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At Knott
Avenue Christian Church we are committed to sharing the
life and hope of Jesus Christ with a hurting world in a relevant
and holistic manner. We do this by going both around the corner
and around the world.
Around the Corner
Reaching out around the corner involves touching the lives of
those in our immediate community in practical and hands-on ways.
Our current ministries include:
InnKeepers
We hold Bible studies and times of fellowship for
those in local motels. Our focus is to not only teach
the Word of God to those interested in learning, but
to connect people in loving and significant relationships
that will encourage them in their own spiritual growth.
We have teams meeting at the Americana Motel on Tuesdays,
the El Dorado Inn on Wednesdays and the Valencia Inn on
Thursdays. All studies begin at 7:00 p.m. and we are
always looking for those to complement existing teams,
as well as those who may desire to form teams to begin
ministries in new motels.
Food Pantry
We offer food distribution to those both inside and
outside our church family each Monday and Thursday afternoon
from 3:00 to 5:00. Providing food for families and
individuals is actually an opportunity to connect those
in our community with people who care and desire to walk
with them through difficult times. We welcome those who
would like to be trained in how to effectively share with
our neighbors in a loving, practical manner, as often as
their schedules allow them to participate.
Community Supper
The last Friday of each month (except July and December)
we host an evening meal for those in our community. We
always need those who would like to set up, prepare,
serve, clean up, and take time to sit over a hot meal and
get to know our neighbors. There are no strings attached
for those who attend, simply an evening out on us, with
great food, good friends and an opportunity to connect with
those of us willing to share our faith in Jesus by sharing
our lives with others. This ministry seeks to carry out
what St. Francis of Assisi is supposed to have said: "Go
into all the world and preach the Gospel. When necessary,
use words."
Knott Manor Ministry
Each week we have a small team that leads worship and
interaction with residents of the Knott Manor, just up
the street from us. They gather folks there on Sundays,
Tuesdays and Fridays for Bibles studies, worship services
and fellowship. The team has found more people open to
the Lord than they can handle on their own and are looking
for others to share this ministry with them.
Prison Ministry
We have a vision for teams of KACC people ministering in
local jails and prisons to those forgotten by mainstream
society. We have already participated in initial training
through Prison Fellowship [website], but are looking for leadership
to get this critical ministry running.
International Students
We would like to begin an outreach in cooperation with
ISI [website] (International Students Incorporated) to reach out to
foreign students attending area colleges. This ministry
would involve developing friendships with students by
meeting with them once or twice monthly (at least) and
helping them in their adjustment to American life, as
well as providing a connection for them in a new culture.
We will move ahead with this ministry when we have a core
group of 10-12 who will commit to it.
Special Events
Includes our yearly Operation Angel Tree [website], as we provide
Christmas joy for children of incarcerated men and women
from our surrounding community. This has been an outstanding
avenue for presenting the gift of Christ to many open
families and has given us a chance to extend our influence
into areas we might not otherwise see. We currently
provide gifts for 200 children, as well as a message of
hope to their caregivers.
Orange County Rescue Mission
In addition to these ministries, we support the Orange
County Rescue Mission [website] in their ongoing effort to reach
the least, last and lost of Orange County.
Around the World
Reaching out around the world involves support of and involvement in cross-cultural efforts beyond our immediate area:
Global Ministries Team
Our Global Ministries Team oversees the financial support
we provide for more than two-dozen missionaries,
organizations and agencies throughout the world.
[missions]
The team also helps cast a vision for the church’s
continued growth and development in global ministries.
It looks constantly for ways to better educate our
congregation about what missions involvement means for
each KACC member, as well as for the congregation as a whole.
The team also seeks effective ways
to minister to our missionaries, both on the field and
at home.
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GO Teams
Another way we minister on a global level is through
the development and deployment of GO (Global Outreach)
Teams. These teams are designed for short-term
assignments in different areas of the world, finding
ways to creatively serve the local church and
believers in other cultures. GO Team members seek
to make a difference outside their immediate
borders, knowing that God can take their efforts and
multiply them abundantly for the sake of His Kingdom.
2003 Teams traveled to the San Carlos Apache reservation
in Arizona, Brisbane, Australia, Mexico City, and the
Atascadero Christian Home.
If you are interested in finding out more about these life-changing
trips, contact the church, or stop by the Cross-Cultural Ministries
Booth during weekend services.
International Church Plants
We are presently involved in church planting projects in the
Philippines and Mexico:
The Valley Country Church
Located in La Trinidad, Philippines, this church was started in
mid-2001 under the pastoral leadership of Jonathan Villagracia and
the oversight of the Philippine Christian Mission [website]. We sent a GO Team
there in 2001 to help with the opening of the congregation, and have
made a five-year commitment to financially assist in initial growth
and development.
The Palmitas Church of Christ
This is a young congregation begun by Craig Contreras, a second-generation missionary working with Southern
Mexico Missions [website] in Mexico City. It is set in the colony of
Iztapalapa, a part of the Federal District of Mexico City.
The work began in 2002, and, as with the Philippine work, we have
made a five-year commitment to helping this church become
established within its community. We also send our GO Teams to
work with Craig as he seeks to reach the people in that part of
the city.
Special Events
Week of Missions
Each spring we host our Week of Missions. This is a time when we
recognize and celebrate what God is doing in our world, honor the
missions people and projects we support, and allow the Lord to
challenge us about our part in taking the message of life and hope
in Christ to a world in need. We incorporate special music and
speakers, and displays set up by our missionaries as we seek to
expand our own horizons for the sake of the Gospel on a global level.
Canned Meat Drive
Each October we conduct collection of canned meats for Filipino
pastors and their families. Working with the CCMP (California
Christian Mission to the Philippines) in Project Alaala Ng Pasko
(Remembrances of Christmas), we collect canned Spam, Vienna sausage,
corned beef and salmon that are sent to Christian workers throughout
the Philippines. This is a simple and tangible way to express our
love (did you ever think Spam would say, "I love you?!") to those
laboring with far fewer resources than we could imagine. Cans are
collected during the month of October, and shipped in early November
in order to be in homes by Christmas.
You Can Make A Difference
There are many ways and places for you to connect with others in the
sharing of your faith. It is our hope that you will reach out and
try a number of different ministry possibilities until you find the
one(s) that best suit your gifts and passions. Whether you go
around the corner or around the world, what matters is that you
take the message of hope that you have and share it with others
who need it.
Why not begin somewhere nearby and ask God to expand your borders
of influence and opportunity? There is a world waiting for you,
and it begins at your own door! Launch out and discover the
blessings God has for you as you give away your faith to the many
that are waiting to receive what Jesus has to offer them.
Serving by your side, Mike Carman
Pastor, Cross-Cultural Ministries
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315 S. Knott Avenue