Global Outreach

Our Vision . . .

From our earliest days back in 1955, this church has taken literally Jesus' command to "go into all the world." Our first missionaries, serving Christ in Hong Kong and the Belgian Congo, went out under the Evangelical Free Church Board of Overseas Missions. Today, we continue to work with the Evangelical Free Church of America as well as other mission agencies, to fulfill the Great Commission. Our missionaries are working in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America as well as in the United States, some as close as our own city. They are engaged in preaching, teaching, medical work, evangelism, church planting, administration, translation and literacy, research and more. In addition, we have an extensive short-term missions program as well as laypeople involvement. All of these people, and all of their efforts, are fueled by the vision that the gospel will indeed spread to every corner of the globe. We invite you to become a partner with us in this incredible adventure.

Our Missions Board

Keeping this vision alive requires dedicated people with a heart for missions. Our Missions Board fulfills this crucial role. Board members are elected to three-year terms to oversee our missionary program. This involves working with the Missions pastor, deciding how the missions budget will be spent, keeping the congregation informed of our missionary program and developing an educational program for those involved or interested in missions.

Our Missions Staff

Our Missions pastor and secretary work with the Missions Board and various volunteers. Since missions accounts for nearly 16 percent of our annual budget, the fact that we employ only two full-time missions staff people tells you how much lay involvement we enjoy in this ministry.

Our Missions Family

Our missions pastor shepherds more than 70 full-time missionary families, couples or singles serving around the world. In partnership with our church and various missionary agencies, these people serve in widely diverse areas–from translating the Scriptures to teaching at missionary schools.

Vocational Missions. Besides supporting missionaries, our church encourages people to get involved in missions. To this end we have developed a program called Pacesetters for those pursuing a life of vocational ministry. Completing the program, however, is not a guarantee that a person will become a church-supported missionary. The Missions Board's decision to support a candidate depends, among other factors, upon availability of funds and the Board's current priorities.

Short-Term Missions. One great way to help people identify and develop an interest in missions is short-term missions projects. We annually sponsor several projects lasting from a week to several months. Involvement in these projects creates a deeper appreciation for our full-time missionaries. And on occasion a short-termer comes home and decides to pursue vocational missionary service.

Click here to find out more information on our Short Term Missions.

The World at Our Doorstep

Since missions is not limited to ministry conducted around the world or across the seas, our missions program encompasses a number of ministries right here in Orange County. These include:

ESL Ministry. An ESL-Doorways class is offered on Tuesday mornings from 9:30–11:30 a.m.in NC-120. Please join if you or someone you know is learning or progressing in speaking English (four teachers for students at various
levels). Contact at the church office for more information, ext 333.

Ministry to International Students. With so many colleges and universities nearby, there are many opportunities for ministry to students and future leaders from other parts of the world. We seek to extend a hand of friendship to these people and to share with them the love of Christ. Call Paula Parker at the church office for more information, ext. 428.

Open-Air Campaigners. This is a sidewalk evangelism ministry that also takes the gospel to children in neighborhoods where there is limited access to church activities.

Teen Mom Ministry. This is a ministry that helps teen mothers, many of them unwed, develop trusting and caring relationships with mature Christian women who will help them bear their burdens in a nonjudgmental atmosphere.

Missions . . . and You?

We view missions as a family affair, a vision and ministry to be shared by the entire church. We hope you'll consider where you fit in the missions picture. We'd like to suggest three steps to help you find out.

Get Informed. Begin reading about contemporary missions from sources in our church library. Read the newspaper and news magazines with missions in mind, and use the information you read as a prayer guide. Talk to missionaries and to friends who support missionaries.

Get in Touch. Contact and find out more about the missions activities of this church.

Above all, keep asking God to give you a heart . . . His heart . . . for reaching the world with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We look forward to joining hands with you in this great commission.