 The Community Ministries Committee, along with others who are interested in partnering with The Interfaith Coalition, are developing a proposal. If you would like to learn more, contact Mary Hess, chair of the Community Ministries Plus group at chionie1980@gmail.com or 360.393.7988.
Do you have a different partnership in mind? Additional proposals are welcome. Please let us know by April 8 (proposals are due on May 4). The Mission Planning Team will help you connect with others who've expressed the same interest. Questions?
 Yes, you can still attend the Proposer's Conference to learn about the proposal and application process.
Curious about what we'll cover? Preview the Proposal Packet, which:
Review previous blog posts, which include summaries of the Listening & Imagining sessions and what we've heard from local experts in low-income housing. If you are exploring a partnership with a community organization, here's an important letter for them. Questions? Contact Rick Gordon at 360.739.6941 or rickgordon49@comcast.net.
Want to propose a use for Jeff's estate? Come to the Proposer's Conference to learn about the process and get answers to all your questions.
Curious about what makes a proposal acceptable or how they'll be evaluated? See the Proposal Criteria recently approved by the Mission Planning Team. Questions? Contact Rick Gordon at 360.739.6941 or rickgordon49@comcast.net.
In late February, the Mission Planning Team met with experts in local, low-income housing. They shared information about what their organizations do and how Jeff's home might be used. Curious to learn what they said? See minutes from our meeting.
Attendees were invited to send us summaries of their organizations' work and/or ideas about how they might use Jeff's gift. Here's what we've received:
Attendees: Jason McGill from Northwest Youth Services Deanna Wildermuth from The Interfaith Coalition Douglas Gustafson from Homes Now! Meredith Stamey from Lydia Place Bridget Reeves from Lighthouse Mission Steven Shetterly from World Relief
 How might we use Jeff's gift to provide low-income housing solutions in our area? Participants of three Listening & Imagining sessions tuned their hearts to the Holy Spirit and one another to explore this question. A summary is now available.
Do you have a question, concern or comment for the Mission Planning Team? We welcome your feedback. 
Many ministries are worthy of support. So, why a focus on housing? While putting his affairs in order, Jeff wanted to provide a home for his disabled friend. Like him, she was living on a limited, fixed income and affordable housing options were severely limited. Jeff hoped she could live in his home for the rest of her life. While accommodating this request turned out to be too difficult, Jeff’s spirit of hospitality, along with other factors, led us to choose a focus on housing.
Housing for the poor has long been supported by our congregation, and housing ministries align well with our CTS mission and vision of being a Serving Community. In our post-mortgage discussions, housing solutions were a top priority. Through Community Ministries, we support several programs with a focus on housing, including: • Interfaith Coalition, which supports Family Promise, emergency housing, and transitional housing, • Lighthouse Mission, an organization that works throughout Whatcom County to break the cycle of homelessness, and • Homes Now, which supports several tiny home villages. Also, housing for low-income people has never been more urgent. Storms, rising housing prices, the impact of the pandemic, and our anticipated welcome of refugees in Whatcom contribute to the growing need.
 Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash
Last August, Jeff How wrote a love letter to us. In it, he shared news that upon his death, his home would be transferred to CTS to further the work of Christ in our community. He entrusted it to us so that we might live our mission to be God’s hands. Indeed, we will do so.
But do you see the hidden gift as well? It is a gift Jeff has given us, his beloved church family. We get to come together as a faith community. We get to be fed by scripture, prayer, and rich conversations with one another. We get to listen and learn. We get to deepen our ties with each other and our community. We get to roll up our sleeves and, side by side, and turn Jeff’s property into a valuable resource for vulnerable people in our area. We get to be part of something big. Jeff’s generosity knew no bounds. He gave us a gift that will strengthen and sustain us long after this project is completed. |
AuthorMission Planning Team Archives
March 2022
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