GILBERTSVILLE – Christ Church Gilbertsville considers itself a missionary church; missionaries in their village, the surrounding communities, and around the world.
For the past four years Christ Church has been involved in a missionary partnership with Annunciation Mission in New Orleans, Louisiana(www.annunciationbroadmoor.org/). To date, this partnership has resulted in Christ Church sending five mission teams to New Orleans to work on continued rebuilding efforts that were needed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This July 2-9, Christ Church will send its sixth mission team of teens and adults to New Orleans to once again work through Annunciation Mission in the rebuilding of the New Orleans Community.
According to pastor Joe Acanfora at Christ Church: “The New Orleans community has largely been forgotten in the media and by most Americans. It is a community in need, still on its way back from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Annunciation Mission is working largely in the Broadmore Community of New Orleans has rebuilt some 2500 homes, and more importantly has reminded the people of this community, and greater New Orleans that they are not forgotten by either their fellow Americans or God. We show them our love and the love of God by the tangible work we do and by listening to their stories. For us at Christ Church, the lessons learned have been invaluable. Our teens and adults who have gone and been part of the sending have seen firsthand the need for continued missionary efforts not just in places like New Orleans, or disadvantaged countries around the world, but have come back to be missionaries in this community and surrounding communities in Chenango and Otsego Counties. They are serving in our after-school program, feeding ministries, health and healing ministries and outreach, recognizing that we are responsible for helping our sisters and brothers in need, and that by doing so, can work as the hands, feet and heart of God in a hurting world.”
And so the missionary team of teens: Nate Beach, Jenna and Katie Bakhuizen, Logan Eltz, Jack King, Alden Koch, and Jennifer Pedersen along with adults: Deborah Beach Terrance Colf and Deacon Donna Steckline, will be commissioned this Sunday, June 26th, at Christ Church’s 10 a.m. Service, which is open to all, for their departure on July 2 to New Orleans.
In addition, Christ Church will welcome the Youth Group of The Church of The Annunciation in early August, giving them a missionary experience in upstate New York. This will be the second time the youth group has come from New Orleans to Gilbertsville in what Christ Church calls their Reverse Mission with their partner church in New Orleans.
Christ Church is at 166 Marion Avenue in the village of Gilbertsville; more of the goings on there can be seen on their website: www.christchurchgilbertsville.org.