River City Faith Network Mission Offering: City Lights Shine Bright
June 2024
RRCB Offering Collection Goal: $10,000
A Note from Pastor Daniel Glaze:
This offering is crucial for many reasons. First, the RCFN is the parent organization for Camp Alkulana, one of our church’s beloved mission organizations. This offering provides a good amount of funding for Alkulana’s projects. Moreover, this offering supports the new furniture and clothing ministry at the South Richmond Baptist Center, housed in a space that many River Road Church volunteers have labored generously to renovate. This offering also supports homeless ministry efforts at the Oregon Hill Center and financial literacy efforts at the Church Hill Center.
A few years ago, this offering was known simply as the Camp Alkulana offering. Now, because of the generosity of area churches like ours, this Offering for River City Faith Network is able to support Alkulana, our Baptist Centers, and so much more!
If you are able to give toward this offering, I respectfully request you prayerfully consider doing so.
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7
Our collective light, the fellowship among River City Faith Network (RCFN) churches, is a witness to our city and shines through our ministry centers, Camp, and congregational connections that transform our city.
Designated RCFN Missions Offering envelopes are available in the pew racks—please write “RCFN Offering” in the memo/note of your check. You can also make a gift online—select “RCFN Offering” for the fund.
Check back weekly to learn more about RCFN Ministries: Camp Alkulana Mental Health Training, Alkulana LEADS, Oregon Hill Baptist Center Laundry Ministry, South Richmond Baptist Center Furniture and Clothing Evangelism (FACE) Ministry, and Church Hill Christian Wellness Center Financial Literacy Program.
Camp Alkulana LEADS: Horse Assisted Leadership Training
The Alkulana LEADs program offers leadership development for former Alkulana campers (ages 14-18). Throughout the year, participants engage in opportunities to LEAN into leadership roles, EXPLORE themselves and the world around them, take ACTION to better the world, and to engage in DIVERSE communities. The team looks for opportunities in the private and non-profit sectors to partner with them in these educational goals. In 2024, Alkulana LEADS hopes to partner with HALT, an equine therapy experience that teaches leadership, teamwork, and healing.
Pray for Kate Wakeland, Camp Alkulana LEADS Coordinator; current LEADS students; and for volunteers as they invest in the LEADs students.
Church Hill Christian Wellness Center: Encouraging Financial Literacy
The Church Hill Christian Wellness Center has been blessed with a young man who has experienced incarceration due to street influences, bad choices, and rebellion. Incarceration robbed him of many years of freedom but allowed him an opportunity to learn financial skills he would need after his release. He is motivated to pass on the knowledge which he gained to young men of the community by sharing the importance of credit building, maintaining a checking and a savings account, budgeting, investing, and managing debt.
Pray for volunteers and the Financial Literacy Class, for space to implement the class, and for participants that the class will draw.
South Richmond Baptist Center: Furniture and Clothing Evangelism (FACE) Ministry
The South Richmond Baptist Center is grateful for the investment that has allowed them to renovate space for a furniture and clothing ministry at the Satellite campus. As they moved into the space, they realized there is a need for additional resources to operate the furniture ministry. Your gifts to the RCFN Missions Offering will allow them to purchase items that will help their neighbors put their best foot forward as they seek to enter the workforce and interview for a job. Resources will also allow them to acquire needed appliances and equipment to move furniture.
Pray for families in need of clothing and furniture, for volunteers to serve as Christian witnesses, and for neighbors to open their hearts to God.
Oregon Hill Baptist Center: Loads of Love for the Unhoused
Oregon Hill Baptist Center volunteers and partners have been ministering to the unhoused of Richmond for years by providing a sit-down meal once a week, a clothing closet, a mailing address, and a locker room specifically for those who are without housing. Additional opportunities include haircuts and a laundry ministry once or twice a month. OHBC partners with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Oregon Hill to meet participants at a local laundromat twice a month and are given money and detergent to wash and dry a load of clothes, averaging about $65 per week. Volunteers remain present to socialize, pray, and offer assistance. The RCFN Missions Offering will be designated to increase days and participants in the program.
Pray for resources to reach and increase those served, their safety, health, and shelter; and for city and government leaders to realize the need for affordable housing in our area.
Camp Alkulana: Summer Program Staff Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Camp Alkulana, like many summer camps, has seen a rise in mental health concerns among campers and counselors in the past five years. Camp staff participate in a twelve-day staff training program, which has contained a mental health component for many years. Given the current challenges they see among our campers, they would like to enhance their training by utilizing an industry-best practice model, Mental Health First Aid. To make this economical for years to come, camp director, Beth Wright, will receive training to lead the course and then will train and certify her summer staff during the summer staff training period.
Pray for summer Camp Alkulana staff; families sending their children to camp; and for a safe summer, filled with fun, growth, and healing for young people attending.