*  Isaiah 58 was a mission started by First Christian Church in 1996.  Last year, Isaiah 58 gave out about eight tons of food to more than 300 families each month.  Isaiah is 100% volunteer managed and most of the volunteers come from our church.  Ten to fifteen members volunteer at Isaiah each week.  In 2009 we gave $3,000 to support Isaiah 58. 

          *  We gave $ 1,500 in five special offerings collected seasonally to support our thirteen colleges and universities, as well as seven seminaries; to support 147 missionaries serving in 44 countries; to manage the pensions of our clergy; to develop lay leadership of men, women, and youth; to support new church development; to strengthen ecumenical partnerships through the Council on Christian Unity; to provide global emergency assistance through Church World Service, as well as immediate emergency response through our Region; and to help cover the administrative costs to manage our denomination.  Occasionally, when disaster strikes, our church collects a special offering for our own local response, i.e. in 2010 we sent $950 for emergency relief in Haiti. 

          *  Because our church is located near the High School and the Middle School, we adopted working with youth as a mission goal.  Each Wednesday evening our pastor meets with a youth group that ranges from ten to twenty on a given week.  Last year we spent $2,000 to send six youth to church camp during the summer.  In addition, we sponsored ten young people on a ski trip to Ruidoso, NM during the Christmas break.  Two years ago we took our young people on a mission trip to San Antonio.  A similar mission trip is now being planned for 2010.  In addition, our church “adopted” the Big Spring High School.  Whenever requested by either Principal Ritchey or a school counselor, we anonymously provide clothing, school supplies, and/or food to the family of students.  We encourage volunteer service at Isaiah 58 during summer months.  Our youth are just one of two groups in Big Spring that participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring, and we received the 2009 “Ruth Jackson” Youth Leadership Award from the state of Texas for our efforts to pick up trash and clean the Spring in the park. 

          *  Other efforts we support with dollars is the High School Bible Class, the Lake Brownwood Retreat Center, CASA, Good Samaritan, the Angel Tree project, and the Hereford International Project.

          *  Although now run by other groups, our church started three major activities in Big Spring.  We brought trout fishing to Big Spring, we brought the Empty Bowls project to Big Spring, and we were the first church to offer Trunk or Treat for little ones.  For two years, we sponsored the kids trout fishing tournament, but turned the event over to the Big Spring Rotary Club in 2010.  Empty Bowls is now a signature event for United Way, but we continue to host the event at our church.  This past Halloween some 500 youngsters walked car to car for candy treats.         

          *  We offer the traditional activities of church including choir;  Sunday School for kids, youth, and adults;  an intergenerational Bible School in July;  Youth group meeting and activities; Sunday fellowship luncheons; and pastoral care for members.  Our pastor expects to be called anytime in case of pastoral emergencies. 

          *  All of our church activities are promoted through a monthly newsletter,  The Caller (click it to read it).