LOCAL & GLOBAL MISSIONs

Our church desires to invest in local ministries and organizations that help fill the gap for people in need our community. We also know that the life-changing message of Jesus Christ is intended for a worldwide audience. Our approach is to form long-term relationships where we can create opportunities for our church body to serve and share the love of Jesus.

Our purpose is to impact the world by equipping believers to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). We partner with the following ministries by providing prayer and financial support.

THE KRAUSE FAMILY - Word of Life Fellowship Evangelism Ministries

Aaron, Job, Teresa, Abigail, Levi & Moses

"Our mission is to bring the Lord to the lost and equip local churches to do the same by training believers biblically and effectively to share the message of Jesus Christ with unbelievers where they are. By so doing, we seek to reproduce disciples who in turn will make messengers." The Krause family recently spent an extended time in Ecuador to hone their Spanish language skills to broaden their scope of ministry to include the Hispanic/Latino community.

CHRISTIANS INVOLVED IN SERVICE


CIS was formed as a local based ministry to Russia and Ukraine. Sadly, all funding to Russia has currently been suspended. We have since sent our support monies to help the Ukrainian pastors with refugee support including food, clothing and other essentials. The support we send often reaches and impacts soldiers on the front lines as most of our pastors have become chaplains to serve the soldiers of Ukraine.

FIVE PINES MINISTRIES

Located near Berrien Springs, Michigan, their desire is to reach out, challenge youth and change lives through Jesus Christ. This is a year-round ministry that uses many creative means including a high wire obstacle course that is used with local schools, a climbing wall, tubing hill, monthly youth outreach and summer camp. Last year they served 563 campers with over 50 seasonal staff members.

KIRK & CARLA GLIEBE - Devar Emet Messianic Jewish Outreach


Reaching out to the Jewish Community in Skokie, Illinois, our focus is on meeting the spiritual needs of Jewish young adults, teens and children, first through our own personal active outreach and mentoring, then through developing our expertise into programs and materials made available for others to use. A few unique ministries we have developed are Club Maccabee, which is a club program that teaches Jewish children the truths of Scripture in a fun environment, and HaDerekh Youth which focuses Jewish teens on Spiritual and Identity formation through Scriptures Studies, Camp HaDerekh and our Israel Aliyah. 

Devar Emet also has birthed a synagogue community as a long-term testimony within the Jewish community of Chicago. It is our passion and prayer that many Jewish people will not only come to accept Yeshua as Messiah, but that these Jewish believers will continue to live out their Messianic faith by living Jewishly within the greater Jewish community.

LIFEPLAN

LifePlan exists "to spread the Gospel by helping people choose life and live a Hope-filled life." With the support of many volunteers and generous donors, LifePlan is able to impact the lives of their clients and local communities in a variety of ways, all at no cost to the client. Examples of this support include:

  • Pregnancy tests and ultrasounds                
  • One-on-one mentoring, for moms and dads!                
  • Classes on pregnancy, infant care, parenting, relationships, life skills, Bible studies, etc.
  • Material goods such as diapers, formula, baby and maternity clothing, and baby equipment
  • Connecting clients to local churches as well as other resources in the community
  • Outreach to local students in both Christian and public schools
  • Resources for local churches pertaining to various issues of the day

LifePlan is headquartered in Niles, Michigan and has 3 campuses where the above services are provided: Niles, Benton Harbor (in the

former Planned Parenthood building) and in South Bend, Indiana.

REACH THE FORGOTTEN - Jail Ministry


Our local missionary, Don Bennett, seeks to bring the life-changing power of the Gospel into the lives of inmates who are currently residing at the Berrien County Jail. Bible study lessons and weekly services are available for those who desire to participate.

RICK & DEBBIE BARDIN - Medical Missionaries to Cameroon, Africa


Rick and Debbie have been serving at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital since 2010. 


Rick is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Pathology. He does patient diagnostic work and mentors resident physicians. He has established a pathology service to support the CIMS (Christian Internal Medicine Specialization) and PAACS (Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons) surgical residency programs. 


Debbie is an RN working in the outpatient HIV clinic. She enjoys sharing scripture with her patients along with praying with and encouraging some of the doctor's wives. She is involved with the Women's Ministry in their church.


TERRY HOLLEY - Regional Minister Great Lakes Association (GLA)

Terry serves 26 churches in the GLA which covers the states of IN, KY, MI and OH. He views his role as being a “pastor to pastors,” and comes alongside churches who are in various modes of transition. Before serving as the Regional Minister for the GLA, Terry was the senior pastor at Heartland Community Church in Medina, Ohio, a church he planted back in 1997. He holds a Master of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary. Terry has been married to his wife, Janie, since 1974, and they have two married adult children. 


REMOTE VISITATION

God laid on the heart of some of our members to start a card ministry to our shut-ins and others in need of encouragement. They gather to make handmade cards - a personal note is added, a prayer said, and off the cards go in the mail. We appreciate the time and effort that these members put into this ministry of loving people. The recipients enjoy keeping connected with the church family.

The Remote Visitation Committee also provides the members with gifts on special occasions such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.

PARKING LOT MINISTRY

St. Joe has a lot of things going on - especially in the summer! For a simple donation, we open our lot for safe, off-street parking during the Blossom Parade, fireworks, Krasl Art Fair - and sometimes other big events. Upon entering the lot, you will be provided with information on the mission project that will be receiving the money collected.

Park with us and be a part of something bigger!

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Every year, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 220 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expression of God’s love.

First Baptist Church is looking forward to participating with Operation Christmas Child this Christmas season!