(When one of our member churches is facing a major repair or necessary enhancement (e.g., handicapped ramp, etc.), they may petition the Conference for a grant from the CCCC Cornerstone Corps. The Cornerstone Corps is a group of CCCC member volunteers who have agreed to support the Cornerstone fund with up to two donations per year so that such grants may be made with no additional “strings” attached. If you’d like to become a member of the CCCC Cornerstone Corps, please contact the CCCC office at (651) 739-1474.)
Freed to Fulfill Our Mission
by Nate Hall, pastor of the Pacific Union Congregational Church in Westport, Massachusetts
Earlier this year, we received a generous donation from the Cornerstone Corps towards the repair of our roof and steeple. On behalf of my I church I would like to extend our thanks to the Conference for your generosity. With the money we received we were able to complete the project. As grateful as we are to have these repairs behind us, what excites us more is the freedom we now have to concentrate our resources on two missions projects that are a vital part of our church’s life.
This fall we will be raising money, but this time it won’t be for the building; the funds we receive will benefit those outside the walls of the church. The gift from the Cornerstone Corps has allowed us to return our focus to missions and expressing the love of Christ in our community and around the world.
Tolupan Project
Since the completion of the roof and steeple, we have started to plan a return trip to Yorito, Honduras, where our church has made a long-term commitment with the Tolupan Tribe. The goal of this partnership is to serve the Tolupan by giving them the tools to solve community problems and to empower the church to make disciples, raise up leaders and plant new churches. We hope to send a team down in December to install water-filtration systems, improve home ventilation (indoor cooking fires) and provide church leadership training.
Mobile Loaves and Fishes
We have also expanded our involvement with Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a local ministry that serves the homeless and working poor by providing food, clothes and prayer with a canteen truck that serves as a “soup-kitchen on wheels.” We have found this ministry not only a blessing to those we serve, but is perhaps our best evangelistic tool in reaching middle-class folks who are “successful” but find that their lives are empty. Mobile Loaves and Fishes has introduced a number of such people to the Gospel.
The Cornerstone Corps not only helped us fix our building, it has freed us to return our focus to the Great Commission. Thanks to all those involved in the Cornerstone Corps.
For further information about Cornerstone Corps, including the fall 2013 project, go to http://www.ccccusa.com/old/old/giving/cornerstone-corps/.
