Global Missions
Personal Involvement and Training Opportunities
Be a Calvary Missionary
All individuals considering becoming a Calvary Church Missionary need to join the membership of Calvary Church. Active participation in the programs listed below and other ministries of the church, as well as a working relationship with the Missions Ministry Team in planning your missionary future are necessary steps in the process. Members interested in becoming a Calvary Missionary should become familiar with the Missions Policy. This booklet is available from Missions Ministry office.
Annual Missions Conferences in March and October
Each year expert speakers challenge and encourage you with what is happening around the world and your opportunities to get involved. This is also the time to meet some of our Calvary missionaries who join us during these weeks. Information on these conferences is available a few months before the conference or by checking the Calvary web site www.calvarylife.org and then click on Reach and Global Missions.
Short Term (Summer Missions Trip)
Individuals considering short-term mission trips (up to three months) may request financial support from the Missions Ministry Team toward their trip. The Team is interested in hearing from all individuals interested in serving on mission in this way as part of candidate preparation. The mission trip must be through a Calvary approved agency and the participant must be an actively involved member of Calvary Church for a minimum of 1 year prior to the trip. An application form must be returned to the Personnel Chairman of the Missions Ministry Team prior to the trip and the candidate needs to meet with the Personnel committee following the trip.
S.T.O.R.M. (Short Term OutReach Ministries)
S.T.O.R.M. is a short-term ministry experience (2-3 weeks), for committed Christians enabling them to participate in cross-cultural ministry. Through S.T.O.R.M. trips God gives both, individuals and families, from students to seniors, the opportunity to serve Him in amazing ways all over the world. All short term trips must be approved by Calvary Missions Team, which values S.T.O.R.M. trips that are connected with their missionaries and ministry partners, allowing benefits for both the team member and those they go to serve. Training classes using Calvary’s Short Term manual and Go Prepared Video are required.
Guest Helpers – Vacation with a Purpose
Guest Helper teams use requests for help from our missionaries as opportunities to expose people to the mission field using their construction and technical skills to serve God, both locally and overseas.
On-going projects in the USA include Wynola Bible Camp in Julian; Cannon Beach Conference Center, Sangria Bible Camp and others. Recent trips to Mongolia, Kenya and Mexico have provided much needed help for our missionaries serving there. Families and singles are encouraged to use their vacation times to serve on a Guest Helper project.
World S.P.I.N. (Sending People Into the Nations)
A monthly gathering for young adults 18-32 who are interested in missions and want to know more about how to use their gifts to reach the world. World S.P.I.N. meets the second Sunday of every month from 12:30-2:00 in the Fireside Room. Great speakers, a time for sharing, questions answered about missions, and missions updates are all a part of this great time together. Free lunch provided.
W.W.A.M. (Women With A Mission
WWAM is a multi-generational group of women who gather on the third Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Childcare available in the morning sessions). You will meet our Calvary missionaries as they share their experiences on the field – you’ll share in their joys, accomplishments, challenges and sorrows, and learn to pray for them with greater understanding.
International Students American Friendship Program
American Friendship Program is an evangelism and discipleship ministry targeting international students. Orange County colleges are full of international students who will return to their home countries following completion of their studies. The goal of AFP is to introduce Christ to these students, help them grow in their relationship with Christ, and prepare them to minister to their families and cultures when they return. AFP offers home Bible studies and monthly social events geared toward relational and friendship evangelism. With the nations of the world coming to Orange County and to our college campuses, we have the chance to make a difference by reaching out in friendship. Calvary members are encouraged to get involved.
Children’s Ministry Classes
Children’s Sunday school classes connect with their missionaries by praying for and having pictures of our MK’s (Missionary Kids) that are in their same age group. When missionaries come home for furlough the MK’s are already known by their classmates. In addition, a missionary family is selected each year for Calvary’s Vacation Bible School program. The children hear from the missionary family throughout the week and save pennies that will be used to purchase something for their ministry.
Sunday Morning LifeGroups
Mission Representatives in Morning LifeGroups encourage members in active participation of God’s work around the world through missions education (missionary speakers, videos, books), missionary care and missions participation. Each ABF and LAF group is assigned their own Calvary missionaries and are encouraged to be actively involved in their ministries, through prayer and correspondence with missionaries.
Publications
FYI (For Your Information) is a weekly-published synopsis of current missionary and mission news. Each week we receive several missionary emails and letters. These are condensed and highlighted in the “FYI”. These are available every Sunday morning at the Hospitality Center, Missions table in the Worship Center lobby, and Adult Bible Fellowship classes. Complete copies of missionary letters can be obtained from the Missions Ministry office.
Monthly Prayer Guides are calendars that are available at the end of the month for the next. Daily requests for missionary needs and current missions happenings around the world are presented. Email addresses of all Calvary missionaries are printed on the backside of the calendar for easy referencing.
Missionary Prayer Booklets are updated and available each March during Missions Conference. These pocket-sized booklets have a short write up and photo on all of our current Calvary Missionaries, agencies and partnership projects that we support and allow for an easy way to pray daily.
Missionary Address Listingsare updated monthly and available in the Worship Center Lobby Missions Table and at the Hospitality Center on the patio.
Beyond All Borders notebook/missionary profiles are updated and available each October. They include important and interesting (favorite color; hobby; etc.) information on all of our Calvary missionaries along with up to date pictures.
The Reach Magazine is available three times a year. This keeps you up on both future Reach events and past ones. There is information about local and global outreaches and opportunities.
Books on Missions and Missionaries are available for purchase at The Corner Bookstore, including several written by or about our Calvary Missionaries. The Church Library and the Missions Ministry office also have mission books and videos that are available for loan throughout the week. Check out a list of recommended books on missions - click here
Calvary Reach Global Web Site is at www.calvarylife.org go to Reach and click on Global Missions. The site includes up to date information on missions at Calvary. A listing of the majority of our missionaries includes their pictures, email information and a synopsis of their ministry. Short term opportunities and speakers for events are found here. Check it out regularly for new information.
OTHER
Understanding World Religions and Sharing your Faith Classes
Because we feel it is important for you to understand the religions and cultures of people coming to America today, special seminars, workshops and classes are offered throughout the year. Topics include Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Chinese Folk Religion and Animism, Judaism and other Worldviews. We also offer evangelism classes on sharing your faith with others.
Missionary Resource Network
Do you have a skill or service that you could offer to the Lord? Join the Missionary Resource Network to provide our Calvary missionaries with free or discounted services. Currently we have a doctor who is providing free (or insurance only) care for our missionaries. This is a great benefit to the missionary and also connects them in another way to the body of Christ here at Calvary Church. Here are some ideas of resources you might supply: Dentistry, Medical care, Eye care, Legal Aid, Real Estate, Tutoring, Accounting/Tax services, Travel arrangements/ airline miles, technology, graphics, communication, Babysitting, Home maintenance, Handyman, Prayer letter stuffing, yard work, Appliance service/repair, Auto repair, Carpentry, Ladies’ hair styling, Men’s haircuts, Piano lessons, Vacation home/cabin, RV/Van use, Spare car use, housing, etc. Contact the Missions office if you can help. Participants names are kept confidential.
Mandarin and Spanish Speaker’s Services
Hispano Ministerio serves our Spanish speaking community with a Spanish led Sunday morning Worship service in Samsvick Chapel at 10:45 and an Adult Bible Fellowship class at 8:45. In addition there are Bible study classes for men and women throughout the week and an AWANA program for children on Fridays. This is a ministry of Calvary Church and those attending can become members of Calvary through our membership class that is taught in Spanish several times each year. The pastor is part of Calvary’s staff and an elder sits on the Elder Board of Calvary Church.
Logos Bible Church focuses on evangelizing Chinese people that have recently come here from main-land China and Taiwan. They have a Sunday Worship service in the GYM at 10:45 and an Adult Bible Fellowship at 8:45, both are led in Mandarin. In addition, there Bible studies on Friday evenings and a Wednesday prayer time. Logos Bible Church meets on our campus, but is not a ministry of Calvary Church. They are a growing church body that Calvary is blessed to encourage by providing a place of Worship and classes for their children which attend our Children’s Ministries classes. We are blessed to have Logos Bible Church reaching out to the Mandarin speaking people in this area.
Second Sundays
Every second Sunday of the month a time in both the Celebration and Elevation services include a special focus on missions from videos and speakers to missionary interviews, this special time allows us to keep in touch with what is happening around the world in missions.
10:20 Prayer
Every second Sunday of the month 10:20 Prayer is a time to gather together in prayer for missions on the Second Sunday of the month between services at 10:20 a.m. We meet in the south lobby of the Worship Center and pray together for 10 minutes for our missions focus that month.
Commissioning
Because those that go out on mission are ambassadors for Calvary Church, we feel it is important to commission them. New Calvary Missionaries leaving for the field are commissioned and prayed for by the Elders in the morning services prior to their departure. A time of prayer for our short term teams take place when possible in the morning worship services or in the church parking lot prior to the team’s departure.
Interviews and Prayer
When at all possible, after arriving home or returning for the field missionaries are interviewed and prayed for in the morning Worship services. In addition, missionaries share in other venues including speaking in ABF classes, LAF meetings, WWAM and Men’s and Women’s Bible studies. Also, Calvary Christian School has missionaries share for their chapels and in classrooms throughout the year.