the least of these

VISION

Matthew 25:35-40

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I

was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked

after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord when did we

see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger

and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit

you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of

mine, you did for me.’

Whatever you did for the least of

these brothers of mine, you did for

me

First Baptist Church of Geneva exists to reach, connect, equip and serve. We, as a church, strive to serve “the least of these” as Christ identified them. The model set before us calls us to serve in community with one another, both around the world and here in the Fox Valley area.

At times, we miss the astounding reality of just how many of our neighbors are the least of these, in need of Christ’s love and care. Christ set the example of serving for us. In Matthew 20:28 he said, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...”

In order to live like Christ, we too are called to serve the least of these around us out of an overflow of love for Jesus Christ.

This year, our church is excited to unite together in a year-long SERVE challenge entitled “The Least of These.”

Sharing God’s transforming love to the least of these in our community

For more info: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Note: On each page you will find a list of suggested serving opportunities. These lists are by no means all-inclusive. Once a cause is adopted, serving opportunities can be catered to your group specifically.

INDEX

Adopt a FBCG Missionary

Help the Homeless

Visit those in Prison

Remember the Forgotten

Befriend the Refugee

Look After the Sick

Care for the Poor

Feed the Hungry

Love the Children

Find your Fit

Next Steps

The Least of These Serve Challenge: Overview

• This year, small groups are invited to participate in “The Least of These” Serve Challenge.

• Small groups choose a cause to adopt for the ministry year.

• Further information on each cause can be found on the pages of this packet.

• Once a cause is chosen, groups will sign a commitment form for that cause.

• Each group will then partner with local ministries by participating in 2-4 serving opportunities throughout the year.

• Groups will connect with the Local Serving Director, Gretchen Gilbert, in order to determine which four serving opportunities best fit your group.




FBCG families are faithfully serving around the world

FBCG has over 30 missionary families serving across the world. The role of FBCG is to support these missionaries both financially and spiritually as they dedicate their lives in service to furthering the kingdom of God. The work

they do can often be a thankless job. If your group chooses to

adopt a missionary this year, you are committing to supporting the missionary family. Small acts of kindness can make all the

difference to families living out Christ’s commission to

reach the unreached.

SERVING OPPORTUNITIES...

PRAYER ENCOURAGEMENT LETTERS CARE PACKAGES

30 Missionary

families serve across the

globe

ADOPT A FBCG MISSIONARY

Commit to praying for

your missionary family

as a group

Write letters of

encouragement

periodically throughout

the year

Prepare care packages

full of goodies for your

missionary that FBCG

will ship

Debbie and Mike Abbs

Bubs and Bobbie Borman

Rick and Sue Borman

Erik and Tammy Burklin

Brian Cheney

Anita Deyneka

Hussam and Martina Fakhoury

Dan Griebel

Matt and Michelle Harrison

Art and Dorothy Helwig

Paul and Ana Hill

Eric and Janet Johnson

Josh and Allie Johnson

Yohanna and Dina Katanacho

Jason and Tracy Knox

Ed and Jan Kotynski

Andrew Leman

Brock and Nancy Luginbill

Chris and Elizabeth McKinney

Rich and Judy Olenik

Gideon Para-Mallam

Emily Scatterday

Bryan and Rachel Smith

John and Carrie Smith

Tri and Emily Truong

Richard and Gerry Walton

Rebekah Warner

Alys West

Nat and Abby Wibberly

Joel and Barbara Wright

Jayson & Lindsay York

Ministry Partners:




Homeless families in your area are seeking the support of homeless ministries

An estimated 750,000 people in the United States are homeless on any given night. As the economic turmoil in this country increases, homelessness increases. The fastest growing population in the homeless community are families. Many families have lost their homes in the recession and lack the support system necessary to regain consistent income and shelter. Men, women and children are without a

roof over their heads and families are forced to choose between basic needs. The ministries with which

FBCG partners are working to break the cycle of homelessness and help these individuals and families attain permanent housing and sustainable income. Partner with one of these organizations to reach your homeless

neighbors and create a support system to save families from chronic homelessness.

Ministry Partners:

Hessed House

Lazarus House

Wayside Cross

SERVING OPPORTUNITIES ...

SERVE A MEAL LEAD A BIBLE STUDY STOCK SHELTERS

Break the cycle of

homelessness

HELP THE HOMELESS

Prepare and serve a

meal at a homeless

shelter

Prepare for and lead a

group Bible study for the

homeless

Keep homeless shelters

stocked with much-

needed goods




Bring hope into the darkness by sharing the love of Christ with those in bondage

Over 600 people in Kane County are currently in local jails or state prisons. Additionally, over 600 young people are living in juvenile detention centers. Prisoners in our neighborhood are in desperate need of emotional and spiritual support. Many prisoners are able to find the love of God and begin again with changed lives due to the support of

ministries dedicated to reaching the lost. If you choose prison ministry, you are committing to

partnering with these existing ministries to support local prisoners and their families. The simple act of volunteering can be the

catalyst for change in the lives of prisoners seeking a new path and support system.

Ministry Partners:

New Life Corrections

Young Life


FAMILY MINISTRY BIBLE STUDIES/ WORSHIP SERVICES

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

PRAYER TEAM

Prison ministry

changes lives forever

VISIT THOSE IN PRISON

Commit to praying

for local inmates

and their families

Put on special

programs for

inmates 2-4 times

this year

Participate in

worship or Bible

study for inmates

Serve and support

inmate families




Senior citizens and widows in our area are the forgotten of our community

Close to 2,274 people are living in nursing homes in Kane County. Many of them receive physical care, but lack emotional support. These are the forgotten. Without family and friends to visit, the elderly in nursing homes are often very lonely. They desperately need a friendly face to provide comfort and friendship.

Widows and widowers, invalids and lonely people and the elderly in our community can be

reached with the simple gift your time. If you have a heart for the lonely and forgotten, consider committing to this

ministry and bring joy to the lives of those you serve.

Ministry Partners: Alden of Waterford Rosewood Care Center Countryside Care Center Elmwood Terrace Jennings Terrace Maplewood Care Provena Geneva Care Center Master’s Hands


GAME NIGHTS BIBLE STUDIES SHARE MEALS

Connect at a local

nursing home. Share joy.

REMEMBER THE FORGOTTEN

Plan a game night at a

local nursing home

every other month

Host a Bible study for

the forgotten in your

area

Share a meal with

residents at a local

nursing home




For an international missions experience in your own backyard, serve refugees

Due to the resettlement efforts and support of World Relief, there is a growing population of refugee families living in Kane County. These refugees have fled unimaginable persecution and often arrive in the US with few to no belongings, little or no knowledge of the English language or American culture

and insurmountable pain. While World Relief provides for many of those needs, FBCG’s

ministry Refugee Partners (formerly RAFT) further meets the needs of refugees in our community. By partnering with refugee

ministry, you are committing to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Ministry Partners:

Refugee Partners


GOOD NEIGHBOR KITS

REFUGEE KID’S CLUB

SPECIAL EVENTS SKILLS WORKSHOPS

Families from all over the world live

down the street

BEFRIEND THE REFUGEE

Assemble 2-4

good neighbor

kits throughout

the year for new

families

Put on programs

for refugee

children

Plan and execute

special events for

refugee families

Workshops for

refugees in

*Car repair

*Homemaking

*Computers

*Life skills




People hurting from HIV-AIDs exist across the world and down the street

Nearly 18,000 people are living with AIDs in the United States. The Love in Action ministry is dedicated to to meeting the needs of those in our community with HIV-AIDs. This ministry supports community members with HIV-AIDs and their families physically, emotionally and spiritually. HIV-AIDs is a

progressive weakening of the immune system and there is no cure. What people with HIV-AIDs need

most is a loving support system. By providing this support, the Love in Action ministry is unique and life-changing. If you have a heart

for the sick and hurting in your community, partner with this cause for the year.

Ministry Partner:

Love & Action


ADOPT A FAMILY HOLIDAY CARE PACKAGES PREPARE MEALS

Be a hand of comfort to the

sick

LOOK AFTER THE SICK

Serve a local family

dealing with sickness

in your area

Prepare Thanksgiving,

Christmas and Easter

care packages

Prepare meals for

families in need




Fox River families are crying out for support and resources to fight poverty

While poverty is oftentimes more difficult to see in the comfort of the plush suburbs, it exists in our county, just as any other. Around 9.3% of people living in Kane County are living in poverty. The Riverwoods/Riverworks ministries and FBCG’s own Compassion in Action ministry are dedicated to reaching the poor in the Fox Valley area.

Through these outreaches, families are given the opportunity to overcome hardship. Needs are

met through relationship-building ministry. Advocacy, support and much-needed resources are provided for these Fox Valley

families. Taking part in these ministries makes a significant difference in our communities and

helps bring families from poverty to hope.

Ministry Partners: Riverwoods

Riverworks

Compassion in Action


WORK PROJECTS MOVING HELP SKILLS WORKSHOPS COMPASSION

Fox Valley families are in

desperate need

CARE FOR THE POOR

Participate in

work projects at

Riverwoods

camp

Help families in

Fox Valley move

Help with

workshops for

budgeting and

car skills

Interview clients

seeking financial

help OR commit

to praying for

families




Across the street and around the world, people are going hungry and we can help

Hunger is an issue that needs to be addressed both in the Fox Valley area as well as across the world. Fortunately, there are ways to get involved and fight world hunger without having to travel very far. The Compassion in Action ministry provides for the needs of families in the Fox Valley area through the food pantry. Providing for immediate needs, the food

pantry is able to keep local families from hunger. Providing for hungry children around the world,

Feed My Starving Children packs meals specially designed to promote healthy growth in starving children. Packing events are a simple plug-in with high reward.

Partner with one or both of these ministries this year and take a stand against hunger.

Ministry Partners:

Feed My Starving Children

Compassion in Action


FOOD PACKING FOOD PANTRY STOCKING FOOD PANTRY EXTRAS

Put a stop to world hunger

this year

FEED THE HUNGRY

Participate in food

packs at the FMSC

center in Aurora

Stock and volunteer at

the Compassion in

Action Food Pantry

Write encouraging

notes and verses for

food pantry clients/

commit to praying for

families




Reach the vulnerable, neglected children in your area alongside Royal Family Kids

Children are among the most vulnerable members of our community. Yet oftentimes, they are abused and neglected by the very people they trust to keep them safe. These children are living in foster care situations, or in high-risk home situations. First Baptist Church of Geneva has been home to a highly successful program called the Royal Family Kids

Camp. The camp is designed for these vulnerable children to have positive adult mentoring

relationships. Due to the growth of Royal Family Kids, the program has expanded to include middle school and high school

students in Shining Stars and The Summit. Positive relationships can change the course of

the lives of these vulnerable children.

Ministry Partners:

Royal Family Kids

SERVING OPPORTUNITIES... SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS CUSTOM OPPORTUNITIES

Have a positive

impact on abused children

LOVE THE CHILDREN

Create special presentations

for retreats/gatherings

Work with Royal Family Kids

Directors to create custom

serving opportunities suited to

your group




FINDING YOUR FITA guide to suggested serving

opportunities best-suited for your group

While each group is able to choose from the wide range of serving opportunities, this page provides suggested partnerships that might be the best fit for your group.

DTP/D-GROUP• Adopt a Missionary• Help the Homeless -Prepare meals -Stock shelters• Remember the Forgotten -Plan game night at local nursing homes -Share meals with the lonely

C-Groups• Adopt a Missionary• Love the Children• Befriend the Refugee -Special programs• Visit those in Prison• Help the Homeless -Prepare meals -Plan a bible study• Care for the Poor

Families• Adopt a Missionary• Feed the Hungry -Pack food at FMSC -Food pantry• Remember the Forgotten -Plan a game night at a nursing home




As a group, discuss the various serving opportunities. After prayerful consideration, vote as a group for your cause. Sign the commitment form located in this packet.

Meet with Local Serving Director, Gretchen Gilbert, in order to learn more about specific serving opportunities and to connect with local ministries.

Plan your four (or more!) serving opportunities with your group. Remember: creativity is welcome! We want groups to work with our ministry partners to create unique serving events that are best-suited to the God-given talents of each group.

Participate in the Commissioning Sunday service. Send updates to Gretchen Gilbert throughout the year to highlight the great serving opportunities in which your group has participated. We want to share your work with the rest of the church!

Serve the least of these in your community.

Important Dates...

October 2-8 Meet with your groups and discuss the project

October 17 Signed commitments due

October 23 Commissioning Sunday

November 20 Have first serving opportunity planned

CONTACT INFO:Gretchen Gilbert

[email protected]

630.232.7068 ext. 144

Choose your unique serving opportunities!

NEXT STEPS






the least of these

Documents

serving opportunities

yearlong serve challenge

local serving director

fbcg missionary

missionary families

ministry year

small groups

world fbcg