We're here for you,
no strings attached

Support our partners in a thoughtful way by helping send them a care package! Grace Groups who have "adopted" one of our partners are encouraged to assemble a box for them, but all are welcome to help! You can participate in a few ways:

1. Grace Groups: Assemble your partner's favorite items, small gifts, notes of encouragement, etc. We will have shipping boxes available at the table by the North Courtyard on Sundays May 19th, May 26th, and June 2nd, or you can grab one for free at any USPS post office. 

2. Shipping internationally can be very costly! Contribute to the cost of shipping/customs at the tax-deductible link below. This fund will also help us create care packages for those partners who are not covered by a Grace Group.

How to give: Go to gracea2.org/Give. Under Special Giving Opportunities, select the option for Missionary Gift Box Project and enter the amount you desire to give. You may also give by text by texting BOX amount  to 833-951-1947or give by cash or check in an envelope marked for Missionary Gift Boxes.

3. Notes All are welcome to drop off a note (or several) of encouragement to the North Courtyard table to be included in the care packages! They can be general or specific, and you can find a list of our partners here: https://gracea2.org/missionpartners/

Additional info for Grace Groups: 

Here is a helpful guide with some ideas on how to support your group's adopted partner:  How to Love a Missionary

Here is some additional information about shipping: Shipping Info Your group is welcome to ship the package and get reimbursed, or you may drop it off at the church on a Sunday or during regular office hours. 

Not connected to a partner but want to be? Contact tsanford@gracea2.org to discuss setting up a connection!

This is a time to see them, find out about what they're doing, and see how you can keep up with them if you were interested.

We can tend to see missionaries from two extremes, either we see them as these otherworldly godly heros, or we see them as awkward, lazy, or looking to get money from us. These perceptions can lead us to be distant senders. The reality is, they're all fallable humans who have embarked on a massive task and sometimes given up direct access to Christian community and family in order to take the Gospel where it has yet to go. This comes with plenty of mess, and when they are looking to the Lord, the Lord meets them there and works in awesome ways. Meet and Greets are a fun time to get to know them a little better, hear how God has been working through them, and maybe find out a little more about their ministry and how you can be involved.

Things you can ask them:
Where do you guys live?
How long have you been there?
What is the big vision of your ministry?
How have you seen God working in and through your lives?
How did you decide to get into missions?
How have you done being separate from family for so long?
What are ways we can be praying for you now and in general? (write them down)
What are other ways we can be involved in your ministry? (sign up for newsletter, financially support, etc..)
 

Upcoming Meet and Greets: 

Honza and Elise Halik: April 28th (Word of Life: Czech Republic)

Tomoo and Kaori Koike: May 5th (Fellowship International Mission: Japan)

SIGN UP/RSVP HERE

Saturday, December 7th, 9:30-11am

Fellowship Hall

More Details:
This breakfast is for anyone who would like to be up to date with what is going on with missions at GBC and how you can be involved. Key topics we will cover at this breakfast include:

- Info on a new initiative with our partners to establish an aviation program in South America 

- Tips on individually supporting missionaries

- Missions Residency Program 

This would be a great opportunity to bring GBC friends, specifically leaders and members of your Grace Group. 

If you have questions, please email tsanford@gracea2.org

Join us for a night of learning, stories, and prayer in an effort to "hold the ropes" for our mission partners as we look to continue growing in our ability and understanding of sending and partnering well.

May 15th: Koike Hold the Ropes | 6:30-8pm

Join us in the back of the sanctuary for a night of prayer for our mission partners. We will meet with our partners the Koikes, learn about their story and ministry in Japan, and encourage them as we seek to partner well. Refreshments provided!

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Past events:  

Local Partner Hold the Ropes:

Wednesday, March 27th   |   6:30-8:00pm

November 15th:

Recording of Phil Ozinga (GBC Global Partner in Honduras) sharing about the importance of Church partnerships 
 

The Story behind the name "Hold the Ropes"

William Carey --often referred to as "the Father of modern missions"-- was a missionary in the late 1700s and he spent 40 years in India.

Carey described India as an unknown dark mine where the Gospel was not found. So, he decided to go to India with a couple other families in an effort to make disciples of Jesus. At the time he was with a close friend named Andrew Fuller who was a pastor in his home Church in England.

Carey stated to Fuller: "I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes."

Fuller responded: “whilst we live, we should never let go the rope.”

Fuller held the ropes by advocating to his Church to pray and support the Carey family and others.
He did this by starting a culture of intense prayer, sacrificial giving, and missional teaching that pointed people towards God's global vision.