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:

Josh and Abigail Jellel – SEND International

Last quarter, SEND conducted a campaign to educate people about the need to reach Buddhists – a perfect opportunity for Josh to contribute his skills! He collaborated with his North America-based counterparts to brainstorm direction for the campaign, created the web page, and facilitated contributions from SEND missionaries working with Buddhists around Asia. (https://www.send.org/path-to-peace)

One of Josh’s goals was to re-launch a lapsed email newsletter from their regional office to their regional members. He managed the redesign with the help of a designer friend from Moody and sent out the first issue in June.

Earlier this year Abigail planned a 6-day women’s retreat: Soul Care Asia. Women from each of the region’s countries were represented, and many said it was the best retreat they’d attended. Everyone left spiritually, mentally, and physically rejuvenated.

Abigail also was in charge of coordinating a joint conference for the China and Taiwan fields. For her first time planning a retreat for about 75 adults and children, everything went incredibly smoothly! It was a great time to get to know their coworkers in China and learn how they can serve them better.

But Abigail’s favorite part of past few months has been engaging her primary role as opportunities coordinator. She’s been learning what short-, mid-, and long-term “opps” exist for people to serve throughout their region and how to promote them, and talking with the recruiters who share these opps on college campuses and in churches.

 

Dominican Republic – FFC Promo from First Friends Church on Vimeo.

Get Involved:

Barahona, Dominican Republic

September 22-29, 2018 ( medical and prayer teams)
OR
November 3-10, 2018 (construction, discipleship, evangelism, and possibly medical teams)

Team sizes for these two trips are limited and applications will be accepted only until April 15. Informational packets and applications will be distributed at the informational meeting on April 8th or you can pick one up at either Welcome Center.

For questions, contact Lois Ferrel, Team Leader (330-280-2502) or Roger Foote at FFC (330-966-2800).

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