SMILE Missions Program
SMILE is an acronym taken from our stated missions program purpose: Sound Missionary Investments Launch Evangelism. This spirit behind the name is found in 2 Cor. 9:7, “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” This fund is not intended to compete with vital giving to our regular FCB budget. SMILE is a separate designated fund outside of our regular budget.
Crossroads Care Center (formerly Crossroads Pregnancy Center) will receive 60% of our 2024 SMILE contributions. We have supported Crossroads since 2002. Located in Auburn Hills, this pro-life Christian organization reaches out to women in crisis pregnancy situations.
Crossroads has a wide range of ministries including, pregnancy verification, ultrasound, prenatal information, child-birth preparation, newborn care classes, and maternity and baby supplies. They offer support groups for new mothers, those who have suffered sexual abuse, or those needing healing from a past abortion. They also provide educational ministries in the public schools, including the value of pre-marriage abstinence (includes STD education and prevention). In each case, Crossroads educators promote godly sexual attitudes. Last, but not least, Crossroads seeks to call women to reconciliation with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
For more information about Crossroads Care Center, visit their website at www.crossroadspregnancy.org.
Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief will receive 30% of our 2024 SMILE contributions. Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief (SPDR) mobilizes and equips thousands of volunteers each year to provide emergency aid to U.S. victims of wildfires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. In the aftermath of major storms, they often stay behind to rebuild houses for people with nowhere else to turn for help. SP chaplains and volunteers also offer spiritual help to anyone who is receptive. Many have come to Christ after having been on the receiving end of this mission of grace, together with the message of the Gospel. We sent volunteers from FCB to Royal Oak, Michigan after devastating floods hit SE Michigan, to Rochelle, Illinois for site cleanup after an EF-4 tornado, to Vilonia, Arkansas on a post-tornado house rebuild, and last year to Wild Peach, Texas on a home restoration after flooding from Hurricane Harvey. We are looking to send an FCB team on one or more of the SPDR missions over the next year, including a possible February trip.
One objective of this portion of our SMILE giving is to fund travel costs for FCB volunteers (meals and lodging are supplied). For this reason, a $1,500 fund floor (to insure funds on hand for FCB volunteers) will carry over annually for as long as SPDR remains a part of our SMILE program. However, we also desire to support SPDR work in general. Therefore, at the end of each year, any remaining balance above $1,500 will be donated directly to SPDR to help fund ongoing disaster response and relief. (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/responding-to-flooding-in-michigan/).
For more information about Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief, visit their website at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/us-disaster-relief/.
One objective of this portion of our SMILE giving is to fund travel costs for FCB volunteers (meals and lodging are supplied). For this reason, a $1,500 fund floor (to insure funds on hand for FCB volunteers) will carry over annually for as long as SPDR remains a part of our SMILE program. However, we also desire to support SPDR work in general. Therefore, at the end of each year, any remaining balance above $1,500 will be donated directly to SPDR to help fund ongoing disaster response and relief. (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/responding-to-flooding-in-michigan/).
For more information about Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief, visit their website at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/us-disaster-relief/.
Oakland Hope will receive 10% of our 2024 SMILE contributions. Oakland Hope
is a Waterford based Christian outreach ministry. Their objective is to reach a wide
range of needs through human services (material, spiritual, etc.) to underemployed
residents of Oakland County. Located at 20 E. Walton Blvd., Oakland Hope has
been operating a thrift store over the past year, which serves to help fund regular
monthly expenses. Then, last October came the long-anticipated opening of the
Client Choice Food Pantry! Beyond helping individuals with food and other necessities, Oakland Hope's approach is to provide a long-term solution, rather than a temporary band-aid, for those seeking a brighter future. The ultimate goal is to point people to the lasting hope found in a relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ!
FCB volunteers have helped with preparatory work on the Oakland Hope building, meals for volunteer workers, the thrift store and, over the last year, the food pantry itself. There are many volunteer opportunities at Oakland Hope (less than 5 miles from the church). You can make a huge difference in the lives of people in our community!
For more information about Oakland Hope, visit their website at http://oaklandhope.org/.
is a Waterford based Christian outreach ministry. Their objective is to reach a wide
range of needs through human services (material, spiritual, etc.) to underemployed
residents of Oakland County. Located at 20 E. Walton Blvd., Oakland Hope has
been operating a thrift store over the past year, which serves to help fund regular
monthly expenses. Then, last October came the long-anticipated opening of the
Client Choice Food Pantry! Beyond helping individuals with food and other necessities, Oakland Hope's approach is to provide a long-term solution, rather than a temporary band-aid, for those seeking a brighter future. The ultimate goal is to point people to the lasting hope found in a relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ!
FCB volunteers have helped with preparatory work on the Oakland Hope building, meals for volunteer workers, the thrift store and, over the last year, the food pantry itself. There are many volunteer opportunities at Oakland Hope (less than 5 miles from the church). You can make a huge difference in the lives of people in our community!
For more information about Oakland Hope, visit their website at http://oaklandhope.org/.
Other Congregational Outreach
Compassion International - Our Children's Church (with support from others in the congregation) has been supporting a compassion child in Sri Lanka named Jeyarubini. When a specific child is sponsored through a monthly commitment to Compassion International, they benefit in several ways. The following information is directly from Compassion's website:
- Exchange letters, photos, prayers
- Become a friend
- Provide opportunities for education, health, and personal development
- Most important, your child will learn about Jesus in a church-based program in his or her neighborhood
Sponsoring a child for just $43 per month connects you with a child in a loving relationship that will change his or her life -- and yours! For further information, or to see how you can sponsor a child, visit Compassion International's website at www.compassion.com.