July 17, 2009
1. Back to School Blast - last call!
2. Financial update
3. India Vision Trip
4. Mission Partner Profile - Mission Indy
5. Jump rope, anyone?
6. Quick Updates
  House Churches
Back to School Blast - last call!
Our first weekend of backpack sponsorship for the Back to School Blast was amazing! A total of 110 backpacks were sponsored at our Midtown and West sites. A limited number of backpacks will be available for sponsorship at both locations this Sunday, July 19. You will have the option to sponsor a filled bag for $25 or take an empty bag for $10 and fill the bag with items on the supply list.

Backpacks must be returned to Common Ground by Sunday, August 2. If we run out of backpacks, you are welcome to make a financial contribution to support the Back to School Blast. Simply bring your donation (cash or check made payable to Common Ground) to the sponsorship table and check the donation box on the sponsorship form.

Once all backpacks are collected, individuals and local house churches will participate in the distribution of the backpacks at School 43's annual Back to School Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, August 11 from 4 pm until 5 pm. If your house church would like to be involved in the distribution of the backpacks, please contact Jeff.

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Financial update
In April we provided an update regarding the financials at CGCC. We do so again in this e-news article in a spirit of good stewardship as we recognize our obligation to communicate how your gifts to God are being distributed, as well as our “need.” The embedded graphic shows how we plan to distribute tithes and offerings this year across the various ministry areas. We continue to have confidence in the 2009 budget and believe it represents the best use of God’s resources for our church.
 
As of June 30, tithes and offerings are below budgeted expenses by ~6% ($36,600). Because of this, we want to again take this opportunity to encourage you toward a pattern of faithful giving. To the extent our church is able to give their tithes and offerings on a consistent basis it will help us in the planning and distribution of those resources.
 
Related to this, we also wanted to inform you that Trinity Church has purchased our property at 6151 N. Central for $300,000. CGCC and Trinity have like-minded visions for ministry and we look forward to seeing how God will continue to use this facility to bless the community through the ministry of Trinity Church. The CGCC elders have prayerfully decided to use the proceeds we received this year from this sale to lower our current mortgage and fund missions/benevolence requests.
 
For more information about this update or the 2009 budget, please contact Nate.
 

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India Vision Trip
Join us as we partner with ServLife International and travel to their ministry center in Bihar, India to assist with projects at their new facilities and work in the Servlife orphanage. Below are some trip details:
  • Estimated cost $3000
  • 10 spots available
  • Passport: required
  • Visa: upon arrival in country
  • Immunizations: required (details at team meetings)
Join us for an informational meeting on Sunday, August 2 following the 11 am service at our Midtown location (4550 N. Illinois Street).The application and deposit deadline for this trip is August 16. Have additional questions about this trip, please send us an email.
 
To learn more about ServLife and their children's home, click here. For a full list of 2010 vision trips, visit our website.

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Mission Partner Profile - Mission Indy
Mission Indy is dedicated to equipping Christians to serve others. They do this by encouraging churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus where they are planted, challenging participants’ thinking and paradigms about what God is doing and how they can be engaged, and training participants in skills and methods of sharing life. They believe that groups who spend time with Mission Indy will be motivated to allow God to use them to faithfully display His wisdom and love.
 
Mission Indy accomplishes their mission through many avenues. They partner with inner city churches and ministries for projects that range from demolition to Vacation Bible Schools. Working a demolition project with Mission Indy isn’t just about the labor, worship or debriefings, but the hope that groups will be motivated to really want to reach out to those in need in their home church, neighborhoods and communities.
 
In addition to short-term projects in neighborhoods, Mission Indy is in the middle of their 13th summer of service camps. They have worked with over 2600 participants from 11 different states in groups that range in size from 3 to 45. Groups also vary in age from junior high students to college and adult groups. One of their greatest joys is hearing that some of the groups who have participated in Mission Indy have begun similar works of service in their hometowns! Being the hands and feet of Jesus has exploded into similar groups such as Mission Lincoln (Illinois), Mission Toledo (Ohio) and Mission Batesville (Indiana).
 
How is all this accomplished? Each year, Mission Indy recruits and hires college-age young people to serve as their staff for ten weeks in the summer. Beginning in the fall, Mission Indy visits college and university campuses across the Midwest and sets up displays and shares what they do in classes ranging from missions to sociology. Then, they begin the summer with a staff retreat where they spend the weekend getting to know one another through activities such as rock climbing and repelling, a nature scavenger hunt, and an evening prayer walk This journey of prayer and meditation sets the tone for a summer of depending on God for all things.
 
Interested in learning more about Mission Indy? Check out their website. If you or your house church would like to participate in a Mission Indy project, send Ron Greiner an email.

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Jump rope, anyone?
Have you ever participated in competitive jump rope? Ever jumped rope just for fun? Ever seen someone jump rope? No matter your level of experience or expertise, Jireh Sports could use your help. Jireh is starting a competitive jump rope team this fall and is in need of servants to assist the head coach with everything from coaching to devotions, mentoring and tutoring. Jireh is also building volunteer teams for rowing, boxing and dance. If you would like to help a young child grow in their knowledge of God, learn some discipline and life skills, get in great shape, and have a lot of fun then you are the right person!
 
To learn more or volunteer, please contact Curtis Adkins at 317.417.3075 or Tim Streett at 317.201.9838.


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Quick Updates
Waiting on an Email?
The Common Ground staff has learned that the installation of new spam software has caused our outbound messages to not reach their intended recipients during the last few weeks. If you are expecting a reply from a staff member and have not received it, it is likely that the message was impacted by this issue. We believe that the problem has been corrected, and emails are now being delivered. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your grace and understanding.
 
Leader's Conference - Save the Date
Please mark your calendars for our next Leader's Conference on Saturday, September 12. Full details and registration are coming soon!
 
Revive - August 7
Mark your calendars for the next Revive – An Evening of Prayer and Worship on Friday, August 7 at 6:30 pm. This quarterly gathering is a unique opportunity to corporately worship and pray about the purpose and direction of our church. We invite you to come and engage in prayer with us as we seek Him. Childcare is available if you register here by July 26. Questions about Revive? Please contact Nate.

Training and Equipping- August 8
The next Quarterly Training and Equipping is August 8 from 9 am to 3 pm at Midtown (4550 N Illinois Street). There is no cost to attend and snacks and a light lunch will be provided for all adults. The deadline to request childcare for children age 0 through 12 is July 26. For additional information, including complete course descriptions and to register, please visit our online Training and Equipping Registration. The deadline to register is Sunday, August 2.

Kingdom Living Training School - Deadline Extended
Common Ground’s Kingdom Living Training School provides an opportunity for you to spend 9 months of intentional pilgrimage into the way of Jesus. The nature of this year will be a journey into the core of God's desire for us to embrace His Kingdom here on earth. It will be a blending of theory and praxis, intellectual searching and experiential discovery. Click here to learn more!

Mark Your Calendars...
To learn more, please click on the event name or see the article above.

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