Reaching Out Further - November 2023
We serve churches! How can your church and The Outreach Foundation work together? Keep reading to find out!
A Love For The Outreach Foundation!
The First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, Mississippi, has a special love for The Outreach Foundation ever since Rev. Bill Bryant, a former pastor, became The Outreach Foundation’s leader. The congregation loves The Outreach Foundation’s opportunities to serve others through missionaries, trips, and emergency responses. Thank you, Outreach, for your faithful legacy!
First Presbyterian is 177 years old, but it is blessed to be a church with half of its membership under 49 years of age. 40-50 children come forward each Sunday for the children’s sermon, and the 35-member children’s choir gives a spiritual boost every time they sing. The church just purchased a gas station next to the educational building and leveled it to be a covered drop-off and parking lot for the growing kindergarten.
Racial reconciliation is supported through ecumenical events such as the community Thanksgiving service. Also, the church is a major supporter of nearby Delta Streets Academy, a downtown school for young men at risk of dropping out of regular public school. This school has been recognized nationally for the work it is doing.
Each Advent the Greenwood community looks forward to the outdoor “Singing Christmas Tree,” a tradition now in its 41st year, featuring a live nativity and 100 singing adults and youth presenting the story of the birth of Jesus in narration, song, and drama. When the downtown closes its streets for a night of shopping and carriage rides, First Presbyterian welcomes everyone to hear the free concert “Classics at First,” when acclaimed statewide musicians inspire in our acoustically resplendent and beautiful Sanctuary.
First Presbyterian’s heart for mission is facilitated by The Outreach Foundation’s faithfulness. For instance, after sending a mission team to Liverpool, the church hosted Shapoor Ahmadi, an evangelist to the Persian diaspora in Liverpool, UK, to preach and teach on World Communion Sunday in October 2023. First Presbyterian is blessed by The Outreach Foundation to be a conduit of God’s love to the world!
Dr. Andrew Chaney, Pastor
Dariush Golbaghi is the founder and director of Safehouse Ministries, one of several Outreach partners within the Persian Diaspora Partnerships. The ministry God has laid upon his heart fills a significant gap in the emerging church world of Persian-speaking communities, both in their homelands (Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan) and in diaspora. Thousands have come to Christ through Safehouse, and many more are being effectively nurtured in the faith as first-generation Christians.
Dariush, a Muslim background believer living in The Netherlands, is a worship leader, evangelist, refugee advocate, pastor, leadership coach, social media guru, conference leader, and SAT7 PARS project leader. The Outreach Foundation is honored to amplify the work of Christ happening through Safehouse.
My eyes were opened to the reality of the persecuted church in today’s world. I had no idea of the conversions taking place in Iran!
Thank you for educating me about what God is doing among the Persian-speaking people in this world.
I had no idea that the fastest-growing church in the world is in Iran.
These testimonies are among the many we have heard out of the recent visit that The Outreach Foundation coordinated between Dariush and three U.S. congregations - Grace Community Church in Hilton Head, SC, First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC, and GRACE Church in Bethlehem, PA. Dariush, his wife, Hodeis, and their 18-year-old daughter Bita came at our invitation to strengthen the connections among congregations and people who have gone to The Netherlands, Germany, and Türkiye with him. It was a special joy to give congregations in the U.S. a chance to hear their inspiring testimonies firsthand. Dariush led congregations in worship and his family shared their testimonies. They met people in Sunday School classes, mid-week educational events, among mission teams, in social settings, and in youth groups. Dariush enjoyed his first U.S. football game while the ladies went shopping.
Rev. Dave Rockness (FPC Mooresville):
It is exciting to hear how the Gospel is spreading among Muslims. Personally, I felt a strong connection to Dariush and his family as did most of the folks who were able to meet him. It was a tremendous blessing to our church! We scheduled 90 minutes and after two hours, people didn’t want to leave…they left spiritually inspired and hungry for more.
Reverends Doug Stewart and Marnie Crumpler (GRACE Church, Bethlehem, PA):
What a joy to have Dariush and his family with us at GRACE Church Bethlehem! God is so clearly using their inspirational story and their many gifts to grow His kingdom. It’s our privilege to partner with them. Tim Boone, Associate Director
Alternative Christmas 2023
By donating a gift on behalf of others, you can delight your friends and family while supporting one of the ministry opportunities below. You can send a free honor card to each person to let them know of your gift in their honor. Download and print one of the cards or make a note in the memo line of your gift and we will mail you the requested number of cards for your honorees. Then you can mail or deliver them personally.
BIBLES FOR NEW CHRISTIANS, SUGGESTED GIFT OF $20
A Bible in one’s own language may be one of the most precious gifts a new Christian ever receives. The Bible is the foundation for growth in the faith for every Christian and a powerful tool in leading people to Christ, but in many places in the world, Bibles are not available or are too expensive for individuals to obtain. Your gift of $20 will help provide God’s sacred word to new believers in many countries, including some who have come to Christ while living in diaspora.
• DOWNLOAD THE HONOR CARD (pdf)
TUMAINI CHILDREN’S MINISTRY, SUGGESTED GIFT OF $100
he Outreach Foundation is privileged to work with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) which oversees the Tumaini Children’s Ministry for vulnerable children. The parish also cares for individuals at Huruma, a nearby facility that houses a number of disabled individuals. A vocational training program, including computer and sewing classes, serves post-secondary students and people from the community. Your gift of $100 will help provide funds for operations at Tumaini and Huruma, including food, housing, clothes, and education.
• DOWNLOAD THE HONOR CARD (pdf)
TOGETHER FOR THE FAMILY BABY MINISTRY, SUGGESTED GIFT OF $250
oor living conditions and the economic crisis in Lebanon have left refugees with newborn babies unable to obtain basic necessities. Through our partner in Lebanon, Together for the Family, your gift of $250 will help provide formula, medicine, and diapers to a newborn baby for six months.
• DOWNLOAD THE HONOR CARD (pdf)
Engaging followers of Christ for His work in the world, the
Outreach Foundation is committed to helping the church live out its missional calling, building the capacity of the global church, especially where the church is vulnerable or growing rapidly, and transforming lives through mission involvement.
The Outreach Foundation
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 110
Franklin, TN 37064,
United States
(615) 778-8881
info@theoutreachfoundation.org
