And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'
In Search of the Lord’s Way now appears on 210 television markets in the United States. Search appears
on nearly 150 local cable stations and on 50 radio stations. The Search program is aired over the Pacific
Broadcast Radio, a shortwave and broadcast station four times daily. This program goes out to more
than 30,000 islands in the Pacific Rim. Pacific Broadcast Radio goes out to Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji,
Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Samoa, American Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, French Polynesia,
and Wallis and Futuna.
Search offers materials for free to those who request booklets and audio CDs. Because Search is a
nonprofit ministry, it relies on more than forty volunteers to help mail thousands of requests each
month. The program grew and began to be used by missionaries abroad, in Mexico, Belize, India, South
Korea, Africa and other nations.
Peru Medical Missions is joint with the North Highlands Church of Crist in Russellville Alabama. We have been in touch with the North Highland Church of Christ in Russellville Al in possibly assisting in a VBS in 2024. The Church in Montecarlo had VBS in Sauce Town and Tarapoto City local churches where they spent 12 days. Their latest activity during this past year they made a mission trip to the Amazon jungle remote areas to help with a new established church in Sauce town and Tarapoto city. There they conducted a bible studies and a VBS with the local church families.
The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort immediately responds to any major disaster in the United States, and US Territories, by sending truckloads of emergency food, water, cleaning, and other supplies to be distributed to all disaster victims through a local Church of Christ. They are a non-profit corporation, tax-exempt from state and federal income taxes under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3). The organization has fifteen employees consisting of a Nashville office staff, a warehouse crew, and five men who travel across the country, telling local congregations about the work of Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. Most important are the unpaid volunteer workers and volunteer truck drivers. They are the secret to the success of the organization. We have financially supported the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief since 2019 along with several of our members taking part by preparing boxes in times of disasters. In 2022 the organization provided $7,970,831 in disaster relief across the United States. As of June 2023, the organization had provided over $2.3 million in disaster efforts.
Contact Us: https://www.cityofchildren.com/about/contact-us
The City of Children began in 1972 as a labor of love led by Earl Farmer and concerned Christian people in California - today, the City of Children continues to be a successful mission model of Churches of Christ across America. They are celebrating 50 years of helping children with compassion, dedication and love of Christ. Their purpose is to teach the gospel and the love of Jesus to the orphaned and needy children of Mexico. Teaching the children the story of Jesus is of utmost importance and they have the opportunity to do so because the local governments recognizes they are giving their children a good home, good care, and education. They are trying to bring love and happiness back into the lives of hurting children. One of the ways they accomplish this is through providing mission opportunities for visiting teams from other Churches of Christ. The purpose of these visits is to be a friend and an example of Jesus to a child. This kindness and attention may be the love that helps heal a broken heart. We have subscribed to their newsletter.
The Evrou 10 Church of Christ Athens, Greece history under Brother Dino Tzanetos started in 1965
when the first American missionaries came from Texas. The first 10 years were very difficult for the
existence and the work of the church because of the severe persecution by the Greek Orthodox Church
and the Greek police. It took more than 2 years to get official recognition and an operating permit as a
church from the Ministry of Religion of Greece with many restrictions placed on the operation. Even
under these difficult, and sometimes scary conditions, the church began to grow. In 1978. Dino and his
family dropped their family business to work full time with the church. The church continued to grow in
number and in faith and outreach in various countries. They had a total of 150-200 members and they
had the faith and the desire to grow more heading for 200 members. Suddenly everything changed, the
huge Greek debt caused an economic disaster with 12 hard years of austerity. Unemployment rose to
45% in the country and it was extremely difficult, with 85% of our brethren unemployed even up to 7
years. It was by God’s hand and the help of brethren in the USA that the saints in Athens survived
through these difficult times without losing faith. At the end of 2019 things were improving, but then
Covid-19. The present conditions were worse than the previous. Unemployment continued and on top
of it, they had a long lockdown that stopped us from doing the church work. For 2.5 years the church
building remained closed and they had to do services and Bible studies online, but not any other activity.
Once again, they had to stand by the brethren, but still lost another 30 members.
Last April, after 26 months of lockdown, the government recalled the Covid restrictions, and the church
building was free to be used again. Bible studies and other activities started again with Sunday and
Wednesday services at the church building but ended the online services. Again, they had home bible
studies and visitations with the brethren. The Church in Athens has gone through many difficult times,
but by His grace, the whole church has stayed spiritually strong.
We receive regular updates on the activities in the Greece Ministry. In 2023 the Greek Mission Church
conducted a VBS June 28-30, with 18 children attending the classes. They prepared for the Athenian
Lectures which took place at the end of September. Dino spoke to the Rivergate Congregation on
November 19, 2023 of the activities of the efforts in Greece.
Brother Fowler reported that he is moving back to US. He will still be supervising efforts in Brazil and
the Hillcrest Church of Christ is the new lead church for this mission effort.
The ministry in Brazil started in 1967 with several missionaries conducting the program. Now the
program is staffed entirely with Brazilian Nationals teaching/directing the activities. The ministries are:
(1) The Downtown Church of Christ in Belo Horizonte, is in a strategic location for reaching people from
all cities in the area. The goal is to lead every member to be active and growing in the knowledge of
God's Word and its implementation in their lives. Sunday School and worship services are online on
Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, and Bible studies are on Zoom on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings.
(2) Leadership training is on the university level. They have both in-person and online classes. The
pandemic forced them to go online, and they took advantage of that to train brethren in cities all over
Brazil and beyond. They recently began Spanish classes to prepare students to go to any country in
Middle and South America as missionaries. They have recently partnered with Bear Valley Institute of
Colorado to add to the various classroom and online studies.
(3) Church planting in several cities in our state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and beyond. So far, 13
congregations have been planted by the Downtown church. They oversee those mission points until
they are capable of carrying the work forward on their own, and then remain available for counsel and
guidance as needed.
(4) The ABRIGO LAR CRISTÃO is the children's home, owned and overseen by the Downtown Church of
Christ. There are 3 houses, each with the capacity of 15 children, and the foundation has been laid for
the fourth house. Currently there are two full houses and other used for foster care. These are
overseen daily by specialized and talented individuals.
Brother Elijah Sanamanda is our missionary in India and he spoke to the Adult Sunday School class on
September 24, 2023. We have been supporting his efforts in spreading the Word since 2021. He is the
preacher for the Palakol Church of Christ which also supports the Eliya School of Theological Studies, a
preacher training school. The lead church in the funding is the Leoma Church of Christ, Leoma,
Tennessee. The Palokol Church of Christ supports several efforts to help the people of Palokol to
become a Christian. In addition to daily bible studies, the effort also works to provide clean drinking
water to local residents. They are also having an effort to provide an updated translation of the bible
for their members and others requesting a copy.
Eliya School Theological Studies provides us with a quarterly updates on their activities. They have
distributed many bibles in the local language which are distributed each month to anyone who requests
a copy. Daily bible studies reach approximately 60-70 families each month. They attend and conduct
gospel camps and have given out several bibles. They have two levels of students at the bible school
being first and second year. The preacher training school has approximately 20 students enrolled each
year over the two-year program. In 2022 they graduated the first class of 11 students who completed
their studies. The Christian effort in that part of India is coming under severe attack by other religions.
Some of his students were attacked and one killed by other religious groups.
Again the distribution of water is a problem and the school has sent out many gallons of water for the
local population. The school also distributes water to the locals to help in that effort. These water
deliveries are also providing an opportunity in 56 communities and 18 villages to reach 4,960 families
with the gospel. Approximately 4,960 families received this water, which allows the opportunity to offer
bible study to many more individuals.
Happy Haven began as a dream in the minds of Christian people at the Willow Avenue Church of Christ
in 1964-1965. During the planning stage, it was decided to look at options for the facilities to implement
such a program. The old Putnam County Farm property, which had been abandoned since 1961, was
mentioned as a possibility. This property included a 35-room brick structure and 71 acres of land which
was also known as the County Poor House property. The home began as an orphanage on the current
property in 1965.
In February 1972, the Board of Directors made the decision to begin construction of a new group home.
Eight months later, the land was cleared, and construction began. The Abston House was built in 1974.
The Gainesboro House, constructed with funds donated by the Gainesboro Church of Christ, was
occupied in December 1977. The Richmond Chapel-Nevins House was built in June 1978 with money
donated by Richmond Chapel Church of Christ in memory of Elizabeth Boatman Nevins.
Other buildings on the property include the Farris Office Building, the Ogden Center Picnic Pavilion, and
a barn. Each house is supervised by Christian House Parents and welcome families and individuals who
are experiencing problems and in need of a safe residency. Activities for the mission include new house
parents assigned per winter news letter and Trip to Nashville zoo in Fall newsletter.
We receive a quarterly publication from Happy Haven Children’s Home. They have just recently
celebrated their 58 th anniversary with a local ceremony.
Heritage Christian University traces its roots back to 1871, when T.B. Larimore opened Mars Hill
Academy. The institution went through changes and in October 1970, the Southeastern administration
and Board of Directors was reorganized and in early 1971, Heritage established a program unique
among the Churches of Christ, the four-year Bible college. In September 1971, Southeastern was
renamed International Bible College. The new name would reflect a desire and practice to train men and
women for service worldwide.
To help meet the need for advanced education for preachers and church leaders, a graduate program
offering Master of Ministry and Master of Arts degrees was added in 2000. In January 2001, the
institution changed its name to Heritage Christian University to reflect more accurately its status as
offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Heritage Christian holds a yearly fund raiser in several locations across the country. This year was at the
Hartsville Pike Church of Christ in Gallatin Tn. Accomplishments for the ministry this year were:
- Nine straight semesters of overall student growth
- 107% Student population growth since 2018
- The most graduate students in school history 86
- The most overall students in school history 162
Rivergate has supported Heritage Christian since January, 2020.
Nashville Inner City Ministry located at 1000 Apex Street Nashville, sprouted in 1979 from the vision of Lytle and Sandra Thomas, aiming to touch the lives of the youth nestled in Nashville’s inner city public housing. The Ministry is a Christ-driven community beacon, fervently championing the spiritual, academic, and vocational growth of vulnerable youth and their kin.
Now, an army of 1,000 fervent volunteers penetrates every significant public housing enclave in Nashville's inner city, ferrying over 1,200 young souls to life skills sessions scattered across Nashville and its neighboring areas. NICM has a devoted team of 22 full-time and part-time allies. They view every inner city pocket as a mission ground, ripe for nurturing local families into pillars of their community. NICM programs include their Learning Center, Bus Teams, Conquerors Team Program and Community Outreach and Service.
Every summer, Nashville Inner City Ministry curates a transformative two-week Leadership Development Camp at the tranquil Camp Hy Lake, near McMinnville, TN. It's an escape from urban hustle, offering inner city youth a serene environment to focus on personal and spiritual growth.
Each year numerous local Churches of Christ participate in the Catfish Dinner. Rivergate has supported this mission for many years.
The Jenkins Institute strives to do many things to help congregations, but their primary focus is on those in ministry. They provide resources, conferences, and counsel as they strive to live out the mission of “Serving God’s Servants.” They are constantly looking for ways to impact and encourage preachers and have a special place in their hearts for the young men. This year they launched a very exciting new FREE conference only to those who have preached 10 years or less or are planning on preaching. We receive a monthly mailing list from the Jenkins Institute.
Both Ukrainian Missions continue to work and aid the congregations and people despite the war raging with Russia. The missions send monthly reports on relief actions and what is going on with their congregations. Mr Kachelman has addressed this congregation with an in-person update as well as sending us their monthly reports. John came and gave Rivergate an update on what was going on in this ministry on July 9 of 2023. Updates from the missions are posted in our church lobby.
Both Ukrainian Missions continue to work and aid the congregations and people despite the war raging with Russia. The missions send monthly reports on relief actions and what is going on with their congregations. Mr Kachelman has addressed this congregation with an in-person update as well as sending us their monthly reports. John came and gave Rivergate an update on what was going on in this ministry on July 9 of 2023. Updates from the missions are posted in our church lobby.
Phillemon was requested to provide some updated pictures of the new congregation and building
project that we have funded. A total of $3,500 was given half in 2023 and 2022. The Church project
building in Kolwezi is going well for the congregation. The building is almost complete with the roof the
last feature to be installed. Brother Phillemon sends us regular updates on the activities in Zambia.
Phillimon also requested funds for completing a floor in the church and buy a fan for windows in
Chibambo Coc in Congo DRC. This is a nearby church location that Phillimon is assisting. Approximately
18 people this year were baptized through the efforts of their church.
The mission of Potter Children’s Home & Family Ministries is to be a tool in the hands of supporting churches of Christ and individual Christians to deliver God’s justice and mercy to children and families in need.
For over 100 years, Potter Children’s Home and Family Ministries has been committed to bringing Christian-based solutions and strength to those in need to end the generational cycle of child abuse and neglect. With the growth of their residential and community programs, they continue to find new and better ways to serve those in their care and reach more souls within the community and beyond. These programs include Foster care, Single parent ministry and Community engagement
In recent years the children’s housing moved to residential “cottages” with loving house parents in more family-like settings to better care for the spiritual and physical needs of those in the Foster Care program. On the property, the most recent “quadplex” was opened in 2014. These buildings have freed the large dormitory building to be converted into apartments for their SPARK program, as well as offices for staff in Foster Care and Adoption and in the Christian-based counseling services.
Surplus funds are put back into the campus facility with an addition for the resale shop, new maintenance building, along with other improvements. In 2024, Potter had a surplus over expenses of nearly a half million dollars. We receive a monthly bulletin from the ministry which is posted in our lobby.
Richard Olyeni is our missionary in Uganda at the Buswale Church of Christ in Namayingo Bugiri. His church is involved in Ministries being:
- World Bible school
- Benevolence work
- Local Bible school, here last year 8 students received their diploma and this year we have 15 students training in Bible studies. Richard serves as the director of the Bible school.
- Women ministry training, we have trained so far 4 women and we also enrolled five more from different congregations to help us in the work.
The Hoover Church of Christ has also established the Tanzania Missions Legacy Fund where donations
can be sent. The fund will support the work in Tanzania through the earnings of the fund and not draw
on the principle.
The Tanzania Government has now allowed religious schools to resume after Covid. The newsletter in
the summer stated that 11 baptisms had taken place. The Hoover Church of Christ also visited the
mission. Their members aided in putting the library in order as other materials. Also, in August, the
newsletter stated that one of their elders had been visiting and conducting bible classes. The school
also provides trips which takes members across the globe to teach the Africans the love of Christ. This
trip is great edification for both the members who go and the Christians they visit once they arrive.
There is a new program for women that have escaped the sex trafficking where they sew various items
to support themselves financially. This is the Encouragement Program and ladies from the mission visit
other women to help them adjust from being taken into the sex trafficking activities. Some of the
accomplishments for the East African efforts shown in the year-end summary newsletter:
Evangelism:
- 471 baptisms
- 376 restorations
- 7 New Church Plants
- 7 Restored congregations
- 28 bachelor’s students at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching
- 12 master’s students
- 5 students in the Cy Stafford School of Leadership
- Launched the Tanzania Legacy Endowment Fund
Since 1909, Tennessee Children’s Home has helped restore and strengthen families by spreading the
love and teachings of Jesus Christ. The faith-based environment reaches out to at-risk children and
families by emphasizing the virtues of a Christian lifestyle. Their staff encourages children’s spiritual
growth and awareness through personal examples, daily devotions, prayers at meals and
encouragement of regular church attendance.
In December of 2019, the original property on Main Street was sold and thus began a transition into the
new campus which was completed at the end of 2021. The difference in prices left the center with $4
Million in debt, but with the aid of fund raisers held over the last couple of years, this debt is down to
approximately $1 Million. Future fund raisers are scheduled to attempt to eliminate the entire debt.
TCH also has locations in Henderson (West), Ashland City (North) and Knoxville (East) sections of
Tennessee.
Tennessee Childrens Home has a main office building and six cabins for participants. The main office
building has classrooms, a gym which is also used for chapel meetings, an exercise room with weights,
along with basketball court and a cafeteria. This facility serves approximately 100 students each day.
There is also a newly opened administration building for staff offices.
Each of the six cabins houses 6-8 young men in individual rooms, along with house parents. The daily
student activities start with a devotion and then classes with the end goal to achieve a high school
diploma. Services include: Alcohol and Drug Component, Education, Counseling, Residential care,
Foster Care and Spiritual Guidance. They offer aftercare services that help the youth to transition back
into their home and community and ensure success.
Operations are paid through funding scheme of 60 percent State of Tennessee funding and the
remainder 40 percentage by churches, primarily various Church of Christs. The Tennessee Government
does not put any restrictions on activities by the center and allows religious and bible teaching without
any limitations. The State does not support any capital investments (buses, etc) and are paid for by
other doners.
Unlike most similar organizations, Tennessee Children’s Home offers on-site instruction by certified
teachers for residential placements through the Cornerstone School (Spring Hill), Duncan Academy
(Knoxville), and New Heights Schools (Henderson). Experience has shown that teachers dedicated and
focused on ensuring the children’s academic success are crucial in developing healthy self-esteem.
Because of this, educational services have become foundational in programming.
The Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry and Reentry Center serves men and women who are
incarcerated, juveniles who are incarcerated, and the children of the incarcerated. Their programs
provide those impacted by incarceration with the practical economic and educational support needed to
begin again and live a full, productive life after prison. At the same time, TPOM's services also address
each program participants' mental health and deeper spiritual needs, restoring their faith and giving
them the tools necessary for long-term recovery. With this holistic approach, they seek to break the
cycle of generational incarceration and provide hope to the forgotten. Through God's grace, no life is
beyond salvation.
Their roots extend back to 1963, when the founders of the ministry, Harold and Helen Cox of the
Madison Church of Christ, began volunteering in the Nashville jail. Almost 20 years later, they met Ron
Goodman who joined efforts with Harold and Helen in 1984 and together they formed the Nashville
Prison Ministry and served as the Directors. In 2013, TPOM transformed into a 501(c)3 non-profit under
the leadership of current Director Thomas Snow. They are now a collaborative effort of over 500
volunteers and team members, with a full-service Reentry Center and two beautiful residential
transitional homes for both men and women in Nashville and a transitional home for men in Memphis.
Brother Tom Snow spoke to the Rivergate congregation on August 6, 2023 and updated us on the
activities of the mission. TPOM also works a camp on Old Hickory Lake for youth called Camp Hope. We
receive monthly newsletter from the group and we weekly provide support with food and clothes.
Truth for Today World Mission School (TFTWMS) in Searcy, Arkansas, is a multifaceted non-profit
organization dedicated to world evangelism. Directed by Eddie Cloer, a Gospel preacher, Greek scholar,
and retired theological professor, TFTWMS strives to teach faithfully the Holy Scriptures of our Lord.
Experienced missionaries agree that the survival and spiritual growth of congregations planted around
the world may depend on the availability of printed Bible-study materials.
The primary focus of Truth for Today World Mission School, a monthly publication called “Truth for
Today”, is designed to address this need. This publication is sent to tens of thousands of preachers and
Bible teachers. Each issue is the equivalent of a 150-page book. It is published twelve times a year and is
mailed in English to thousands of preaching brethren in many nations all over the globe. Translating
offices have been established in Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, and Ukraine. They are expanding to
Trinidad and touching Australia and Philippines in 2023.
We receive quarterly update bulletin from them.
World Christian Broadcasting was chartered in 1976, and for the next seven years dedicated itself to the
creation and building of a station in Alaska that would broadcast the Good News of Jesus to one-third of
the world’s population. As it has been doing for 39 years beginning in 1983, each day it continues to
broadcast to China, Russia, and the Pacific Rim with life-giving messages that introduce searching people
to the Gospel.
We receive a quarterly newsletter on the new activities of the group.