what is missional community?
Simply stated, its a group of people who journey together to graciously serve people in our city with the whole gospel to the whole person. As we look outside ourselves, unite in humble need-meeting and genuine love for others a deep and rich community develops. We love the broken, the poor, the addict, the outcast, the lonely, the homeless, the displaced, because Jesus does. His compassion compels us, his grace unites us; that is missional community.
discover the mission
Are you interested in how Christ is entering our missional communities? Curious about what the new developments that are occurring? Journals are available for you to read at the Local Ministries table on Sunday mornings at Franklin High School. Come read the story and discover the mission. So that everyone has the opportunity to discover the mission, please do not take the journals home with you.
project summer is here!
Project Summer '08 is here! Join a team of folks passionate about serving children and families and help us roll out this year's project to feed and love the kids of Portland. To learn more about how your gifts match up with this missional leadership opportunity, contact Annie Kirschner at .
environmental stewardship
Renovo, an environmental stewardship ministry of Imago Dei, will have a meeting Sunday, July 6, at 1:30 p.m. (following the 12:00 service) in Room 159 at Franklin High School. We will be discussing ways to help our church family reduce our ecological footprint, focusing initially on introducing reusable coffee mugs. For more info, contact Mike Nacrelli at 971-327-8922 or .
have elderly neighbors?
Do you have any elderly neighbors who could use your friendship and perhaps practical help? Imago Dei's Serving the Elderly ministry encourages individuals and home communities to adopt a lifestyle of care and involvement with the forgotten elderly in your neighborhoods. For more information about how simple it is to make a huge and gospel-centered impact, contact Alan Rutherford at .
need construction work?
Irvington Covenant Community Development Corporation heads up a re-entry program that provides construction work for ex-offenders. ICCDC, a non-profit organization licensed and bonded with the State, specializes in residential and commercial, building, remodels and general labor construction. Its prices are competitive and it guarantees the work. For quotes, call 503-281-1234.
ronald mcdonald house dinner
Each month, a group from Imago makes dinner for the families staying at the house. Please join us June 8 at 4 p.m. as we prepare dinner. This is a great chance to share with these families in need. Please contact Erin Gleason () if interested.
mentoring
When a child grows up in a single parent home, in poverty, or another high risk situation, he or she will more likely struggle with low school performance, depression, unwed pregnancy, drug or alcohol abuse, or some other form of criminal activity. Admittedly, these are huge, societal and structural issues. The gospel calls us to respond to oppression and injustice on a cultural, as well as, an individual level. While we work to deal with the brokenness of our society we need to also come in close to those who are most powerless and affected; children.
Mentoring is a great way to change the trajectory for one child. In the context of a caring relationship, hope and change is brought forth. One agency's research states "Kids who are mentored are: 46% less likely to use drugs or alcohol, 53% less likely to skip school, 33% less likely to resort to violence, 59% more likely to get better grades." Couple these statistics with the relational emphasis of the gospel as seen in the command to go and make "disciples", that is, "learners" and it becomes obvious that as Christ-followers we should be involved with mentoring.
At Imago Dei we partner with several organization as means to plug our people in to mentoring. You are encouraged to contact one of the following mentoring organizations:
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Real change, change that can alter the course of a life, is made through relationships. As Christ invites us into relationship with Him, He also invites us into relationships with others as His hands and feet. Big Brothers Big Sisters, one relationship at a time, invites us into relationship with the kids of Portland. http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/missional-journey/missional-communities/justice/at-risk/big-brothers-big-sisters Contact Kym Condron or Ryan Flood at
The Belmont Foundation
The Belmont Foundation's vision is to provide aid for single mothers and offer role models for children growing up without fathers.
The percentage of families dealing with these issues is staggering. Close to 85 percent of youths in prison come from fatherless homes; about 70 percent of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
The Belmont Foundation's vision is not only to help attack and lower these statistics but also to provide support and aid for the single mothers who have been left to do it all on their own. While the work of the Belmont Foundation is beginning in the Portland area, its five-year plan involves branching out to other cities, partnering with solid, Bible-believing and teaching churches that desire to reach out to single mothers and involve themselves in the lives of children growing up without fathers.
http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/missional-journey/missional-communities/justice/at-risk/belmont-foundation
Contact Wade Trimmer at
REACH Ministries
REACH Ministries is looking for Camp Counselors & Volunteers! REACH serves families affected by HIV/AIDS & life-threatening illnesses here in Portland and in the Pacific Northwest. Please contact Stefanie Johnson at or 253-383-7616 for more information, or check out our website at www.REACHministries.org. Help show a child God's love through this amazing experience!
Portland Impact/SUN Program
Portland Impact and SUN Sites collaborate with public schools to provide extended academic enhancements and mentors for school aged children.
www.portlandimpact.org/mentoring
imago dei community
