February 23-25, 2024
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The World Mission Conference is an exciting conference highlighting the power of the gospel around the world through the work of global and local missions. This four-day conference includes keynote speakers, dinner fellowships, mission forums, and outreach opportunities.
A WORD from the
Conference Chair
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“Welcome to the 2024 World Mission Conference of First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville. It is such a privilege for us to have helped plan this year’s conference. Like each of the 48 conferences which came before, this one is a celebration of an amazing God who is using this church in amazing ways to share His love and grow His kingdom… here in Thomasville and around the world.
This year’s theme, Mission I’mPossible, carries a message that our Christian calling is both corporate and personal. In Isaiah 6 when God asks the question “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”, Isaiah answers that call by saying “Here I am! Send me.” Like Isaiah, God is inviting us into His grand story to give our time, talents, and treasure to further His kingdom locally and around the world. As we hear from our mission partners at this year’s conference, let us each consider the ways God is calling us to both give and go.
Come to learn. Come to be encouraged. Come to be inspired. Come to celebrate with us!
”And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” - Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)””
With kindest affection,
Jay Flowers, WMC 2024 Chair
CONFERENCE RESOURCES & MATERIALS
WMC 2024 Materials
MINUTE FOR MISSIONS SPOTLIGHTS
SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR MISSION PARTNERS
EVENT
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD
MISSION PARTNER LUNCHEON (RSVP)
11:30AM-1:00 PM | Student Ministries Building
Join us for lunch as we hear from some of our local and global mission partners and learn about the great work that God is doing around the corner and around the world.
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KICK-OFF DINNER (RSVP)
5:30PM-7:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
Join us as we enjoy a catered dinner, live worship, and kick off the 2024 World Mission Conference with a powerful message and keen insights from keynote speaker, Mike Kuhn.
Keynote Speaker: Mike Kuhn
Live Worship: Local Gospel Praise Team, and FPC Musicians
*Nursery available (children younger than 4). Movie Night for ages 4 - 5th grade available after supper.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST
8:30AM | Fellowship Hall
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LOCAL PARTNERS SERVICE PROJECTS (SIGN UP)
9:00AM-11:30 AM | Student Ministries Building & Local Community
For Adults: Following breakfast, volunteers will head to serve alongside our local mission partners in the Thomasville community.
For Children: Children 3 yrs - 3rd grade meet at the Edwards Building for a World Missions fair!
Move station to station and support our global mission partners: (Children under 5 accompanied by an adult)
Write letters to children around the world.
Pack art supplies for Sacred Road summer bible school.
Bring new or gently used books for the Harper Elementary Book Drive.
Pack toiletries for our local homeless shelter
Test your secret agent skills with a scavenger hunt.
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LUNCH ON THE PLAYGROUND (RSVP)
11:30PM-1:00 PM | FPC Playground
Join us for a catered lunch on the playground for a fun time of fellowship with our local ministry and church partners.
SUNDAY, February 25th
WMC Arise Worship Service
9:00 AM-10:00AM | Fellowship Hall
Keynote Speaker: Mike Kuhn
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COMBINED ADULT, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL & CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
10:00AM-11:00AM | Fellowship Hall
Keynote Speaker: Stu Ross
Children’s Activities:
Sunday School | 4-5 year olds
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WMC Traditional Worship Service
11:00AM-12:00PM | Sanctuary
Keynote Speaker: Mike Kuhn
2024
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Mike Kuhn
Author, Speaker, & Teacher who lived in the Middle East for 28 Years
Website: www.michaelfkuhn.com
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Mike Kuhn serves as the director of the International Theological Education Network (ITEN). ITEN’s purpose is to provide partnership for theological education and leadership development among those with the least access to the gospel. Mike’s ministry passion has long been in the areas of discipleship and spiritual formation. Through ITEN, he co-labors with indigenous training movements to strengthen them in their mission. As a theologian and teacher who has immersed himself in non-Christian cultures for over thirty years, Mike is uniquely gifted to engage non-believers in seeing the love of God while pointing them towards the Way. His gentle spirit and servant-heart are being used by God here to help U.S. congregations see, know, and embrace "the other” in our own neighborhoods and around the world. Mike is married to Stephanie who will also serve as an educational consultant in ITEN.
STU ROSS
East Africa Mission Specialist | The Outreach Foundation
Website: www.theoutreachfoundation.org
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Stu Ross serves as The Outreach Foundation’s East Africa Mission Consultant with responsibility for partnering through the Mission Projects Committee of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA). Stu’s ministry includes building schools, churches, and girls’ rescue centers as well as managing water projects. Stu Ross links U.S. congregations with East African partners to strengthen the church for God’s mission. Through these efforts, over 300 churches and over 150 schools have been built, hundreds of girls have been cared for, over 500 evangelists have been trained, and libraries have been added to several schools in memory of Linda Ross, who greatly advocated for the education of girls.
Chris Granberry
Executive Director | Sacred Road Ministries | Yakama, Washington
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With the desire to love and serve our “first neighbors” well, Chris and his wife, Mary, moved in 2003 with their four children, Ann Marie, Beth, Morgan and David to the Yakama Indian Reservation. In 2010, they added one more child to the mix – Connie – a child from the reservation and now a full-time team member with Sacred Road. As the founder of Sacred Road, Chris was ordained by the Pacific Northwest Presbytery in June 2008. With a background in teaching, coaching, and youth ministry, Chris now serves as Team Leader as well as Pastor for Hope Fellowship - a church plant within Sacred Road Ministries. (Due to an unforeseen conflict, Chris will not be able to be in person at this year’s conference.)
2024
WMC 2024 GoAl: $200,000
How might God be calling you and your family to support world missions? See the information below to learn more about our mission partners and 2024 goals. Our church is committed to supporting our international mission partners at the levels listed below:
The Outreach Foundation
Kenya | $20,000
The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) is growing at a rate of 15% annually! Funds raised will further this growth through the construction of numerous churches, schools, orphanages, and rescue centers (rescuing young girls from the slavery of forced marriages and female mutilation) in Kenya. For almost 20 years, under the leadership of Stu Ross, our congregation has sent 8 mission teams with another team going this July.
Mexico | $15,000
Through our partnership with Todd Luke, our support continues for the Campechano Presbytery of the Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding communities. Todd and his wife, Maria, host mission teams to support their vision of evangelism and community development in the Xpujil region. FPC adult and student mission teams have assisted in the construction of much-needed family-owned rainwater cisterns and ministered to local school children through Vacation Bible Schools. A FPC men's group will travel to Mexico this spring to serve this partnership by building cisterns.
Cuba | $15,000
FPC has been in partnership with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Guanabacoa, Cuba since 2004. In 2019, FPC sent a team to the Guanabacoa church to formalize a partnership agreement to build a preschool based on the vision of Pastor Yoelkis to better serve the many young families in the community now two to three generations removed from Christianity. Despite recent economic and health challenges, the Children’s Bible Ministry opened its doors in January 2022. Our support will enable children in their community to attend a loving Christian preschool in lieu of a government run daycare.
Iran | $7,000
Despite intense persecution, the Church in Iran is exploding with unprecedented growth and incredible hunger for the Gospel. Reverend Dr. Sasan Tavassoli is at the forefront of this movement. He experienced a radical encounter with Jesus Christ and left the Muslim faith. He leads a critically important satellite and online ministry reaching Iranians with the Gospel. He equips house churches throughout Iran, by providing leadership training for Iranian pastoral and church leaders worldwide. As Iranian refugees have migrated to Europe and England, Rev. Tavassoli has expanded his mission to serve and minister to these refugees. FPC sent a mission team to Nuremberg, Germany in August of 2023 to participate in this new ministry.
Persian Diaspora (Nuremberg) | $10,000
As Iranian refuges have migrated to Europe, Rev. Tavassoli’s ministry has expanded to serve and teach those new refugees. In August 2023 we fielded a mission team to Nuremberg, Germany at Rev. Tavassoli’s invitation to help lead a conference for the Iranian church in Germany and to experience the Iranian church movement in person. A second team will travel to Europe this fall.
Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM) | $3,500
Through education, and medical care, Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM),founded by Pastor Leon Dorleans, provides a comprehensive and sustainable ministry with a vision and passion for transforming Haiti for Christ. Each Sunday, over 3,200 people gather together in fellowship in three locations to worship as part of the HOM ministries. HOM provides primary and secondary education for over 1800 students. Over 30,000 patients, many of whom are children, receive care in HOM medical and dental clinics every year. As educational facilities are being expanded to meet the demand for schools, the local economy has been bolstered by the use of Haitian labor and the local sourcing of 95% of building materials.
Marion Medical Mission
Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania | $31,000
Marion Medical Mission shares the love of Christ with the extreme poor in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania, by providing all in need with a sustainable source of clean, safe drinking water. Over the past two years, 7,233 wells were built during the challenging times of the pandemic. These wells provide a safe and sustainable water supply for over 600,000 people. Our WMC gifts will support coordinator Rev. Elisha Mwasakifwa and field officer Lewis Silungwe.
Frontier Fellowship
Ethiopia | $20,000
FPC’s mission partnership in Ethiopia is rooted in the ministry and work of Dr. Urgessa Biru. Established in 2000, Dr. Biru’s Light of Hope ministry is winning converts for Jesus Christ among the predominantly Muslim people in the Arssi Oromo region of Ethiopia by building schools and providing Christian teachers. Because of the program's effectiveness in ministering in a culturally appropriate way, this work has become the model for other churches and denominations in reaching predominantly Muslim areas for the Gospel.
The Antioch Partners
The Antioch Partners/Andrew Adair | $10,000
The Antioch Partners (TAP) is a missionary-sending ministry focused on the development and support of long-term cross-cultural mission service opportunities. TAP works with churches to assess, train, and support long-term missionaries with a focus on Business as Mission. Through the leadership of Andrew Adair, executive director of TAP, our church is supporting missionaries throughout North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
Sacred Road Ministries
Sacred Road Ministries | $20,000
Serving the Yakama Indian Reservation in White Swan, Washington, and the Confederated Tribes in Warm Springs, Oregon, Sacred Road Ministries ministers to a growing community of believers. They are prepared and equipped to serve the Lord by ministering to the Native American community. The Sacred Road team reaches out to the community through worship, children’s and youth ministry, Kingdom Kids after-school program, and a variety of acts of service and mercy. FPC has a strong connection with Sacred Road having fielded summer interns and multiple mission teams to the Yakama Nation. In the summer of 2021, FPC sent our first mission team to serve the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs.
Other Mission PARTNERS
ITEN (International Theological Education Network) | $15,000
As part of EPC World Outreach, the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) provides theological training for pastors and leaders of new church plants among unreached people groups in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Our church is partnering with Mike and Stephanie Kuhn as they step into the leadership role of ITEN.
EPC World Outreach Engage 2025 | $5,000
Engage 2025 is focused on engaging with unreached people groups in their own language and culture. FPC supports Saul and Jesse Huber, Mobilization Coordinators, who actively coach young missionaries and mentor college students as they discern God's call to mission.
FPC Belloc, Haiti Mission | $21,500
Established in 2011, the FPC Belloc, Haiti Mission strives to glorify God through evangelism, Christian education, and sustainable community development programs. Current activities include the Summer Bible School, a widow’s care program, and a rapidly growing English School. Plans for the construction of an English and Computer Technology training center are underway. The center will provide advanced educational and vocational training to develop future leaders and businesses to benefit the Belloc community.
FPC Youth Mission Trips/Local Outreach | $7,000
Funding the FPC Student Ministry Mission Trip Fund helps assure our students can experience and serve on a life-changing mission trip. Funds raised this year will support the upcoming summer student mission trip to serve the Yakama Nation. Students and their leaders will serve alongside our mission partner, Sacred Road Ministries, to lead a summer Bible school for children
TOTAL WMC 2024 Mission GOAL: $200,000
CHALLENGE GOAL: $10,000
3R Ministries
Belloc, Haiti Mission (Children of Tomorrow ALC)
JOIN US IN
for our Partners
WMC 2024 Prayer Calendar
As we prepare for the 2024 World Mission Conference, we ask that you be in prayer for its success and impact, for the safe travels for our
visiting missionaries and speakers and, more specifically, for our
mission and ministry partners here in our community, across the nation
and around the world. This daily prayer guide, commencing on February 1st and continuing until the conference, can help lead you to remember and pray for the many projects and ministries FPC Thomasville supports through our annual World Mission Conference.
YOUR DOLLARS
WAYS YOU CAN GIVE
If you would like to submit your pledge in support of the 2024 WMC fundraising goal, please click the link below and fill out our online form.
To make a donation now or schedule a recurring donation for the 2024 WMC, click the link below, select the WMC 2024 Fund, and fill out the form.