Missions

About:

At First Friends we directly support career missionaries locally, nationally, stateside support for international organizations, and internationally through our tithes and offerings. We support missionaries through our denomination alongside other churches in the Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region through our giving to the Great Commission Budget.

We pray for the missionaries and organizations we support.

We go on mission trips to serve and spread the gospel in person.

FMFeatured Missionary:

News from Cary and Reny Clifton

Is Cary still with SALT*? Yes, currently as Senior Researcher. He goes to the Hong Kong SALT office two days per week to consult for those who took over his former responsibilities and interface with SALT staff. He is thankful to share with them the new knowledge he is gaining through research. They are depending on God for every detail of this transition. Cary’s heart desires to support his team well and remains with the Forgotten Shepherds.

Is Cary a student at Oxford? Yes, part-time at Oxford Center for Mission Studies (OCMS) in a Guided Study Program (GSP) – an innovative option for scholars who have unique needs for their ministries and for whom PhDs may not be the best path. Cary helped launch the new program by collaborating with OCMS and becoming their first scholar. He uses the Oxford Library System for research when he’s onsite in Oxford, UK (i.e., full-time for six weeks in 2017 and three weeks in 2018). The rest of the time, he works on the program part-time from wherever he is ministering. It should take about 36 more months to complete the program. They’re thankful for the GSP option and praying in anticipation of the benefits yet to come for the Forgotten Shepherds.

What organization will they join? After much prayer and conversations with others, they narrowed their focus and applied to one organization. They had face-to-face meetings in October to get better acquainted and explore next steps in their candidate selection and acceptance process. Pray for clarity and discernment of God’s plan.

*Systematic Asian Leadership Training

Get Involved:

Barahona, Dominican Republic

October 19-26, 2019 ( Women’s medical and prayer teams)

Now taking applications and $250 deposit. Due by January 14, 2019. Once a month training will begin in February after the team is established.

For more information, contact Theresa Maxin at 330-966-2800 or tmaxin@firstfriends.org

Holy Land 2019

March 22-31, 2019

Are you interested in traveling to the Holy Land? Pricing starting at $3496, with discounts for early registration. Brochures available at both Welcome Centers.

For more information or questions, contact Paul Johnston, at FFC (330-966-2800).

Youth Mission Trips

Our Middle School students and High School students have the opportunity to participate in local service and ministry days at Refuge of Hope and to travel nationally and internationally on summer mission trips. For more information on their trips please see:

High School Youth

Middle School Youth

Locally, we support the following organizations and people. If you are looking for a place to serve within our community we encourage you to look into the following options:

CSRM (Church Sports and Recreation Ministers)

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Stark and Carroll Counties

Lighthouse Ministries

Pregnancy Choices

Refuge of Hope

Young Life of Stark County

Cindy Mandrell, Director of C.O.O.L.

Chad Frank, of H2O church in Kent

In order for international mission organizations to be able to function effectively, the international missionaries need support staff in the U.S. who will oversee recruiting, administrative needs, logistics, and the pre-field and ongoing training.

M. & S. A. work to recruit, train, and support missionaries in closed countries for People International

Glen Osborne is the director of China Outreach Ministries

Lynda Gravier works for Heaven Sent Ministries coordinating their emergency food packaging projects, and overseeing their volunteers

Dave and Susan living in Orlando and serving on the Global Strategy Team with The Jesus Film Project.

Ming and Mako Nagasawa – Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

Tom Young – Campus Crusade For Christ

 

Africa and the Middle East
David and Debby Thomas
GLLT (Great Lakes Leadership Training)
H. & W. B.

India
Jacob and Jaya Beera – Hope Ministries, International

Asia  – All these missionaries work in hostile, closed countries, and for their safety and the safety of local believers we cannot identify them online. For more information please see the mission books in the Coffee Commons at First Friends.
J. & A. J.
K. & K. K.
M. & V. K.
S. K.
S.A.L.T.  (Systematic Asian Leadership Training) and C.C.

Mexico, Central, and South America
Nishe Rothschild – Guatemala

Caribbean – The Dominican Republic
Grace and Peace Missionary Fellowship 

Russia and Ukraine
Abe and Diane Bible

We participate in the sharing the truth of the Gospel and the completion of the Great Commission through the work of our denominational missionaries:

Evangelical Friends Eastern Region

Evangelical Friends Missions

Staff

Gail Wallace

Administrative Assistant for Children's Ministry and Missions

gwallace@firstfriends.org

Ext. 229

Scott Calhoun

Pastor of High School Youth and Missions

scalhoun@firstfriends.org

Ext. 223