarter. Our first night of serving is Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
International Friendships, Inc. (IFI): Come and meet international students on a Friday evening, have a meal with them, build relationships, and study the Bible together.
Nursing Homes: Share the good news with those in local nursing homes and lead Bible studies.
Bridges of Hope (Xenia): Serve those in need at a local shelter, share your testimony, and share the gospel.
Called to Care: Serve UBC foster/adoptive families primarily through care teams that each come around and support a specific family.
Compassion Care for the Aging: Serve those in our church body through activities such as visits, sending cards, running errands, bringing meals, and/or light cleaning.
Fix-It Team: Demonstrate God’s love and mercy by performing and helping with projects around the home for those in need.
ProLife: Serve Hope Rising and other similar organizations through diaper drives, prayer walking the facility, and providing snacks to workers.
Sewing and Craft Ministry: Use God-provided talents to make items for various outreach opportunities. Baby gifts for local ministries, small gifts for missionaries, and other projects as they arise.
We want to help the body at UBC reach our neighbors and respond to the call to make disciples of all nations! If you haven’t yet filled out the response form about ministries you may have interest in, we encourage you to do so here. In addition, if you would like to hear further discussions about local and global missions, listen to the recent podcast between Bryson Jackson and Jim Corbin. The podcast can be found here.
Monthly Mission Quote:
In the Christian story God descends to reascend. He comes down; …down to the very roots and sea-bed of Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him (Miracles). The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God (Mere Christianity). “It seems, then,” said Tirian, smiling himself, “that the Stable seen from within and the Stable seen from without are two different places.” “Yes,” said the Lord Digory. “Its inside is bigger than its outside.” “Yes,” said Queen Lucy. “In our world too, a Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world (The Last Battle).
—C.S. Lewis on the Incarnation
Upcoming Mission Trips
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news..." Romans 10:15
~
How beautiful are your feet?
~
"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 for 2025! There will be local, national, and global trips offered.
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).
March 28 - April 7, 2025
Paraguay
Medical trip with ABWE, sharing God’s Love with the Gospel and medical care.
Contact: Jim CorbinMay 8-18, 2025
Bangladesh
Teach English, help with basic computer skills, or working with children in pre-schools.
Contact: Jim CorbinMay 24 - June 2, 2025
Namibia
Assist The Bahuns in their ministry and help with their local church Mission Conference.
Contact: Jim CorbinJune 5-20, 2025
Uganda
Come help serve South Sudanese refugees as we share the gospel and start discipleship groups. More information may be found here.
Contact: Jim CorbinAugust 1-10, 2025
Argentina
Work with Pastor Fabian Santillan and his church as they share the gospel and plant another church.More information may be found here.
Contact: Jim CorbinSummer 2025
Builders for Christ
Serve in the mission field of church construction and help a church build their building in Sterling, MA.
Contact: Dave Gneiser
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.