| |
LOCAL
Our strategic location in the heart of the city enables us to be involved in a variety of efforts to meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world. The community outreach of the Central Church of Christ takes several forms: |
 ServeWichita
"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you ..." Jeremiah 29:7
This is the goal of our community outreach activities. And every month Central members are in the community using their time, energy, and talents to serve others.
March events include:
March 24--Assist in serving the evening meal at The Lord's Diner.
March 28--Fill "backpacks for kids" at the Kansas Foodbank Warehouse (8:30-11:30 a.m.).
April events:
April 11--Assemble and distribute sack lunches for the homeless
April 24--Serve meal at Franklin Elementary School (school carnival)
April 25--Participate in "Love Wichita" with other Wichita churches. Our assigned task: clean up the east and west riverbank between 1st street and Maple street bridges, from 8:30 a.m. until noon. |
 Homeless Ministry
Our congregation is represented on the Community Council for Homeless Advocacy (CCHA), as well as other groups currently meeting to address various needs of the estimated 700 people who are homeless on any given night in Wichita. We have joined local homeless advocacy groups to host annual “sleep-outs” on our property for the purpose of raising awareness of the homeless population. Every winter since 1991 we have cooperated with other downtown churches in providing an overflow shelter during the months of December through February, when traditional shelters are at capacity.
|
Common Cause Teams
These are groups of Central members who regularly work together on a common interest or passion of community outreach. Current groups include:
•The Lord’s Diner — This is a program initiated by the local Catholic diocese to provide an evening meal 365 days a year for anyone who needs it — low income, homeless, etc. Our Common Cause Team works at the Diner the fourth Tuesday evening of each month. (A food handlers card, issued by the city of Wichita, is required for participation.)
•Franklin Elementary School — This elementary school is located within five minutes of our church building, and serves primarily low income families. Our team has formed a partnership with USD 259 to work with Franklin in a variety of ways: tutors; “helping hands;” serve on school SITE Council; provide school supplies in August for students; encourage the faculty and staff. Other projects under consideration are a Bible Club and an initiative targeting greater involvement by dads in their children’s education (WatchDOGS, an initiative of the National Center for Fathering).
•Simple House — Through this ministry, food is distributed two days a week. Clothing is also available through Simple House. Other area congregations support this effort as well.
•Saturday Sack Lunches for Homeless - On the second Saturday every other month, Central members assemble and distribute 200 sack lunches to the homeless of our community. Distribution takes place at St. John's Episcopal Church, corner of 3rd and Topeka.) |
 Mustard Seed Project
This outreach is located in a facility across the street from our church building—238 N. Waco. It houses the Diabetes Center of Hunter Health Clinic, a medical outreach to the homeless and low income of our community. And this facility is also the home of Simple House, our food distribution center. In addition, a Hispanic congregation that was “birthed” by Central now meets in this facility for their Sunday and Wednesday gatherings. Other uses for this facility are always under consideration, as space permits.
|
Kids Kamp
Every summer we host a 2-3 week activity for children that come primarily from the Franklin Elementary School area. Led by our teens and supported by adults, this is like a vacation Bible School experience. Through this outreach we also hope to reach beyond the children and make contact with their parents. It has been our joy to witness some of these children grow into followers of Jesus. |
Saturday Sack Lunches for Homeless
On the second Saturday of every other month, Central members provide 200 sack lunches to be distributed to the homeless in our community. This is a wonderful opportunity for all ages to participate in serving our neighbors. |
“Shopping Free” Day
In August we provide good, used clothing to people in our community. More recently we have added haircuts for kids, along school supplies, to the list of items available at this one day event. |
 Carpenter Place (formerly Maude Carpenter Children's Home)
Central members work and volunteer on the campus of this facility, located at 1501 N. Meridian in Wichita, KS. Our congregation has a long history with this ministry that celebrated 60 years of service in the summer of 2006. In the fall of 2008, the name was changed to "Carpenter Place" to better reflect current ministries and services.
Members from Central volunteer on various boards of Carpenter Place, tutor children who live on campus, help with landscaping, and serve in other ways as needed. We enjoy having several of the residents in our worship assembly every Sunday, and in our Bible classes on Wednesday night. Check out the Carpenter Place website at www.CarpenterPlace.org.
Throughout the year, the Central Church of Christ responds to other needs in our community as we are made aware of them. We continue to look for new ways to involve our members in community outreach, believing that this is a way to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world. |
 Impact Church of Christ - Houston, Texas
Beginning in 2007 we are assisting with the financial support of Ron and Linda Sellers, who for 25 years have been working with others in this vital inner city ministry in Houston. For current news and ministry updates go to the Impact church of Christ website at www.impacthouston.org and check out their blog spot. |
Christ’s Prison Fellowship – Wichita, Kansas
James McArthur oversees this Correspondence Ministry. Its purpose is to provide study material to assist those in prisons across the country who are seeking a way to better understand God’s word and how to live it. James works with a group of Central members on Wednesday nights who have corresponded with hundreds of students over the years. |
 Operation Guyana
Central supported Jerry and Pat Veatch for where they worked with Operation Guyana and where Pat supervised a medical clinic. Currently Central is supporting Jerry as he returns to the country several times a year for extended teaching opportunities and campaigns. A team from Central will be assisting in a medical campaign into the interior in the summer of 2008. See the Operation Guyana website at www.guyana-missions.org. |
Eastern European Missions - Vienna, Austria
EEM serves as a primary literature resource for strengthening churches, supporting campaign mission efforts in Eastern Europe and Russia, and is the only ministry that prints, distributes and conducts routine follow-up in every country. The permanent presence of its printing and distribution center in Vienna, Austria, provides consistency, efficiency and dependability. EEM currently translates and prints in twenty languages. In its first four decades, over 8,000,000 Bibles and related materials have been printed and distributed throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. Political openness in former communist countries has allowed additional areas of service for EEM. See their website at www.eem.org. |
Kampala Church of Christ - Kampala, Uganda
In March 1993, Greg and Debra Carr were part of the first Church of Christ missionary team to enter the country of Uganda. They worked tirelessly to gain government approval, eventually establishing the Kampala Church of Christ and a Better Living Resource Center. Today the Kampala church owns its building and there are many churches and missionary teams throughout the country. Central continues to make a small monthly contribution toward the upkeep of the building. Currently, Mark Long, Ellen Little, and Darla Bennett are the American missionaries, serving alongside the native leaders of the Kampala church. See their website at www.kampala-ministry.org. |
Natasha Lezhnina - Barnaul, Russia
Following the return of Zach Bolton, who grew up at Central and whom we supported as a missionary in Barnaul, Russia, we continued our involvement with the church in Barnaul through the full-time support of Natasha Lezhnina. Natasha is very involved with the youth and girls. In the summer she helps plan and implement camps for children and youth. In her own words, they try "to do everything possible to show those kids there are people who care and there is God who loves them very deeply."
Natasha's husband Arkasha graduated from a preacher training school in Barnaul and is seeking support to do full-time work himself.
|
Ray and Sally Leonard - South Africa
Ray and Sally Leonard continue their long-term work in South Africa. They are currently with the Atlantis congregation in Cape Town. Central has sent a small amount monthly to the Leonard’s work for many years. They have been tireless workers for the Lord, establishing many congregations throughout that country. They are under the oversight of the Church of Christ in McPherson. |
Victor Udohabasi – Nigeria
Victor Udohabasi began work with the Central Church of Christ in the month of July in 1996. He replaced Nathaniel Udom as the follow-up native preacher for the state of Bauchi. (21,000 square miles) Being a graduate of the Preaching School in Cross Rivers in southern Nigeria, Victor made the move to northern Nigeria with his wife and 4 children. Part of the perils of this leap of faith is that Bauchi State contains 64 different tribes and 14 different ethnic groups as well as many different languages to overcome than his native home in Southern Cross River State. Bauchi state is also predominately controlled by Muslims. Against the odds, Victor continues to baptize new souls regularly through his work with a weekly television program, prison Bible study programs, and the hundreds of World Bible School correspondence courses that he follows up with. Since Victor has begun his work in Bauchi, one church has for the first time ordained elders, many new congregations have been established as well as new church buildings have been constructed. His influence for the Kingdom is being seen through his continuous preaching of God’s Word and his genuine concern for lost souls. |
|
|
