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News release: Because of the Dream Banquet
By CRCC | February 28, 2006
Troutdale— Columbia Ridge Community Church is taking steps of faith that they believe will create a permanent beacon of light in the local community, and reflect that light in a small village across the world.
Pastors Reed Mueller and Jared Alcántara are taking those steps of faith “Side by Side” with 100-plus members of their congregation to build a permanent church home in Troutdale and at the same time work with World Vision to improve lives in Africa.
With “Side by Side: Investing in God’s Dream,” CRCC is beginning a 3-year-long journey with one goal - transforming lives - through the twin tasks of building a permanent church home and providing funds for HIV/AIDS and poverty relief for a community in southern Africa.
The funding needed to achieve these goals is significant but “we believe God has a dream for Columbia Ridge, a dream of compassion without boundaries, a dream that we would become a church committed to serving our local and global community,” Pastor Reed continued. “We know it won’t be simple, but we’ll follow God’s lead and go forward in faith.”
“As we give together through Side by Side we will be buying land here for a future Ministry Center that will contribute both materially and spiritually to the people of East Multnomah County. The ministry center will be a place where people who need help can be served and where people who are searching for deeper meaning in their lives can find it by serving others in God’s name. At the same time, we’ll be changing lives thousands of miles away through a sustainable community development project. For example by funding well-drilling or health clinic construction for a village in southern Africa,” said Pastor Reed.
A free “Because of the Dream” banquet will be held for the congregation and others interested in pursuing God’s Dream for this community on March 10, 2006. “We’re asking people to step forward at the banquet to help us reach our initial funding goal of $100,000. Yes, we take a deep breath as we say that,” Mueller admitted.
Banquet speakers will be Ruth Nottingham and Pastor Mueller. Nottingham is World Vision’s church liaison specialist for the NW region and will highlight the work World Vision is doing worldwide, giving special emphasis to the needs of the African people. Founded in 1950, World Vision is an international Christian humanitarian organization serving the world’s poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries. As an organization, World Vision seeks to partner with others in enabling the world’s children to realize their God-given potential by tackling the root causes of poverty. Their goal is to serve the world’s poor, regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
Following the banquet, the congregation will dedicate each of their next five worship services to growing in their understanding and support of God’s dream for both the local and global community. In April Pastor Reed and his wife Erin will be traveling with World Vision staff to southern Africa to connect with the people the church will be supporting, laying the foundation for the development relationship ahead.
The church has chosen not to hire a fund raising consultant for the Side by Side program. Instead, money that would have been paid out for consulting fees is being channeled toward improving lives in southern Africa. Side by Side is a program of giving — time, energy and financial resources – that the people of Columbia Ridge have enthusiastically supported.
To make reservations for this banquet, please call Wendy Berry at the church office, (503) 667-2722, by March 6. If you prefer, you may also email your reservation request to SidebySide@ColumbiaRidge.org.
Columbia Ridge Community church is a non-denominational Christian church meeting every Saturday evening, 6:30pm, at 24375 SE Stark Street in Gresham, Oregon.
Topics: CRCC News |
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