PROJECTS AND MINISTRIES OF THE VIRGINIA WCG:

Our programs and budget allocates funds toward the national missions outreach, Linen Chest, Spiritual Birthday, Change-the-World, and Christi’s Birthday Observance.  We also support the Connect One Campaign. 

We sponsor two (2)  Brazilian children through the Helping Hands Ministry. 

Annually, Virginia units bring their history books, filled with WCG mementos and photos of  local projects, events and activities.  These  history books are judged for honors at Campmeeting (Camp Christi).

Each year [Sept-April], we select and promote a special foreign missions project.  This year’s project is two-fold:  “Pockets for the Outback” (church planting in Australia) and “Kattia’s Kids” (Bolivia’s children’s ministry).  Our goal for this project is $2,000 (Australia) and $660 (Bolivia). 

We also sponsor a domestic missions project [May –August].  This year’s project is likewise two-fold:  Joy Ranch (Woodlawn, VA) and “Suitcases for Kids” (Southwest Virginia Legal Aide Society).

Formerly called the “gimmick offering”, we now receive a BLESS Offering during the Spring Convention.  This  Bless Offering funds State events and activities. 

Young Writer’s Essay Contest is an award presented to as many as  six youth (three age divisions)  for $100 U.S. Savings Bonds to both boys and girls.  The topic for 2011 is “What does the Great Commission mean to me?”  Essays are submitted for judging during the months of June and July. 

“Qara” is Hebrew for “God Has Called”, and Anderson School of Theology and Christian Women Connection have created a national affiliation to meet the needs of women in ministry.  Virginia has formed its first State chapter, under the Women of the Church of God, to meet the needs of women pastors/licensed female ministers and ministerial students, as well as pastoral wives.

 QUESTIONS KIDS ASK ABOUT PRAYER...

Q:      Doesn't God ever get tired of answering prayers?

A:      Nope.  God never gets even a little bit tired of answering prayers. He loves hearing from us because He loves us...God wants to work in our lives to change our behavior, thoughts, and habits. We should never fear that we are wearing him out with our prayers, even when we pray the same thing over and over again.  that is because he wants to keep being a part of our lives.  (Isaiah 40:27-28)

Q:      What if kids are mean to us and it's hard for us to pray for them?

A:      It is not always easy to pray.  But praying for kids who are mean to us is one of the best things we can do to help them. We can pray that God will help those who are mean to stop being mean.  We can also pray that God will help us to be kind and loving to them so they will learn about god's love through our example. Maybe if they see God's love in us, they will come to know Jesus... (Luke 6:27-28)

Q:      Is group prayer more powerful?

A:      It can be.  Group prayer can be more powerful than individual prayer because it helps believers grow closer to each other as well as closer to God.  It gets a lot of people praying for the same thing.  It is also a great way of showing God that we agree about what is important...We may not feel like praying or we may not feel very confident in our prayers.  So others pray with us to help us to receive God's strength and [guidance]... (Hebrews 10:25)

Excerpts from [Family Desk Reference] "801 Questions Kids Ask About God" by Focus on the Family (Tyndale Publishers)

NOTE:  Isn't it amazing how children can teach us, adults, so much!