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The Missions Team is all about what God is doing outside our immediate community. This includes encouraging and supporting missionaries and mission organizations through prayer, gifts and other means. Our goal is to help each person at Creekside become involved in missions in some way whether by learning, praying, giving or going.

As a part of our efforts to keep Creeksiders informed of what God is doing around the world, we highlight a different ministry each month. Missionary updates are posted to the website regularly.

Financial support for missions comes from the church budget as well as monthly special offerings.

Short-term mission trips are encouraged at Creekside. We have sent a number of teams to hold summer camps for orphans in Russia and the Ukraine, work with Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic, and help with rebuilding efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi. Many Creeksiders have been involved in mission trips with other churches or organizations as well. As of the end of 2008, 23% of Creeksiders had participated in a mission trip or other global ministry! If you are planning to go on a mission trip, please let the Staff or Missions Team know so that we can support you.

These are the long-term missionaries and projects that Creekside supports. Click on the names to read their stories...

Brandon & Shannon Bleek

Ministry: Student Internship Program Director
Creekside Contact: Brandon Bleek
Contact Info: www.cotni.org, www.bleeksinthedr.blogspot.com 

Brandon and Shannon Bleek are serving God with Children of the Nations. The ministry of COTN provides Christ-centered care and educational opportunities to orphaned and desolate children in the African countries of Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, as well as in the Dominican Republic. Brandon is serving as the Internship Program Manager where he implements the mission of equipping and empowering a global movement of college students to mentor these children into leaders who will transform their nations. These summer-long internships also provide cross-cultural opportunities and development for college students to expand their gifts, skills and spiritual vision.

The Bleeks live in Washington. They both have experience and passion for serving youth. Brandon has worked with college students in cross-cultural missions since graduating from college in 2000. Shannon continues her love of teaching as a seventh grade science teacher. They also had their first child in 2009.

  • Pray for the Bleeks as they continue to raise their support for Brandon’s salary.
  • Pray that God would continue to use Brandon’s gifts and passions to best serve the ministry and God’s purpose for him.
  • Pray that the college interns would be significantly touched by God as they experience new cultures and see the world’s needs this summer.
  • Pray also that they would be able to raise their daughter to follow where God leads.

Jay & Linda Cruze

Jamaica

Ministry: Cool Water Ministries
Creekside Contact: Jennifer Cruze
Contact Info: www.coolwaterjamaica.org

Jay and Linda Cruze started Cool Water Ministries in Mandeville, Jamaica, West Indies, in 2005 after serving for three years at Central Jamaica Bible College and several local orphanages.

In 2005, the Cruzes opened their Cool Water Ministries resident facility for the forgotten young men leaving children's homes or disadvantaged situations. Cool Water Ministries is a safe place where these young men can prepare for their transition into mainstream society. Since most of these young men come to Cool Water Ministries with limited education or job related skills, the Cruzes focus on developing, equipping, and mentoring these men in academic, spiritual, leadership and life skills. At the close of their time with Cool Water Ministries, each student will have been equipped and guided onto the proper path where he can reach his full potential in God and positively influence his nation’s future.

In addition to providing for young men in their home, Jay and Linda provide assistance to their community. Jay is involved with supporting and equipping a number of national pastors as well as leading a men’s mentoring program. Recently, with assistance from two American nurses, Cool Water Ministries sponsored a medical clinic to one of the poor rural areas where people have limited access to basic medical care. In addition, they have coordinated several summer Vacation Bible Schools in nearby communities for churches. Their ministry extends to influencing, mentoring and teaching youth in community schools and sports programs.

Prayer Requests:

  • For wisdom, discernment and clarity of direction for Cool Water Ministries.
  • For the young disadvantaged and forgotten men of Jamaica who wander aimlessly, without hope of a future.
  • For God’s guidance and favor on the new CWM campus project and the new students who will start in January 2009.
  • For David and Kedar who will be continuing on as CWM Student Interns and paid staff.
  • For Linda and James as they get back into the home schooling routine.
Update: May 2010, March 2010, February 2010 #2, February 2010, December 2009, November 2009

Dan & Oksana Johnson

Ministry:  New Life Radio, Russia
Contact Info: www.christianradiorussia.org

“New Life Radio began as Russia's first Christian FM radio station in 1996. Seeking to aid the development of Christian broadcasting nationwide, New Life Radio-Moscow began satellite broadcasting in 2000 from studios located next to Red Square and the Kremlin.

“New Life Radio is a non-denominational media resource, of service to the entire Christian community, offering free airtime to domestic Christian programmers, and free satellite reception to any listener. Christian Radio for Russia’s mission is to subsidize this satellite network, while working to expand New Life Radio's reach to Slavic communities worldwide that desire Christian radio programming in the Russian language.”

  • Pray that New Life Radio will be able to expand service to new areas.
  • Pray for the finances to continue the ministry.
  • Pray for unity among and support from the churches served by this ministry.

Update: June 2010, April 2010, March 2010, January 2010, December 2009

John & Letha Kerl

Ministry: Covenant World Mission, Europe
Contact Info: John Kerl

John and Letha Kerl serve as Regional Coordinators for the Covenant mission work in Europe. Their responsibilities include care for and supervision of missionary personnel as well as creating partnerships with national church leaders on wide-ranging approaches to evangelism and discipleship.

The Kerls have recently taken on the additional responsibility of Regional Coordinators for Africa. The main focus will be on missionaries in Central African Republic, Cameroon and Congo. The Kerls live in Lyon, France, and have three children.

  • Pray that they can quickly become familiar with the various aspects of their new responsibilities in Africa.
  • Pray that they can achieve a balance between their multiple responsibilities in Europe and Africa and their personal lives.
  • Pray for safety and effectiveness in their travels.
  • Pray for spiritual growth in their personal lives.

Update: Spring 2010, February 2010, May 2009

John & Tanzi Mitchell

Nicaragua

Ministry: Youth with a Mission (YWAM)
Contact Info: www.ywamnicaragua.org/eng, johnandtanzi@gmail.com

John and Tanzi work with YWAM in Diriamba, Nicaragua, assisting the base in evangelism, community development, and education in nearby slums. Nicaragua is a country that has been uniquely ravaged by dictators, revolutions and a counter revolution. The process of rebuilding and healing is an ongoing concern and physical and spiritual needs are great.

Youth with a Mission (YWAM) is a global missionary organization that trains, equips and sends out missionaries around the world. YWAM serves in over 1000 locations in 149 countries with 16,000 full-time, volunteer staff. The mission focuses on spreading the gospel, mercy ministries and missionary training.

John’s responsibilities include teaching in the Discipleship Training School and maintenance on the base. Tanzi oversees hospitality and housekeeping at the base.

Prayer requests:

  • Pray for continued Spanish language acquisition.
  • Pray for physical, emotional and spiritual health.
  • Pray that God will provide the financial support the Mitchells need in order to continue their work with YWAM.

Update: July 2010, March 2010, February 2010, October 2009, July 2009, May 2009

Kaitlyn Phillips

Asia

Ministry: AOG World Relief
Creekside Contact: Nancy Boyd
Contact Info: Kaitlyn.e.phillips@gmail.com, www.kpworldsapart.blogspot.com

Kaitlyn is a project manager for Assemblies of God World Relief. The organization does community development and relief work, among other things. A need that lies heavily on Kaitlyn’s heart is preventing young people from being caught up in human trafficking. AOG World Relief offers Shine classes for women and Strengths classes for men that impart value, purpose and worth into the participant’s lives. Their newest project is opening a coffee shop that will serve as a place of vocational training for at-risk youth. The training room and kitchen are ready; next to come is the coffee shop where students can put their new skills to use. Youth with skills and a job are less likely to be lured into human trafficking. You can read more about Kaitlyn’s ministry on her blog.

Prayer requests:

  • Pray for health, safety and spiritual protection.
  • Pray for Kaitlyn as she learns the language and makes new friends.
  • Pray for opportunities to share her faith.
  • Pray for success in her work with World Relief.

Update: May 2010, Christmas 2009

Dave & Audry Waines

Ministry: Preventative Healthcare and Education, Evangelism, Refugees, Orphans, Justice
Creekside Contacts: Patty Coster
Contact Info: www.equipliberia.org, davewaines@yahoo.ca

The mission of EQUIP Liberia is to practically demonstrate the good news and love of Christ in order to bring the war-affected, impoverished people of Liberia healing, hope and fullness of life.

EQUIP Liberia is a Christian non-profit relief and development organization specializing in training and equipping local churches and community groups to transform their own communities through integrated, holistic community health projects.

In addition, EQUIP Liberia has recently launched a new program called Access to Justice and Human Rights Protection. Community Health Ambassadors as well as other volunteers are being trained, mobilized and empowered to stand up for justice and prevent crime and abuse in their communities.

  • Pray for physical and spiritual protection for the Waines and other volunteers working for justice.
  • Pray for continued success for the Community Health Ambassadors who work tirelessly to improve health through prevention. Pray for open hearts as they share the good news about Jesus.
  • Pray for health, energy and encouragement for the Waines in their daily responsibilities.

Update: Christmas 2009, Fall 2009, February 2009, November 2008

Dr. Christopher and Nancy Zoolkoski

Ministry: Medical Work in a Muslim country
Creekside Contact: Patty Coster
Contact Info:  Dr. Christopher Zoolkoski
Galmi Hospital, Niger, West Africa, www.galmi.org
 

Dr. Christopher and Nancy Zoolkoski serve with SIM at Galmi Hospital in Niger, West Africa. Christopher is a medical doctor; Nancy is a pharmacist.

  • Pray for Christopher and Nancy’s children: the older two are in college in the US, the middle two are in boarding school and the youngest is schooled at Galmi.
  • Pray for a teacher for the younger missionary children at Galmi for the 2010-2011 school year.
  • Pray for Nancy who is working on learning the local language.
  • Pray for spiritual, emotional and physical health.
  • Pray for opportunities to share their faith with patients and neighbors.

“SIM is a community of God's people who delight to worship him and are passionate about the Gospel, seeking to... glorify God by planting, strengthening, and partnering with churches around the world.” www.sim.org

Updates: May 2010, April 2010, February 2010, January 2010

Agros International

Guatemala

Ministry: Holistic community development through land ownership
Creekside Contacts: Patty Coster
Contact Info: Rebecca Bundy, www.agros.org

Agros International works to break the cycle of poverty and bring dignity and hope to people in Central America through land ownership. Individuals, churches and businesses are invited to sponsor new farming villages for a five-year period. During this time, land is purchased, applicants are screened and chosen, and villages are formed. The new farmers receive assistance from an agronomist to help them develop the best sustainable farming practices. They also receive guidance on how to start small businesses to supplement their farming income. The goal is for the villagers to be self-sufficient and able to begin paying back their loans at the end of the five-year period.

Villa Linda, Guatemala, was established in 2005 and is making good progress towards their goals. Trace and Rebecca Bundy have partnered with this village of 20 families and plan to come alongside them with encouragement and support in the form of finances and service trips. Creekside has committed to assist the Bundys in this venture.

  • Pray that the Lord will continue to provide all that is needed to make this village successful.
  • Pray for healthy community relationships and villagers who love Jesus and are growing in their faith.

Here is the link to the newest update for Villa Linda: www.agros.org/ag/villagepdfs/villalinda.pdf

Covenant World Relief

Ministry: Relief and Development
Contact Info: www.covchurch.org/cwr

“Established in 1946, Covenant World Relief has served as the international humanitarian aid and development arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church (in times of extreme need it also does USA domestic disaster response). Our charge is to assist the “poorest of the poor” by offering relief, rehabilitation and development.

“Covenant World Relief is an effective, efficient, respected and flexible humanitarian aid ministry in Christ’s name, with a sixty year history. CWR works through local churches, collaborations, and partnerships. This increases local presence in service, controls and reduces overhead, empowers local ministry, and grants immediate response to disaster and human suffering.”

  • Pray that aid given will be effective in alleviating human suffering.
  • Pray that people will hear the good news of Jesus Christ and chose to follow Him as a result of receiving humanitarian aid.
  • Pray that the church will continue to be compassionate and generous to those who are suffering around the world.

Kids Alive International

Dominican Republic, Latin America

Ministry: Rescuing Children: Education, Orphanages, Child Sponsorships
Creekside Contact: Thom Allison
Contact Info: www.kidsalive.org

Creekside has sent a number of teams to help with construction and other projects at a Kids Alive orphanage and school in the Dominican Republic.

  • Pray that the children who live and/or attend school at Kids Alive facilities will grow in wisdom and knowledge and in the grace of God.
  • Pray for that the staff will have patience, love and wisdom in training these children.
  • Sponsor a child through Kids Alive, www.kidsalive.org/chcsp.html

The Mosaics Project

Europe

Ministry: Sensitive Cultures in the European and Mediterranean Regions
Contact: prayformosaics@yahoo.com, www.andresjourney.info/andres

Some Amazing Facts:

  • God is moving in the "focus" world with tremendous opportunity for the Gospel.
  • Immigration is opening up new opportunities.
  • Immigration plus birthrates in Europe are shifting this generation from the historic Christian background that formerly characterized the majority of the population.

Goals and Objectives of the Mosaics Project:

  • Develop ministry sites for "focus" people in Europe and US
  • Discern call [aka: recruit] with new workers for the project
  • Develop training and mentoring
  • Engage "focus friends" with the Gospel

Prayer requests:

  • Strategy and training for new workers as the project expands and develops
  • Good relationships with "focus friends" that we engage with the Gospel
  • Hosting local church sites on the field and in U.S. for new ministry opportunities

Slavic Covenant Connections

Russia and Ukraine

Ministry: Orphan Care, Summer Camps
Creekside Contact: Mike and Linda McAllister
Opportunities: Joint partnership with Russian and Ukrainian Churches, and orphan ministry organizations.

Creekside has been involved in outreach to Russian and Ukrainian orphanages since 2004. This ministry has included a summer camps for orphan children and ongoing connections with churches and orphanages in this region.

We are beginning a new partnership in 2010 with New Hope International working with their Orphan Care ministry in Ukraine. This is a ministry that places orphaned children in Christian foster care families. You can find out more about this ministry at www.newhopeinternational.org/orphancare/orphancare.htm. We re excited to begin participation in this new partnership by assisting with a New Hope summer camps in Ukraine for foster care families.

  • Pray for God's leading and direction with the orphan ministry.
  • Pray for an effective Christian outreach to Russian and Ukrainian orphans, that they will accept God's leading in their lives.

World Vision

Africa, Sub-Sahara

Ministry: HIV/AIDS Hope Initiative
Creekside Contact: Linda Duim
Contact Info: www.wovpugetsound.org

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities reach their potential by tackling the causes of poverty. Assisting families affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis is one of World Vision’s top priorities. Puget Sound Women of Vision, a volunteer ministry of World Vision, has an ongoing community partnership with several villages in Zambia. Two of their programs, the AIDS Walk for Orphans and Caregiver Kits, have been supported by Creekside and help transform areas deeply affected by the AIDS pandemic and a severe lack of basic necessities.

  • It is estimated that a child is orphaned by AIDS at a rate of one every 14 seconds. Pray that God will protect and provide for the needs of these orphans. Pray for the 40 million people around the world that are suffering from AIDS.
  • Pray that churches and donors would respond to this pandemic with prayers and financial support.
  • Pray for the World Vision staff around the world that is helping AIDS victims and their families.

Young Life, Redmond WA

Ministry: Young Life
Creekside Contacts: Peder Brakke, Becky & JD Watson
Contact Info: www.northlakeWA.younglife.org
Opportunities: Committed Leaders (all ages), Adult Committee (encouragement to leaders, financial development, community networking), Monthly Financial Support

In Redmond we have one high school and two junior high schools (Redmond and Evergreen)... nearly 3,000 kids in all. We want to reach each and every kid in these schools with the good news of Jesus Christ and it takes a community to do it. It takes sacrificial leaders, caring adults, financial support, and the churches in Redmond to rally around this mission to reach the disinterested and unchurched in our public schools. We're continually building, training, and leading folks to enter the world of kids, build friendships, sit with kids when they hurt, and offer them hope that can be found in Jesus. Everyone has a place in this mission.

  • Pray that our leaders will be placed in relationship with disinterested and unchurched kids and have an opportunity to allow God speak through them, as they share not only their lives but the Gospel of Jesus as well.
  • Pray that the relationships we build will lead to mountaintop experiences at Club and Camp (Malibu & Wildhorse Canyon). Pray also that we can come down from the mountain and continue a lifetime of walking alongside kids, pointing them to Christ as he is proclaimed in the Scriptures.
  • Pray that new folks will have a passion and calling to this incarnational and relational mission.

Updates: July 2010, February 2010, May 2009, February 2009

SHORT-TERM TRIPS

July Mission Trip to the DR The members of the Creekside mission team had a wonderful time in the Dominican Republic. Thank you for your prayers while they were there. Aaron Soderlund kept a daily blog which gives a glimpse of what the team did while they were there. asod.wordpress.com Brandon Bleek has also posted pictures on his blog. www.bleeksinthedr.blogspot.com

Pray for continued spiritual impact for the team members as well as the people they ministered to and with in the DR. Pray for God’s continued blessing on the ministry of Children of the Nations.

Kirby White is serving with EQUIP in Liberia from July 15 to September 6. Please pray for health, safety, flexibility and spiritual growth through this experience.

Michelle Wellsspent much of her summer in Quito, Ecuador, working in the National Office of the Covenant Church. She helped with translation needs and other administrative and office jobs as well as worked with FACE (Fundacion de Adelanto Communitario Ecuadoriano), the community development arm of the church. She feels very privileged to have been able to work alongside Ecuadorian leaders preparing the path for others to know Christ.