Dear FBCC Family,

As Pastor Jonathan mentioned this morning, now more than ever is the time for the church to be the church.  Various groups in our community are going to have significant needs.  Below is an intital list of giving opportunities for you to consider.  Please pray about these opportunities to discern how the Lord would like for you to be a part of his church in action.

The first set of outside doors at the upper parking lot will remain open to drop off any of the below items.  If you would like to donate, but don't want to get out, please contact me, and we will have a member of the missions committee, deacon, or elder come by your home to pick up your donation.  You may also shop online and ship your donations directly to the church.  The church address is: 1200 Valmeyer Rd, Columbia, IL 62236.

  • Hospitals are in great need for N95 masks.  Pray for those working the front lines of the virus crisis as well as many other being treated in our hospitals across the area.

  • We have a nursing home request for various items.  Hymnals, Bibles, gospel CDs, devotionals, bottles of water.  Pray for those in residential care facilities that now face an elevated level of isolation.  Also pray for the staff to be patient and loving while they care for their residents.

  • Oasis International has requested various items to help frightened refugees.  Household products like laundry detergent, cleaning supplies are not able to be purchased by food stamps. Diapers Size 4, 5 or 6 only as well as shampoo and soap are always appreciated. In addition, gift cards for groceries (Aldi, Walmart, Schnucks) are always helpful.  Pray for the refugee community to find hope in the midst of their fears.

  • Non-perishable food items are in need.  Food pantries across the area are getting critically low.  In addition, household items such paper goods and cleaning supplies are needed.  Pray for thousands in our area who need spiritual nourishment as well as physical nourishment.

  • Financial needs are already becoming apparent.  Please consider a donation to the church benevolence fund so that we can care for members and people in the community who may find themselves unemployed or with drastically reduced hours at work.  Checks can be mailed into the church or donations can be made online at https://www.fbccolumbia.com/give.  Under the "Fund" category, select miscellaneous.  Pray for the economy and those who jobs may be affected by the effects of the virus.

  • In addition to the above physical needs, our church and community are going to have significant relational needs.  We have been created for relationships so isolation wars against our nature to be in community.  Reach out regularly to members of your small group or D-Group.  Contact neighbors to find out if they have needs that you can meet or if you can't share those needs with the church so we collectively can serve our neighbors.  Send texts, instant messages, and emails or make phone calls to your circles of influence to be a source of encouragement.  Above all things, pray for and take advantage of every opportunity to share the gospel with a world that may be more open now than ever to discuss eternal things!

Columbia police chief Jerry Paul has confirmed that charitable activities through local churches are currently exempted from the state of Illinois stay at home order.  We are not at this time being prohibited from ministering to hurting people. This exemption does not give us license to be careless so PLEASE follow appropriate social distancing protocols while ministering in the name of FBCC.

If your family has been impacted so that you have a specific need that can be met, please reach out to an elder, deacon, or church staff so that we can minister to your family as well.  We are praying for you all as we rest in the goodness and sovereignty of our Lord.

 

Josh Flowers
FBCC Missions Committee
josh.flowers78@gmail.com
618-612-8693