WHY MISSIONS?

Gospel City is on mission locally, nationally and internationally because we have a desire to see God glorified as disciples are made. We want to see the same gospel that has penetrated our hearts penetrate our own city, our nation and the unreached peoples of the world. We have been commissioned by Jesus to make disciples, to be salt and light, and to be agents of reconciliation between God and man. We are God’s chosen vehicle for the spread of the gospel. We know that without messengers spreading the good news, many will perish apart from the grace of God. And this truth moves us to compassion, to prayer and to action.

Transformation Ministries

Who they are: We partner with Transformation Ministries in their outreach to the youth of inner city South Bend. Transformation Ministries exists to see the youth of South Bend become positive influencers within their families, schools, and communities. This is accomplished through various mentoring programs (Iron Sharpens Iron & City Light Kids) as well as first-job experiences (Greater Impact). As a ministry seeking to provide hope and a better future to youth and families, volunteers are the hands and feet to making that possible. 

Ways to pray:

• That all who serve there would take the posture of a learner, and be transformed into Christ-likeness
• That students and mentors would grow in trust and relationship that would result not only in life skills, but real talk about faith in Christ
• That the Transformation Center would be a safe place in our city for students

Ways to go:
Iron Sharpens Iron Mentoring Program 

• Food Team—Prepare and serve a meal once a month
• Mentor—Become a 1:1 mentor for a school year (6-12 grade)
• Tutor—Serve a local school or students in tutoring or in after-school programming
• Volunteer—engage with special events as needed

City Light Kids

• Mentor—Assist educational programming and homework tutoring for a school year
• Volunteer—Facilitate educational games & activities

Greater Impact

• Hire lawn care services
• Order screen printing services

For questions on how to get involved with Transformation Ministries, email info@transformation58.com. Or, apply to serve here: transformation58.com/volunteer

LifePlan

Who they are: LifePlan provides caring, confidential support to people facing pregnancy and family related issues. LifePlan currently has centers located in Niles, Benton Harbor, and South Bend. They strive to graciously provide an opportunity for each client to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. The ongoing support from partners like you allows LifePlan to continue serving those in need in our community.

Ways to pray:

• That STD and pregnancy testing will lead to gospel conversations 
• That abstinence presentations can be offered in schools 
• That those in crisis will be ministered to by LifePlan and be softened to the gospel
• For more ways to pray, visit lifeplan.org/prayer-warrior/

Ways to go:

LifePlan Centers

• Client Engagement—Serve as a mentor consultant or on the medical team to provide in-person care
• Office Assistance—Serve as a receptionist or as a boutique helper at one of the LifePlan centers
• Work Projects—Help with various physical activities (great for groups)

LifePlan Events

• Fundraising and Awareness Events—Participate in or help facilitate various annual events such as fun runs, golf and pickleball tournaments, baking contests, and more
• Baby Showers—Help collect items for families who have chosen life

More Local Opportunities

Our community has many more opportunities for you to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people in need. We strongly encourage you to do a little research on the needs around us. Pray and ask God where He might lead you to GO. 

PUERTO RICO MISSION TRIPS

Why Short Term Missions: Short-term mission trips are a great way to inspire a life filled with sharing the gospel. Being in a new environment, surrounded by different people and cultures, can challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. In addition, you will build stronger relationships with those in our church community as you work and serve side by side.

Why Puerto Rico: Our partnership in Puerto Rico has allowed us to invest in and support a local church and church planter as they share the gospel and minister to the needs of the community. Our opportunity is to come alongside them to help meet physical needs that have come about through the impact of hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Ways to pray:

• Pray and ask the Lord if He is leading your heart to be a part of this opportunity
• Pray that the team members will have many opportunities to share the gospel
• Pray for the people of Puerto Rico—that believers can share gospel hope in the midst of many trying circumstances

Ways to go:  We are currently planning 3 trips in January of 2025. We will be serving physical needs within the community, partnering with a local church, as well as sharing the gospel. For questions or interest in the Puerto Rico Mission Trips, please contact Joshua Twiddy. Join one of our upcoming short-term trips in 2025:

• January 18-24, 2025 — Men’s Team #1
• January 25-31, 2025 — Men’s Team #2
• February 1-7, 2025 — Co-ed Team
• More info: mygosplecity.org/puertorico

Africans Reaching Africa

Who they are: Africans Reach Africa (ARA) exists to equip African believers to be mobilized to spread the gospel to unreached and unengaged people groups within Africa. North Africa and parts of western Africa are some of the last countries and people groups in the world to be evangelized. This is because these places are difficult to get to, difficult to live in, and have increased rates of persecution.

Ways to pray:

• For boldness in sharing the gospel (Ephesians 6:19-20)
• For protection against spiritual attacks (John 17:15)
• That the Lord will open people’s hearts to believe the gospel (Acts 16:14)
• That “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14)

Ways to support them:

• Donate—Tangibly, one of the best ways that we can participate in the work of ARA is to provide financial assistance. First-year support for a new missionary is about $5000 ($250/month in ongoing support, $1500 for a motorbike, $500 for ministry equipment). 100% of donations go directly to covering costs related to African missionaries! (Donate Here)
• Encouragement—Adopt a missionary (and their family) by committing to praying for them, and sending them notes of encouragement (Contact Here)

For questions on how to support and pray for ARA,  please contact Pastor Mitch Helmkamp.

Reinkings in Prague, Czech Republic

Who they are: Adam and Amy live in Prague, Czechia—one of the most visited cities in Europe, but also one of most atheistic. It is a strategic location for healthy church planting. They serve under the International Mission Board (IMB) and are church planting with local Czech Evangelicals in North Prague. Their prayer is that all people in Prague would know and understand the gospel.

Ways to pray:

• Pray for a local leader to emerge to lead their young church plant 
• Pray for their target neighborhood (30,000 people in a 2.5 square mile borough of tall apartment buildings in North Prague) 
• Pray for better spiritual soil—almost no one has true interest in discussing spiritual things or eternity (0.5% evangelical in CZ)

Ways to support them:

• Connect with Adam and Amy through their monthly email update (to receive updates, send them an email at adamamyreinking@gmail.com)
• Send them responses of encouragement when you receive their email
• If you’re visiting Europe, add a Prague leg to your trip and prayer walk the neighborhood

More International Opportunities

Many at Gospel City are doing crazy good things internationally! Start asking around and you’ll soon learn this is an inventive group of people-loving worldwide disciple-makers! For example, Gospel City’s Bob Hogarth and Steve Gundy lead and serve an organization that is reaching many in Ethiopia. This list will grow as we aim to keep you aware and inform you of how God is at work among us.

Ways to pray: 

• Pray for an unnamed family serving in the Middle East.

Budapest, Hungary

Who they are: Pastor Marc and Charin Patton moved to Hungary over 25 years ago, and have been on mission ever since to see God-glorifying churches raised up in the country. In September of 2019 they launched Focus Church in Budapest, Hungary! Along with Worship Pastor, Daniel Revesz and his wife Agnes, they are committed to boldly preaching God’s Word, unashamedly lifting high the name of Jesus in worship, and getting the Gospel out in the city of Budapest.

Ways to pray:​

• Pray that hearts would be opened to the Gospel, as seekers find their way into their worship services. 
• Pray that their presence as a Church in Budapest would be true to the mission of glorifying God and making disciples.
• Pray for protection from the enemy for their leadership and for strength and unity as a team.

Ways to support them:

• Befriend Marc and Charin Patton and Daniel and Agnes Revesz on Facebook, look for updates and ways to pray, and send them encouraging comments.

For questions on how to support and pray for Focus Church, please contact Mitch Helmkamp.

Orange Walk, Belize

Who they are: A few years ago, Gospel City planted a church in Orange Walk, Belize with pastor Enrique Novelo. They share our desire to see God glorified and disciples made.

Ways to pray:

• Pray for Enrique and his wife Claudia as they continue to till the soil in their city. 
• Pray for the core team and leadership of Harvest Bible Chapel Orange Walk. 
• Pray for God’s provision for the church to have a building to meet in.

Ways to support them: For questions on how to support and pray for Pastor Enrique and Harvest OW Belize, please contact Dan Kletzing.

HOW CAN I PRAY WELL? Pray for open doors (Col. 4:2-3a), pray for boldness (Eph. 6:19–20), pray that God’s Word will spread (2 Thess. 3:1), pray for protection (2 Thess. 3:2), pray for travel (Mark 16:15), pray for refreshment (Mt. 11:28-30).

• To see more, visit Wycliffe’s “How To Pray For Missionaries” 
• The Joshua Project has a really awesome App that prompts you to pray for the Unreached People Group of the day. Check it out: Unreached of the Day App

HOW CAN I NEIGHBOR WELL? Leverage the power of the home that God has given you. God exhibits hospitality to us and shows us what hospitality looks like when He invites us, through the Gospel, into a relationship with him. As followers of Christ we should extend that hospitable invitation back out to our neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends. If you have a home,  then you have an opportunity to create a culture of invitation. Here is how you can do that:

• Invite neighbors over for coffee, tea, or dessert. Generate conversation around commonalities that you both possess.
• Host driveway tailgates in the neighborhood—invite neighbors over for a BYOD (Bring Your Own Dinner) cookout. 
• Host a “FriendsGiving” the weekend before Thanksgiving. 
• Pray for your neighbors regularly. 
• Be open and engaging—don’t isolate yourselves from your neighbors by just going into your garage and being in your home. 
• Bake cookies for different holidays for your neighbors.

Look for practical ways to interact with your neighbors, or serve them. Shovel their driveway in winter, mow their lawn in summer. Offer help with leaves in the fall. Spend more time in your front yard. Develop and tend a garden in spring. Go for walks with your kids or pets, and stop and talk. Go to garage sales. Wave more! Carry invite cards for our church, we have them available at the resource center. 

HOW DO I PREP WELL? Get your Passport (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/how-to-apply.html) // Pursue physical health (many mission opportunities require physical expenditure) // Conduct research on the areas we are engaged in. (https://www.imb.org/2017/01/20/8-guidelines-crossing-cultures/, https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides) // Learn the language of a country we’re engaged in.