CROSSPATHS BIBLE STUDY

If you work in the business world, you are probably familiar with the term “best practices.” Many businesses use the best-practices format as part of their process-improvement planning. In other words, they look at what’s being done across the company, or even in other companies, to see what practices and procedures work best.

Here at Mount Calvary, best-practices helped to develop our “CrossPaths” Bible study series. CrossPaths uses the best of other Bible study formats to create a more effective and accessible experience for our members. The series combines the learning and study of a teaching and presentation format, with the intimacy and camaraderie of small-group interaction.

Each week, participants get a little reading homework and begin having a personal encounter with the Word so they’ll be ready to come and discuss the assignment with the other members of their small group. Well, you know what happens where two or three are gathered – there is God in the midst of them! And when people meet, and talk, and come to new understandings, wonderful, faith-filled friendships are born. After small group time, everyone gathers together for large group learning at a presentation by Pastor Dave.

When asked to reflect on her CrossPaths participation, member Heidi Westlind shared, “I was worried about adding a weekly evening commitment to our full family calendar and getting the homework done, but what I found was that being imperfect on those fronts was ok, and that the experience was still completely worthwhile. The lectures were interesting, the conversations in small group were meaningful and I really valued the opportunity and space to explore my own understanding, thoughts and opinions on a wide variety of topics.”

This year’s CrossPaths series is in three parts. It begins on Tuesday, September 26, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., with the first session, four weeks of “The Parables of Jesus.” The series is designed to work for anyone, whether you are a seasoned Bible student, or just a beginner. As Pastor Dave says, “This is not competitive Bible Study. This is hospitable Bible study. No one will walk away without having been engaged in a meaningful way.” Future sessions will be January 16–February 20, “Seeing Gray In a World of Black and White” and April 10-24 on the book of James.

You’re invited to one or all. Come check it out. You may find that CrossPaths is one of YOUR best practices.

Kara Paulson

The Call from His House

It seems like every summer I write about local homeless issues. I looked back on some of my previous Caller articles about families sleeping in their cars at the His House Thrift Store, at churches, and other parking lots in this community. I’ve written about driving the homeless to a shelter only to be turned away because the shelters are full. We have bought tents so families can “live” in the campground indefinitely. And His House created an emergency hotel fund that every year is used beyond the balance.

This article is not about a success story…because I don’t have one. I only have my experience of meeting people so desperate that they are standing at the local grocery store asking for help.
I’m not sure this congregation knows that the His House team has taken this difficult challenge on: to address the needs of a person that feels there is no other solution but to hold a sign at the corner. We receive phone calls, texts, and emails from community members letting us know at what intersection they see someone with a sign asking for help.

This work is the most difficult, heart wrenching, and wonderful work we are called to do. Someone is so desperate, so broken and tired that they see no other option but to stand at an intersection. We can meet this person and offer hope.

I don’t have an answer or idea about solving these issues…that’s for people smarter than me. This article is just about a “call.” The His House call that many in this church and community receive. The call to lift up the broken and tired and share our blessings with others who are desperate and tired.

Families Moving Forward is Back

We are excited to continue hosting for our second year of the Families Moving Forward Program! Families Moving Forward (FMF) is a church-led program for hosting homeless families in our area. It involves around 70 churches, with each church hosting 4 families for two weeks during the year.

In March we had life-changing experiences with our volunteers and families, and ALL of the families moved into their own stable housing within a month after our hosting week! We are pleased to announce that Mount Calvary will be hosting our second group of families from August 6-13, 2017!

You can learn more about FMF on our church website, by picking up an information sheet at the Welcome Center, or by contacting Chris Anderson.

We are currently looking for individuals, families, and groups to help with various needs for this program. There are many ways you can become involved, including the following teams: Leadership/Planning Team, Activities Team, Food Team, Setup Team, and Supplies Team.

If you are interested in one or more of these teams, or just in finding out more about Families Moving Forward, please contact Chris Anderson at 952-474-8893.

We will be hosting an information session in July for anyone interested—you can sign up for this session with Chris.

Help Local Students Fight Hunger with MH-MM

Many Hands Many Meals packs life-saving meals throughout the year. We have our big packathon every November – but this year we’re having another event for local students in May.

More than 800 students from area schools will come to Mount Calvary to pack meals on May 25-26. Teaching kids about hunger and empowering them to make a difference in the world is a core part of our mission. We’re so excited about this opportunity! But we’re asking for help from our community in two ways.

  • Volunteering: We’ll need help with setting up tables and equipment, moving and loading supplies, acting as team leaders during the event and helping with clean up.
  • Donations: Our ingredients are not free but must be purchased. For this event, the supplies will cost more than $21,000, so donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.
    You can view opportunities to get involved and ways to donate at mh-mm.org. Thank you so much to our amazing community for supporting local kids and for helping us fight hunger around the world!

NIGERIA+BALI+SCRABBLE=PERSEVERANCE

This is Mount Calvary’s 25th year of partnership with our sister church in Jimeta, providing financial support to native Nigerian missionaries who serve in remote areas.

Nigeria is also the number one scrabble country in the world, according to recent NPR and Wall Street Journal articles. “Nigerians are very determined and dogged people,” says Angela Osaigbovo, a 10-year old Scrabble winner, in a NPR interview. “And once we set our minds to something, we achieve it.”

We here at Mount Calvary certainly know this to be true of our Nigerian friends who persevere in all facets of life. After nearly three decades, the Bali missionaries known as Aikkaku, continue to farm, teach, heal and bring God’s love within rural communities far from government help. Nigerians see hope and perseverance in these Aikkaku families who stay in their adopted villages in spite of local unrest, inflamed in recent years by the Boko Haram.

Joshua Abu, our friend and the chairman of the Bali Committee in Jimeta, Nigeria wrote in April, “Let me say how grateful I am having had the opportunity of working with you and your colleagues in the past and in the years ahead, as God will allow.”

Mount Calvary is highlighting Nigeria’s recent Scrabble championship with our annual fundraiser for Bali. Please look for the Scrabble display in the atrium April 29 – May 14. Help yourself to a bookmark when you pick up an envelope for your donation. ALL of the money you give will go toward paying the Aikkaku’s salaries. Our friends and partners in Nigeria are so grateful for your continued support.

Demsa Health Referral Center Opening

On February 24, 2017, the Lutheran Church of Christ Health Service Board held a ribbon cutting and opening of the renovated Demsa Health Referral Center. Mount Calvary was the primary contributor for this project, through our Mission Ready Capital Campaign a few years back. Both existing buildings were demolished to walls and floors starting with the Out-Patient Clinic in 2014. Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry has managed the project financing. The Out-Patient Clinic had a small expansion added to the front of the building, new higher roof, new electrical and plumbing. When the Out-Patient building was completed in 2015 all functions were moved to the Out-Patient Clinic and the In-Patient Clinic demolition and construction was started. The In-Patient Clinic was expanded to include a minor surgical theater, two delivery rooms, two wards and toilet facilities for the wards. Electrical power from the national power grid, a back-up generator and an Un-Interruptible Power System for critical circuits were added. While the facility is operational, there are several items still being worked on with the money remaining in the construction fund.

Church for the Deaf Dedication

On November 13, 2016, Bishop Amos Yakubu of the Yola Diocese, Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), officiated over the dedication of the Church for the Deaf, in Jimeta, Nigeria. The Mount Calvary Foundation was the second largest US contributor for this project. Several members of Mount Calvary were among the top 5 US individual contributors. Proceeds for the 2012 through the 2016 Fair Trade Fairs amounted to the third largest contribution to building the church. US contributions amounted to approximately 51% of the total funding. The Danish Lutheran Church and Danish Lutheran Deaf Church contributed about 48%. The church is designed with stadium seating on four levels. With friendly seating, 100 people can be seated.

Future projects for the LCCN Deaf ministry will be support for the training of Deaf evangelist, catechist and pastors, demolition of the existing LCCN Deaf Center and building a new building with classrooms for primary and secondary school classes, hostel for Deaf children from rural areas, and areas for adult vocational training.