Missions

Jesus told us, his disciples, to make disciples of all nations. One of the most important values of Ankeny Christian Church is our mission to the world. It begins in our own community, and spreads overseas to every nation.

 

Each month we choose a special offering that is our emphasis for the month. These vary from local missions to missions that offer support around the world.

 

Special offerings for May

Special offering for May goes to the DMARC Emergency Food Pantry

 

The Missions Committee would like to challenge our church to help fill the Emergency Food Pantry shelves.  The Des Moines Area Religious Council fills the shelves of 12 food pantries in theDes Moinesarea and with an 11% increase in need this year the shelves are running low.

In 2011, the food equivalent of over 1.6 million meals was provided for over 13,000 different families, including more than 15,000 children and youth. In mid-December 2011, with reduced food and cash donations intersecting with the persistent high need for food assistance, DMARC made the difficult decision to reduce by 40% the amount of food distributed through its food pantry network. This decision, combined with other logistical modifications, allowed DMARC to keep all 12 pantry sites open, and ensured that no one was turned away without receiving food.

How can you help?  Bring nonperishable food items from the “below list” to church during the month of May and place them in the grocery cart in the sanctuary.

100% Juice (tomato, orange, or vegetable in a can or plastic bottle)

Fruit (canned in water or 100% juice, not in heavy syrup)

Canned vegetables (with no-salt added, for example tomatoes, green beans, mixed vegetables, sweet potatoes preferred)

Canned beans (refried beans, vegetarian refried beans, and beans in water for example kidney beans, red beans, black beans, garbanzo beans)

Dry beans

Peanut butter

Canned meat (tuna or chicken in water)

Whole-grain dry pasta or egg noodles

Brown rice (regular or instant)

Vegetable soup (low-sodium)

Whole grain crackers (wheat saltines)

Canned spaghetti sauce

Hot cereal, oatmeal (plain, no sugar added, instant or regular)

Cold cereal (whole grain cheerios, wheat chex, wheaties, granola, or shredded wheat preferred)

Shelf-stable UHT milk (in aseptic packaging, low fat preferred, no canned milk)

Or bring cash/check donations and place them in the offering plate marked Food Pantry. DMARC can buy 2-3 times more food with cash.

THE CHALLENGE: We challenge you to bring in 1000 items/dollars in the month of May. The Missions Committee will match 25 cents per item or dollar up to 1,000 items/dollars.  That would be an extra $250 for the Food Pantry.