For the sake of others. . . Outreach 2016

For the sake of others. . .
Outreach 2016
Welcome
Restoration is a community seeking to find our
place in God’s great story.
We are broken people who are being restored by
grace. We are connected to God in worship,
connected to others in small groups, and
connected to the needs around us in mission and
outreach.
As we make these connections, we are pleased to
come alongside a few individuals or organizations that are living God’s story as
they serve the needs of the world around them. We are proud of them, and we
are grateful to support them with our prayers and financial giving. They are
creatively and faithfully working in the world’s broken places. I am encouraged
by the glimpses of hope we see in their engagement with God’s work of
redemption.
This little booklet will help you get to know these partners. I imagine that it
might sit next to your Bible and be a regular source of prayer inspiration during
your daily quiet times. I hope that God might call you to see their work up
close. I would love for each of us to get our hands and feet near the people and
places that God has placed in our heart. We give thanks for these partners and
the good work they do.
Grace and Peace,
David
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Table of Contents
Introduction
.............................................3
Outreach Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)/Mona Bormet
.........5
Asia Minor/Erica Chapman and Eric Lessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Bolivia/Endel Liias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Casa Chirilagua/Dawnielle Miller
........................... 8
CCOP/Jesse and Sarah Blaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Children and Outreach/Louise Brooks
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cru/Andrew and Karlayne Powars
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Restoration Immigration Legal Aid/Natalie Foote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
The Navigators, CityLife/Anne Cregger
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
The Navigators/Connally Gilliam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF)/John Westbrook . . . . 14
Rock Recovery/Christie Dondero
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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Introduction
What is Restoration’s vision for outreach?
Our vision is to use the unique resources God has given our congregation to
engage with our local community and the broader world, bringing God’s
kingdom to those places and encouraging our members to grow into more
Christ-like disciples in the process. We believe that this is one of the primary
ways we get to be part of God’s story, individually and as a church body.
Who do we want to be?
A community that serves together: We share the hope and love of Jesus Christ
in word and deed with our neighbors near and far, recognizing that prayer is
integral to this service.
A community that goes: Jesus sent his disciples to “Jerusalem, and to Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Matt 25: 31-46), so we want to reach out
to people locally, nationally, and globally. We want Restoration to be a
community that is actively engaged in living out God’s call on our lives—wherever
we find ourselves.
A community that gives: We at Restoration designate 10% of our income for
outreach. We provide financial and prayer support to church members and the
organizations with which they work, advancing our outreach vision and focus.
A community that prays: We have regular prayer evenings for our partners. All
details are on CCB or in the worship guide.
What is your part? Here are a few ideas...
Locally: Volunteer with our new Immigration Legal Aid ministry. Join a small
group focused on evangelism or one of our global partnerships. Mentor a child
or offer homework help at Casa Chirilagua. Help at AFAC on a monthly basis or
during the summer on a farmer’s market run or….There are so many options!
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Nationally: In 2016 we hope to explore connecting with Church of the Apostles
in Baltimore, which has a unique inner-city ministry. Keep your eyes open for
news!
Globally: Pray for the persecuted church. Join the Asia Minor, Bolivia, or
Cambodia small group or mission trip. Send Christmas packages to children
around the world. Support our missionaries by writing them a letter or sending a
care package.
Outreach Leadership
The Rev. Liz Gray, one of the Associate Rectors at Restoration,
oversees a number of areas, including outreach. If you would
like to know more about any of our outreach partners or
activities, email Liz at [email protected] or visit our
website, www.restorationarlington.org/ministries/outreach.
The Outreach Steering Team (OST) recommends to the Vestry
individuals and organizations to receive financial support. The
Vestry appoints members of the OST for three-year terms, and they met
quarterly. The 2016 OST members are Drew Bond, Liz Gray (Chair), Brent
Jones, Eric Lessels, Kathleen Paley, Hannah Royal, and Jan Ryerson.
Over the course of the year, we will have numerous opportunities to serve, learn
and go. We will hold meetings designed to connect people with each of our
partnerships. We will continue to have two prayer meetings per month, which
include prayer for our outreach partners. All meetings and service opportunities
are advertised on the church-wide calendar, Friday’s Restoration Happenings
email, and in the worship guide. In addition, updates to this booklet will be
available on Restoration’s website.
And now? Read on and meet our partners!
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Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)
Mona Bormet
We believe that God cares for the
hungry and that a shared care with
and for our broader community
pleases His heart.
Evening Food Distribution
Starting in late 2013, we committed to
help with food distribution on the
fourth Tuesday of the month from
6:30 to 9pm. This is a great activity for small groups and families (children
must be 14 years+). If you are interested in helping distribute food to families
who are in need of a little extra, find out more and sign up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4ea5ac23a2f94-tuesday
Summer Farmers Market
Since 2009, for 12 Sunday afternoons during the summer, we have committed
to pick up extra produce from farmers at the Columbia Pike Farmers Market
and take it to AFAC, where we bag it for distribution. We haul an average of
2,000 pounds of produce, which helps feed 1,600 Arlington families the
following week. We'd love to have your participation. Families are welcome,
including children ages 6+ accompanied by an adult.
Please pray for the Arlington families from all walks of life who need a little
extra assistance - that they know they are loved and cared for and that the
AFAC staff and volunteers are able to meet these families with kindness and
compassion.
More info: http://afac.org or email [email protected]
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Asia Minor
Erica Chapman
Eric Lessels
I love hearing the story of how Restoration got
connected to Asia Minor.
A bit of hope, some mystery, and a lot of prayer were
key to establishing the relationships that keep us
coming back year after year.
– Leigh McAfee
Since 2012, Restoration has returned a number of
times to two different areas of Asia Minor: Istanbul and its environs and Izmir/Arvalya. As
we’ve invested time in both places, there are people we’ve come to know and love. Despite
the long-distance, this is a long-term relationship.
Although Asia Minor has a rich Biblical history, in many ways it is a challenging place both
for the gospel to penetrate and for those who hope to live by it. When we go, our priority is
to refresh the workers so that they are equipped and encouraged to stay longer.
Since Restoration outreach is rooted in prayer, there are regular opportunities both in our
worship service and semi-regular prayer meetings to bring Asia Minor as well as the needs
of our friends before the Lord.
Asia Minor is a place where creativity, faith, and adventure intersect. We are eager for the
Lord to tend to the roots of this ancient land and stir her people once again.
To pray and work for the Church there is truly to have faith in the God of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, the
God of the Miraculous and Wonderful. – Eric Lessels
Our roots are going deeper!
• We are excited to send a family from Restoration to begin life in a local community.
• Restoration families and individuals have made extended trips to immerse themselves among the
people and pray. Some are learning the language; others look for opportunities to engage with
expats in our local area. Pay attention to where Asia Minor pops up in your world.
• Look out for the Silk Road Prayer meetings, the possibility of upcoming trips and small groups.
Archive of Restoration blog posts about Asia Minor:
http://restorationarlington.org/category/asia-minor/
Contact: Erica Chapman by email ([email protected]) or phone (703.987.0657)
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Bolivia
Endel Liias
Who & What: Did you know that metropolitan
DC has more Bolivians than any place in the
world outside of Bolivia? Loco, no?! Our group –
RestoBolivia – is comprised of people with a heart
for Latin America who are interested in exploring
ways to minister to, build relationships with, and
walk alongside Bolivians – both locally and in
Bolivia.
So Far…We have held three small groups to pray
about ways we might serve, sent a small mission
team to Bolivia in 2014 to build relationships
with the local Anglican church
(http://www.diocesisanglicanabolivia.org/en/anglican-congregations/la-trinidadchurch.html), and the children’s ministry NCV
(http://www.ninosconvalor.org/), and most recently initiated the process of
establishing a Restoration immigration legal aid center. We have also hosted the
director of NCV and rector of La Trinidad during recent US visits.
What’s Next? We’re thrilled to announce that this summer (July 2-10, 2016),
Restoration is making its first formal mission trip to Bolivia! We’ll deepen
existing relationships with La Trinidad and NCV, see what God is doing in this
beautiful South American nation, and explore ways we can be part of this story.
Wanna join us? For questions and info about the Tri2 preparatory small group,
contact Endel at [email protected]. ¡Que Dios te bendiga!
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Casa Chirilagua
Dawnielle Miller
Photo courtesy of John Jacks for Bittersweet Monthly
Casa Chirilagua is a group of people “learning together
to love their neighbors as themselves” in a
predominantly Central American immigrant community
in Alexandria. We are a faith-based Christian non-profit
with nine staff members and 100+ weekly volunteers
serving 80+ children and their families via multiple
relationship building activities. Our mission is “developing relationships with
families to see the Chirilagua neighborhood transformed by Christ.”
Restoration actively partners in building God's Kingdom in our community one
relationship at a time. Restoration's involvement includes generous financial
support, timely spiritual encouragement and prayer, and the dedicated
involvement of many parishioners in a variety of volunteer activities.
With Restoration's help, Casa works alongside the community to provide afterschool programming, student mentoring, Bible studies, family strengthening
activities, leadership development opportunities, and parent engagement.
Through these programs and activities, emerging neighborhood leaders are being
developed to be confident, united, motivated, and empowered to serve their
community in love.
Together with our church partners, we are also praying for God to provide Casa
with a space of our own located in the Chirilagua community. This will enable
greater opportunities for outreach and community building as well as deepen
existing relationships.
Restoration folks interested in getting involved are invited to join the Casa
family by giving their time, talent, or treasure in a variety of ways. To learn about
potential opportunities, please visit our website at
http://casachirilagua.org/connect/.
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Church of Christ Our Peace (CCOP)
The Blaine Family
We are the Blaines, and we have had
the privilege of serving in Cambodia
beginning in 2012. We have focused
most of our energy on World
Orphans, an amazing local ministry
that helps to place vulnerable
children in loving families. In 2016
we plan to continue working with
World Orphans while also
transitioning into more full-time
work in pastoral ministry with the local Anglican Church of Cambodia.
We are excited to pour our energy into strengthening and expanding the church
in Cambodia. New studies indicate that the population of Christians in
Cambodia hovers around 0.4%. At the same time, the overall Cambodian
population is young, more educated, and searching for their identities as they
emerge from the horrific past of the Khmer Rouge. We’ve connected with
several ministries that are helping the rural poor find training and jobs to help
improve their lives. As people move into the city they are looking for a place to
belong and find life. We hope that the church can give them life and a sense of
belonging. It’s an exciting time to be working in Cambodia. Come join us!
Contact Us– [email protected]
Support Us–
http://worldorphans.donorpages.com/STAFFSUPPORT/JesseBlaine
Check in on Sarah– http://camboblaine.wordpress.com
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Children’s Ministry Outreach
Louise Brooks
It is our desire in children’s ministry that Restoration be a
place where kids are known and loved and that they would
know deeply these three truths: God knows you! (Psalm
139:1-8), He’s crazy about you! (John 3:16), He goes with
you everywhere! (Matthew 28:20).
It is out of this knowledge, we pray, that God will prosper in our kids a heart so
full of his grace that they desire to respond to that grace by extending it to
others. And so we create opportunities for our littlest ones to use their hands to
reflect their growing hearts for the Lord.
Here are some things we did in 2015:
• Snack Bags for AFAC: It is tradition on the last day of kids' small groups
each year to pack snack bags and write notes of encouragement that get
passed out to kids who come to AFAC. The notes are colorful doodles
that ooze with love created by our kids for kids.
• Operation Christmas Child: Restoration provided a safe and hospitable
landing place for 2,446 shoeboxes stuffed with toys and other gifts to be
distributed around the world. It was our joy not only to participate as
congregants who prepared our own boxes, but also as a church to house
other churches’ and individuals' shoeboxes before transporting them to the
next stop on their journey.
• Doorways for Women and Children: We collected much-needed goods for
babies at Christmastime, a sweet reminder of gifts given to baby Jesus.
• Sunrise Senior Living: We sang at Christmas and created angel ornaments
for the residents.
Our hope for 2016 is that we will continue to build traditions and respond out
of hearts filled with God’s love by serving others both locally and globally. We’d
love for you to partner with us as we think of ways our youngest at Restoration
can serve God’s kingdom - for His glory and our good.
To get involved, contact our Director of Kids’ Small Groups, Louise Brooks, at
[email protected]
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Cru
Karlayne and Andrew Powars
Karlayne and I met at James Madison University and
married shortly after graduation. We have four
wonderful children, Titus, Behrens, Avonlea Grace, and
Judah. They fill our life with delight. We have served on
staff with Cru, a national Christian campus ministry, for
12 years and have moved to many different campuses
(Radford University, University of Maryland, overseas in
Maracaibo, Venezuela). We now serve as the directors of
the ministry in Washington, DC, and work on several of
the campuses in the DC area.
Cru is a caring community that is passionate about connecting people to Jesus.
We do various things on campus: Bible studies, evangelism, seeker groups, large
group meetings, service projects, discipleship, and outreach events. Our goal is to
capture hearts, transform lives, and launch men and women into a life-long
adventure with Jesus Christ.
We are continually looking for individuals who have a passion for the next
generation and would like to partner with us prayerfully, financially, or on a
volunteer level (via discipleship, speaking, Bible study). We are delighted to meet
with anyone who would be interested. Please don't hesitate to contact us with
any thoughts or questions:
[email protected]
[email protected]
http://www.dccru.com
http://www.give.cru.org/0557309
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Restoration Immigration Legal Aid
Natalie Foote
Restoration Immigration Legal Aid is a
ministry of our church that began to
form in summer 2015. We are
dedicated to holistically supporting the
immigrant community in our
neighborhood by providing low-cost
immigration legal assistance and
community-building. Through this
work, we seek to cultivate the
relationship between the immigrant
community and our congregation. Our vision is for the immigrants in our
neighborhoods to experience the love of Christ, hope, and respect and to be
empowered as contributing and valuable members of their communities.
Beginning in early 2016, we plan to offer immigration legal services through
regularly scheduled “clinics” at Restoration and one-on-one appointments to
assist persons who are eligible for immigration status changes. The ministry will
be supported by individuals in our church who have been federally accredited for
such work, as well as faith-based organizations with expertise in immigration law.
We also plan to provide community education events to provide valuable
information to the immigrant community.
There are many ways to be involved! You can volunteer in the areas of
hospitality, administration, transportation, legal advice and representation, social
work and counseling, translation, and prayer.
Contact persons: Michelle Swearingen at [email protected] and
Natalie Foote at [email protected].
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The Navigators
Nav20s, and CityLife–Anne Cregger
The Navigators’ vision is “to advance the gospel of Jesus and his
Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of
laborers living and discipling among those who do not know
Him.” We focus on the Lord, Scripture and discipleship. My
specific work is to connect the vibrant population in our DC
metro area of people in their 20s and 30s to God and to each
other. They, being who and where they are, tend to spread to “the nations.” I’m
one of 26 Nav20s city leaders across the country. The various expressions of my
work include small Bible study/discipleship groups, large monthly brunches that
serve as a gathering place or welcome center, CityLife teams (study and
mentoring groups of 6-10 people), one-to-one mentoring, and training mentors
in various settings.
Approximately one half of the people active in the ministry attend Restoration,
and they often bring their friends to different events apart from church.
Plans/hopes for 2016 include continuing with the larger welcome-center events
(currently brunches), adding more CityLife teams and new workshops and
topical series, and maybe (someday) a small short-term internship program.
Come join me! Please pray for our 20s and 30s and contact me if you’d like to
get more involved! Email me at [email protected] or call me at
703.929.6967.
Connally Gilliam
My name is Connally Gilliam, and I serve with the US Navigators. I
get to mentor women while also speaking and writing for a broader
audience. Since 2000, I’ve met with women at Resto (and beyond),
led small groups, and worked in various outreach capacities (AFAC,
outreach Bible reading groups, etc.). More broadly, I get to speak for
retreats, conferences, etc., partnering with others whenever possible.
My desire is to communicate the warm, strong, and revelatory light of Jesus
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Christ -- often through the semi-awkward and confusing questions surrounding
singleness, sexuality, gender, loss and/or race -- to the hearts and minds of
women and men in local, national, and international contexts.
My hope is to continually see God birth pockets of prayerful conversation in
each of these arenas, creating space for him to reveal himself and do new things.
So, if any of those often awkward and confusing topics—and its potential
connection to Jesus—intrigues you, I’d love to chat! Please get in touch with me:
[email protected]. And in the meantime, I’d value your prayers for
God’s guidance and direction as I seek to invite others into a deeper knowledge
of him.
http://www.connallygilliam.com
Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF)
John Westbrook
The Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) partners
with the global church to meet the needs of the poorest of the
poor. It's a true partnership, where the local church takes the lead
and we support the local church in ministry.
In 2015 Restoration gave generously to the Nepal earthquake
relief effort through ARDF. Other significant relief efforts in 2015 included
providing shelter to refugees fleeing ISIS in Iraq, helping refugees fleeing the
crisis in Syria, and providing for basic needs of refugees in the ongoing conflict
in Sudan. The church is the hands and feet of Jesus in these times of trouble.
Those of you who have been on Restoration’s West Virginia trip know that Jeff
Sickler, who leads Appalachian Community Care, emphasizes connecting with
people over finishing a building project. Likewise, ARDF realizes that more
important than a development project are relationships within the church and
its role in the local community.
Learn more about the Anglican Relief & Development Fund at
http://www.ardf.org
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Rock Recovery
Christie Dondero
Rock Recovery is an Arlington-based non-profit that supports
the journey to freedom from disordered eating. We offer an
affordable outpatient recovery program for adults locally and
education and prevention programs for children and adults
nationwide.
After a 10-year struggle and eventual full recovery from an
eating disorder, I received a call from God to help others find
freedom. After volunteering for three years, I came on as the
first staff member for Rock Recovery in 2013 and now serve as the Executive
Director. In 2015, we brought on our second staff member, a Program Director,
to expand our program capacity. We also hired a Chaplain to more formally
serve the spiritual needs of our clients. It was a fruitful and encouraging year! We
are now fundraising for a third staff member to manage community programs
and long-term sustainability.
Restoration has partnered with Rock Recovery for four years and offered
generous financial, prayer and volunteer support. I truly believe Rock Recovery
would not be where we are today without your faithful partnership. We have
plentiful opportunities to get involved by volunteering, making financial
contributions or joining our prayer team.
For details visit http://www.rockrecoveryed.org or contact me at
[email protected] or 919.696.4708.
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