Local Missions Newsletter

"And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead?' He is no here, but has risen..." Luke 24: 2-6

Let us continue to reflect on the wonder and joy that Easter is! Let us remember who Christ is, what He has done, and how He invites us to be a part of the story. We rejoice in Christ's resurrection not only for our own salvation, but that we may also tell others of His goodness. As we move into April, let us meditate on Luke 24:2-6. He is not here, He has risen!!! Take some time to look through the newsletter to see what steps God is calling you to take in sharing the Good News!

Hope for the Journey Conference (formerly the Empowered to Connect Conference) seeks to encourage and better equip parents and caregivers meeting the everyday needs of children impacted by adoption and/or foster care.  Whether you are part of an adoptive/foster family or serve children who are impacted by adoption/foster you will find great value attending the 5 sessions over 5 weeks. (Continuing Education Credit is available).

REGISTER HERE

Dates:

• Wednesday, April 10 | 6-8pm | Room 341
• Wednesday, April 17 | 6-8pm | Room 341
• Wednesday, May 1 | 6-8pm | Room 341
• Wednesday, May 8 | 6-8pm | Room 341
• Wednesday, May 15 | 6-8pm | Room 341

Cost:

• Free - we believe this training is so valuable that we want everyone to participate

Childcare:

• Available for 8 weeks - 5th Grade with advanced registration 

Adoption and Foster Care can be tough, put some great tools in your toolbox and receive encouragement. Here are a few topics that will be covered:

• An Introduction to TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention)
• Connecting Principles
• Empowering Principles
• Correcting Principles
• The Gospel + TBRI

Cobb DFCS Foster Parent Appreciation Event:
Help celebrate Foster Parents in Cobb County by contributing needed items needs for the Cobb DFCS Foster Parent Appreciation Event by checking out items on their Amazon Wish List.

May 5: Lunch & Learn
Adoption and Foster Care ministry is growing rapidly at JF, and we are excited to be launching Care Communities. JF Care Communities are designed to provide tangible care, support, and encouragement to families engaged in fostering and adoption. We will be having a Care Communities Lunch and Learn on Sunday, May 5 @ 11:30 in Room 105 for anyone interested in learning more about this ministry. Please make plans to join us and learn how you can utilize the gifts and talents the Lord has blessed you with to serve these families! For more info, click here.

Table on Delk 
Along with their normal serving opportunities The Table on Delk has more opportunities to serve in ways such as: grocery shopping, on-site cleaning, and administrative/office work.  Check out the specifics below or email Jan.

Monday:  
- Anytime before 2pm - on-site cleaning
- 10am-2pm office hours (mail, filing, general organizing, washing of our tablecloths at the laundromat in our shopping center) available in one hour increments and training provided
- Shopping - Aldi, Walmart, Costco (with a detailed list and reimbursed)

Thursday:
- Anytime before 11:00 am - on-site cleaning
- 10am-2pm office hours (mail, filing, general organizing, washing of our tablecloths at the laundromat in our shopping center) available in one hour increments and training provided

Friday:
- 10am-2pm office hours (mail, filing, general organizing, washing of our tablecloths at the laundromat in our shopping center) available in one hour increments and training provided
- Shopping - Aldi, Walmart, Costco (with a detailed list and reimbursed)

The Table on Delk is also looking for a couple of people who are administratively gifted to join our Volunteer Care Team (VCT). The VCT plans volunteer appreciation events, follows up with first-time volunteers, and reaches out to regular volunteers who are experiencing a difficult time/situation.  If you are interested in serving on this team, please email Celeste Braxton at celeste.thetable@gmail.com. 

Serve our Refugee Friends in Clarkston:
 We need your help and would like to invite you to take part in our Ramadan Iftar (break the fast) event next month at the Clarkston Community Center for our Muslim friends. We want to seize this opportunity to reach out to the people who came from the "ends of the world"- right to our doorstep. To volunteer during the Iftar dinner on April the 5 starting at 7pm, please use this signup.

Help Teens in Foster Care Celebrate High School Graduation
Cobb DFCS is celebrating with 20 teens who have overcome many obstacles to graduate high school by GED or diploma this spring, and they need your help! Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Visa gift cards are being collected to provide graduation gifts and to help provide for these teens as they take next steps into adulthood. Please consider joining in the celebration by sending a gift card to:

Cobb DFCS 
Attention: Samantha Hassler (Graduation)
1090 Northchase Parkway SE
Suite 200
Marietta, GA 30067

Check out some of our Local Partners that you can serve with year-round.  You can click each name and it will take you to each organizations volunteer opportunity page. 

Wellspring Living

Storehouse Ministries

Atlanta Mission

First Care Women's Clinic

Good Sam Cobb

The Table on Delk

MUST Ministries

Check out the list below of trips that you could go on in 2024. It's amazing how God takes our "yes" and turns that small act of obedience into something life changing. As you read through the trips below, take some time to be praying about how you can be a part of what God is doing around the world. We will be adding trips throughout the year, check out the JF Website to learn more and register for a trip today! 

Hiawassee, GA : April 19-21| The team will reach out to north bound Appalachian Trail thru hikers by providing drinks, food, and supplies with the goal of praying and sharing the gospel with them. 

Colombia: May 19-26 | The team will support IMB missionaries by engaging with displaced people groups to meet their needs.

Indialantic, FL : July 20-24 | The team of SHINE volunteers will help FBC Indialantic with a VBS program for teens and adults with special needs.

Greece: August 31- September 9 | The team will be working with AMG and local churches in Athens to host a sports camp. They will be using sports as a platform to build relationships to share the gospel as well as encourage and disciple believers. 

Tanzania: September 9-19 | The team will be working with e3 Partners using Community Transformation as a bridge to enter unreached villages to open doors for gospel conversations and discipleship. 

Ecuador: September 20-29 | The team will be serving through VBS, family bible studies, and working with local churches.

Japan: October 2-11 | The team will work alongside an IMB team working with the local church to do discipleship training and local outreach. 

Japan: October 10-20 | The team will work with Sent Ones to support the local church through a sports day, prayer walks, and sharing the gospel with locals.

Sevierville, TN : October 25-27 | The team will be assisting with landscape maintenance and light construction projects at Wears Valley Ranch.