Provide Meals for the Women's Shelter | |
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Did you know? Through support from seven small groups at Sardis, including a Sunday school class, a Circle, and several Mustard Seed Groups, Sardis was able to provide 2,500 Sunday dinners for women and children at the Women’s Shelter in Charlotte in 2022!
If your group (MSG, Sunday School class, fellowship group, group of friends, or group of families) would like to help provide Sunday night dinner for the Women's Shelter this year, contact Pam Stirling.
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The ABC's of Our Support to Haiti | |
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OFCB
(Organization de la Force de Bayonnais)
Ministry in Bayonnais, Haiti dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ by educating and feeding the children, while making health care available and developing the community around them.
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FEH
(Friends Empowering Haiti)
Local non-profit created to support OFCB Ministry and our brothers and sisters in Bayonnais, Haiti.
Learn More
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EWO
(Haitian word for Hero)
Local non-profit, with a team in Bayonnais, to
support the ICB School through Student Sponsorship for $40 a month, and creating a platform to build a relationship with students.
Learn More
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ICB
(Institution Classique de Bayonnais)
School with over 2000 students, that provides
primary education at The Main Campus and
two satellite campuses, and secondary education at the Main campus.
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Other Ways You Can Make and Impact | |
Attend the Friends Empowering Haiti Fundraiser on March 9
You are invited to join Friends Empowering Haiti in celebrating 30 years of supporting our brothers and sisters in Bayonnais with a festive evening of food, drinks, and a silent auction on Thursday, March 9. Actionnel Fleurisma, pastor and founder of the ICB School, will be the guest speaker. Tickets are $100 per person. Questions? Contact Betsy Liles (704.791.6166).
Purchase your tickets here
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Participate in The Student Sponsorship Drive on March 12
Sardis will host a Student Sponsorship Drive for the OFCB School in Bayonnais, Haiti. Melissa Hoffman, Executive Director of EWO, will be in the Gathering Place after the 9:00 service and near the Sanctuary exit after the 11:00 service, to share information about available students and discuss the importance of student sponsorship.
$40 a month will directly connect you with a student through letters interpreted by EWO employees in Bayonnais, and help support the education and lunch for students at the school. Actionnel Fleurisma, one of the founding members of OFCB, is also planning to be at Sardis that day to participate in worship. During the Sunday School hour Actionnel and Melissa will be in the Dining Room for an informal chat about the OFCB School and Student Sponsorship. 2023 is the 30th Anniversary of OFCB-come hear all the good things that have happened in Bayonnais!
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Sardis Serves Together
On January 29th, close to 250 children, youth and adults joined together for Sardis Serves Together, for worship, learning and mission with our partners at Families Forward Charlotte. Our togetherness was a visual reminder of how God calls us to engage in mission TOGETHER- with God, with each other and with our neighbors near and far. Irradicating issues like poverty won’t happen overnight or be accomplished in one day, but over time, as Sardis Serves Together, we hope to be a part of creating a world that reflects God’s peace, justice, wholeness, and well-being for all people.
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Elementary child, Greta said of the experience, "It made me feel happy because we helped out other people who didn’t have enough food. I learned that I should care more about other people than myself. It makes me feel sad that people don’t have enough food." Her mother, Gloria also commented, "The educational element of this project was very impactful. Hearing specific figures such as the yearly salary of a person making minimum wage versus the necessary amount to actually afford rent and utilities as a family was mind blowing. Thinking about the types of choices made monthly by families, such as whether to pay rent or buy needed medicine, made me feel like our system is really broken and is failing so many. The work done by organizations like Families Forward give people the skills and resources to hopefully make their lives a little easier. It makes me proud that our church supports places such as this."
Inspired to get more involved with Families Forward Charlotte after Sardis Serves Together?
- Volunteer with others from Sardis to provide childcare care and serve a meal with Families Forward families on March 11 at 11am
- Consider becoming a family liaison and mentor- training, curriculum and support provided by Families Forward
- Pray for families currently in the program.
- Send notes of encouragement and gratitude to the Families Forward staff.
Contact Vicky Hovis or Families Forward for more information and other volunteer opportunities.
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Room In The Inn Volunteer Day
On Feb 12, Sardis adults & children participated in the volunteer day with our Room in the Inn ministry. Volunteers decorated the Sardis House for a Super Bowl party, made appetizers, made beds, placed welcome cards on each bed and packed lunches, all to share God’s love and welcome with our neighbors experiencing homelessness that stay overnight at the Sardis House. Here’s how this event impacted both our Sardis parents and children as well as our RITI neighbors:
RITI neighbors shared that they loved the decorations and the extra appetizer snacks with dinner. Our neighbors said, “this feels really special” and that it was a “very fun Super Bowl.” Several neighbors enjoyed watching the game with Sardis volunteers Glenn and Sallie Crossley who offered an extra thanks to all of the families that decorated, “it made a difference.”
One Sardis parent said, “I love how we are encouraging a different way to discuss “homeless people” as “neighbors experiencing homelessness.” I’m so glad for my kids to get to help a ministry that directly supports these neighbors.”
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Sardis Soup for the Soul Warms Hearts in the Rama Road Elementary Family
Recently, several containers of Sardis soup, made by members of the Life Care ministry and VBS children were donated to some families at Rama Road Elementary. Normally, the soup is used to take to Sardis members, but the school reached out with a need and we were able to furnish several servings to help. This is a great example of all members Sardis coming together as we partner with our neighbors down the road at Rama Elementary. Thank you Sardis!
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Volunteer at the Families Forward Educational Workshop
On Saturday, March 11, Families Froward Charlotte needs volunteers to help serve meals and help with childcare while they host their educational workshop. Can you help? Contact Vicky Hovis.
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Rama Road Elementary Beautification Day
We hope you will join us on Saturday, March 18 from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Rama Road Elementary School. Sardis is partnering with the PTA at Rama Road Elementary School to do some light yard work projects that will help beautify the school grounds. All ages welcome. Email Susan Aulebach if you'd like to volunteer.
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