MISSION PROJECTS
We will partner with ministries/missionaries that align with our statement of beliefs. As we find those doing ministry, we want to create partnerships to invest in financially but also so that our employees can be involved physically going so they can gain “buy in” and become a part of a bigger picture. We would like to conduct survey trips at the beginning of any partnership, to best determine if it is a project that we want to sponsor as Meherrin on Mission. Survey trips may involve one or more ministries/missionaries depending on the area we are visiting. These survey trips will be done by either those on the Ministry Action Team, Meherrin on Mission board, or those nominated by either of previous mention.
As Missions Ministry, we are about furthering the kingdom of God. This task is carried out in a wide variety of forms including but not limited to: agricultural missions, orphan care, medical, education, sports, community development, clean water.
We seek to identify those missionaries that have a presence in any particular country/region/area. We acknowledge that missionaries we partner with will be tied in locally wherever they are serving to indigenous believers.
We want to make it available to our employees to be engaged in missions. We want their “buy in” to come from them being a part of a ministry in a different area.
We will seek out potential partners and plan survey trips to visit and work alongside these ministries. Through these survey trips we can vet the missionaries, their work, their local partners, how we can partner in the future and other logistical items. We will report back to the Ministry Action Team and Meherrin On Mission board to affirm our ongoing support.
Over the past 12 months, MOM has financially supported these ministries
-Purchased an additional trailer for disaster relief that will be outfitted with tools and moved to Georgia
-Supported Cry Freedom who rescues, restores, empowers and employes men & women who have been victims of sex trafficking
-Funded to start a Compassion International project for kids in La Paz, Bolivia
-Started another project with ICM to build a church and hope center in Nicaragua & Mexico
Our work with ICM. As an international Christian organization, their strategy is to reach the world for Christ effectively. Equipping local churches with the tools they need to grow allows entire nations to be blanketed with healthy churches. Also, when local churches invest their own effort and resources into each project, the result is a sense of ownership, long-term sustainability, and a greater impact for every dollar you give. MOM has partnered with ICM to build churches in Brazil, Egypt and Vietnam. Dan Varian, Mikayla Calhoun and Kyle Patterson from Hampton Farms went to Honduras in October 2022 to see firsthand what ICM is doing. They were surprised to see the work that ICM had done there. Surprisingly in these areas there were no community buildings that the locals were able to use. After these churches and hope centers were built, they brought in so many kids and adults from within the community and were able to meet the needs of the community.
As we partner with ICM financially, they match our money with a local group of believers in each country that needs a permanent building (either a church or a hope center). This groupis required to have at least 100 members to apply for funding. They must own the land and either provide the labor or hire it out. They receive around $15,000 to purchase building materials (for a church) or $30,000 (for a hope center) and they have a certain timeframe to have the building built. The plans for each building are designed by an engineer. The local group is also responsible for outfitting with any chairs, sound equipment and other items. After construction is completed, many of these groups rapidly increase in number since they have a permanent place to meet. They also have to agree to start other groups in the future.
In May of 2023, MOM has entered into a new agreement with ICM to buildmultiple churches and hope centers in Nicaragua and Mexico.
Compassion International (CI ) Sponsor a Child - Compassion International
In 2022, MOM decided to reach out to domestic and international children’s organizations that share Meherrin on Mission’s values and vision for helping children in the name of Jesus. MOMdesires to feed the children physically, spiritually,emotionally and mentally. CI takes a holistic approach to helping the poorest of the poor children through indigenouslocal churches. In fact, Don Rosie with Meherrin spent a week in Guatemalarecently on a vision trip for the MOM board. After returning from the CI Guatemalan trip, Don personally endorses CI as an organization that MOM would like to partner with.
MOM has gifted $32K towards a compassion project this year (fully funded the initial start-up). The location is in El Alto, La Paz (Bolivia). MOM has reserved 25 of 165 registered children for Meherrin employee sponsorships.
Part of the vision for this partnership between MOM and CI is to have employees go and visit MOM associated children in the future. Additionally, MOM would also look for ways to help the MOM sponsored children and their families / communities.
Dan Varian & Mikayla Calhoun in Choloma, Honduras
Mikayla Calhoun loving on a new orphan at the orphanage in San Pedro Sula
Dan Varian & Kyle Patterson at a hope center dedication in Siguatepeque, Honduras