Overseas Missionary Care

Going Global can mean many things to different people. Clovis Hills wants to encourage people to pray along with their family and/or Growth group about where God wants them to GO.

Some next steps...

• Praying for people from another country or unreached people group (UPG).
• Developing relationships with people of a different culture than your own.
• Intentionally preparing for an overseas mission trip by getting your passport.
• Preparing for a mission trip in the next 2-3 years by creating a savings account over and above your tithe and specifically set aside for wherever God would send you.
• Adopt an Overseas Missionary and support them with prayer and small gifts throughout the year.

Developing an ongoing relationship with a missionary who is serving cross culturally overseas can be one of the most amazing ways to serve the Kingdom. Won't you consider praying about your involvement? For more information email missionarycare@clovishills.com or check out the current opportunities for the Miracles of Christmas through missions!

India * Swaziland, Africa

This past Sunday, we celebrated what Clovis Hills is doing in the world through missions. We have an exciting follow up to Lynette Goodwin, who has just returned from a mission in India! A self proclaimed "scaredy-cat," Lynette Goodwin serves on the missions team as a volunteer Missions Ministry Director and strives to help Clovis Hills be on mission. Lynette's story was recently published in the International Mission Board's recent eNewsletter. Take a couple moments to read it at: Lynette's Story.

When you hear or see the word "missions" - what comes to mind? Sleeping in a mud hut? Traveling to Zimbabwe? Stepping way out of your comfort zone? Well certainly all the above could apply but are definitely NOT the rule. I believe when it comes to missions that God wants each one of us to take the next step in the journey of discipleship. One step at a time with Jesus. Another person who has taken the "next step" is Danny Johnson who recently served on mission in Swaziland, Africa. Go to the Hope Rises website to learn more about this amazing mission born here in the Fresno/Clovis area!

Go to Miracles of Christmas for details on serving on mission in India and Africa or choose from the many options...check it out!

Operation Christmas Child * Feeding Fresno

Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful way to share God's love with a needy child in a third world country. Many, if not all, of the children have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ and the hope that can be found in a relationship with him. Through this mission Clovis Hills has the opportunity to serve as a growth group community which will impact children overseas. Now, if your growth group has chosen Operation Christmas Child then the next step is to...

1. Begin by picking up a shoebox (or use any standard size shoebox) and an Operation Christmas Child brochure from the SERVE table located in the courtyard during weekend
   services or go to Samaritan's Purse for details.
2. The brochure will give you the information you need to prepare a shoebox.
3. Filled shoe boxes need to be returned to the Clovis Hills Community Church SERVE table no later than Sunday, November 11. If you miss this deadline then between Nov. 11 - 18, please take the shoe boxes directly to Baseball Greats Sports Cards, 442 Pollasky Ave. in downtown Clovis: Mon. - Sat. 10 am - 6 pm and Sun. 12 pm to 5 pm.

Then expect God to do miracles in the lives of your growth group as you "go global"!

Feeding Fresno is another way for growth groups to serve in our local community. Feeding Fresno reaches out to churches, families, and organizations in a concerted effort to put food on the tables of economically disadvantaged individuals. Over 100,000 bags of groceries are given every year! If you can sort food, stock supplies or greet folks with a smile then THIS may be your local mission.

Go to Miracles of Christmas for details on serving on mission with Operation Christmas Child, Feeding Fresno or choose from the many options...check it out!

Lead: Going Global

Leadership is essential in the church. God has called all of us to lead in some capacity. The good news is you only need to be one step ahead to be a leader. So, I encourage you to:

• Maximize your serve.
• Become a leader.

Who me?!? Become a leader?!? Yes, YOU! Pastor Steve shares with us today as he completes the current series with LEAD - the last of the four areas of discipleship.

Jesus gave the church a mission to complete. The only way the church will complete the mission is to build a solid foundation of godly leadership. Leading as a disciple of Jesus reflects the value of Joyful Authenticity: Living from the heart. To lead our lives in such a way as to reflect the image of Jesus through our ability to live with joy even amidst adversity reflects a value of Clovis Hills.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus said:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Clovis Hills is a part of a global plan to care for people who face the difficulties of spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease and crippling illiteracy. We do this in conjunction with local churches worldwide. The first step is to become a "witness" of Jesus. Being a witness of Jesus is simply sharing what God has done in your life by sharing with others or through acts of compassion.

Now, as it applies to missions the vision is Going Global which is going on an international mission with your growth group. As a leader of your growth group you have an awesome opportunity to help lead your growth group on an international missionary journey. So, in your growth group begin praying about where God wants your group to travel on mission somewhere around the world. Then watch and experience God at work through your growth groups willingness to take the next step! It's an incredible experience with God!

What Can I Do In Mexico For 3 Days??

You can be part of building a home for a needy family in Mexico! You may be wondering how is that possible? Well, through AMOR Ministries...it is very possible.

Clovis Hills has partnered with AMOR for the last 6 years in Mexico and it has been amazing to see what God does in and through each one of us. This trip is very doable especially because AMOR lays the foundation before we even arrive. When we do arrive we begin framing, preparing for windows and a door and finally finish up with the roof. AMOR provides camping equipments, tools, and food...we just need to be in San Diego by 7:00 am ready to serve.

Would you consider joining me November 9th-11th? Pray about bringing along your family and growth group too! If you are ready to sign up, please contact me at terry.maldonado@clovishills.com or call 559.297.2600 ext. 19.

Deadline to register is September 1st.

Adios amigos!

Attention Nurses and Doctors!

It is the vision of Clovis Hills to mobilize growth groups on mission. It is my passion over the next year to spend time with Clovis Hills' Growth Groups and share a few of the many opportunities that will entertain the vision and process. I look forward to spending time mobilizing the Lord’s church to action.

That being said, I have an amazing opportunity and have become aware of an urgent need for medical personnel to travel to China this fall. To be more specific, the dates are for October 15th-31st of 2007. I personally partnered with this organization on a medical mission in the fall of 2006 and it was awesome! I was very impressed as they did a great job on the training, logistics and overall coordination of the trip.

If you are or know of an RN and/or MD who would prayerfully consider this adventure - this is for you!

Some details...

• The mission is humanitarian in nature by providing basic medical care to Villagers.
• October 15-31, 2007.
• Deadline to sign up to go is JULY 31st.
• PRAY, think about your growth group supporting you, get a passport, attend the informational meetings, required immunizations.
• Contact Terry or write medical mission on the communication card.
• Cost - $2,700 all inclusive.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to sign up. I can be reached at 559.297.2600 ext. 19, terry.maldonado@clovishills.com, on Sundays in the Connection Courtyard at Clovis Hills...come by and see me! :-)

Africa

I’ve never visited Africa, but hope to have the opportunity one day. When I think of Africa I think of poverty, hunger, disease such as AIDS...sure it saddens me but mostly it humbles me in that I am healthy and certainly not hungry! :-) Then I think of my friend Mica who has graciously agreed to serve for 2 years...and she has been there almost 6 months now...how time flies! She is an amazing young woman of God who hopes to be used by God in a BIG way in Africa and all over the world. Clovis Hills has an incredible opportunity to participate with her in making an impact in Africa...very cool!

Horn of Africa Mission known as HOAM is a ministry that is directly involved in ministering to the African people by planting churches, leadership development, education and health clinics. Clovis Hills is financially supporting the ministry and we look forward to forming an intentional partnership that mobilizes many to travel to Africa...awesome!

Another way for us to get involved is to learn more about what's going on in the world. Kay & Rick Warren of Saddleback church are taking action when it comes to fighting AIDS all over the world and especially in Africa. A student at Saddleback created a video entitled 8000 a day/everyday...check it out...it will make you think.

Until next time...PEACE!

Going Global...Samaria & to the ends of the earth

Cross-cultural ministry can occur in our backyard and across the sea...anywhere we have the opportunity to step outside our comfort zone and exprerience God in a culture other than our own. It is my hope that more and more people begin to experience God "on mission" with their families and small group. There are many opportunities to explore cross-cultural encounters in our community. Go to the Clovis Hills website for current updates.

Pray as a Small Group and ask God where he wants your group to go. Then create a savings plan to help it all happen. Decide where you will go and begin preparing. There are many options to choose from:

One such opportunity is our Mexico Mission...it's a great trip for a Small Group! You can build a home while building relationships! Check out the Amor Ministries website.

3 DAY TRIP -
Be a part of a movement of individuals coming together for three days to give the tangible gift of love in a new home to families in Mexico.

• Dates: Jun 29th–Jul 1st OR Aug 3rd– 5th OR Nov 9th–11th
• Cost: - $425 per person or $210 for 10 & under- $50 deposit due on sign-up - deadline 2 months before the trip. Checks made out to Clovis Hills and given to Terry Maldonado.
• All participants will meet at the Amor headquarters in San Diego, CA by 7:00 a.m. All meals, from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, as well as tents and tools are included.
• To sign up or for more information, contact Terry Maldonado at 550.297.2600 ext. 19 or email terry.maldonado@clovishills.com

Prayerfully consider taking on the challenge of going global...to Mexico!

Where Will God Have Me Go In My Lifetime?

International missions is one area that for most folks seems to be the hardest to embrace. Whether it's because of the cost financially, fear of crossing cultures, anxiety about eating "weird" food...have you tasted some of the food we eat?!? C'mon...deep fried twinkies!!! Yuck! Well, I have to admit, I have not "embraced" a deep fried twinkie...and I don't plan on it either. And that's not really the point I'm trying to make. The truth is that we have some pretty weird customs and traditions right here in Clovis California and so to limit ourselves by fear of the unknown is really a loss for us and what God can do through each one of us.

So, ask yourself the question: Where will God have me go in my lifetime?

• Prayerfully seek His voice and listen to His "still small voice"
• Learn what you can about world missions
• Go to the various websites, google a country, pray for an unreached people group
• Get a passport
• Just get started

The International Mission Board is the missions organization that we often partner with when traveling overseas. They have recently put together a podcast which can be a great way to learn about all they are doing and thus some of the many opportunities before us!

Hmmm, where in the world is God sending me?!? I need to go hang out with Him...until next time...peace!

Mica Mirides

Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were great! I had a chance to share God's blessings with my family this past Christmas in a very practical way. I felt it was and continues to be my "personal missions"...I believe some in my family got a glimpse of who God is...and that's pretty cool! Yeah God!

Missions continues to be a passion of mine and so when someone in our church goes global...I get pretty excited. Well, for the first time ever in our churchs' history we have one of own embarking upon a 2 year journey to Africa. Mica Mirides has been attending Clovis Hills since she was 9 years old and now as a 22 year old - she has accepted the call of God to serve in Africa. Anyone who knows Mica, knows she is wise beyond her years and in fact, she has a long-term vision of the ministry for Africa. As a teacher and a lover of children...it is her desire to minister to orphans and widows. I look forward to sending many short-term teams to join her and serve in Africa. Mica will be commissioned on Sunday, January7th during both services at Clovis Hills. Hope you can join us!

Thanksgiving In India??

Have you ever thought of spending the Thanksgiving holiday by serving people in India? Since it is an American holiday one doesn't usually think of celebrating it on mission. However, think of this: Jesus spent his life being thankful to the Father by serving people thus modeling for us the example of grateful service. It the desire of Clovis Hills to help our members experience God fully through service. Missions is a vehicle for service that takes us outside our comfort zones thus allowing the Spirit of God to work in and through us. What an incredible opportunity!

We have in our midst a couple of folks who have just experienced Thanksgiving in India. They have some incredible stories to share with us. '>View video.

If you would like to learn more about this mission, join us next Sunday, December 17th at 12:30 pm room 209/210. We will be gathering to share stories of India and the vision for future missions.

Hope you can join us to hear about what God's doing in India!