MISSION COMMITTEE MEETING

UNION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

January 5 and 19, 2015

The meeting was convened at 7:OOpm at Union Presbyterian Church. The following members were present: Andy Kjos, Joel Richert, Mark Morris and Teresa Trowbridge. Also present were Pastor Dave Moore, Bi Kjos and Bret and Wendy Taylor of Wycliffe Bible Translators.

The meeting was opened with prayer.

The purpose of this meeting is to meet with Bret and Mindy to learn about their ministry with JAARS/Wycliffe/SIL. After their report the meeting will be adjourned until 7:00pm on January 19, 2015.

Bret and Mindy founded the Youth and Family Ministries, JAARS in 2005, after they had convinced Wycliffe of the need for a ministry to the children of Wycliffe missionaries when the returned to the US to either visit or work. Their ministry provides missionary kids (MKs) with Bible  studies, service opportunities, mission trips, and leadership training, as well a to help ease the transition of families retuning from the mission field.

Bret says, "We know than when MK's special needs and unique giftings are addressed, it promotes a healthy missionary family that will continue to be able to serve efficiently. We have also seen that many MKs are called by God, even as teens, to follow in their parents' vocational footsteps. We seek to cultivate and refine that precious calling."

Bret and Mindy have worked with people from sixty different countries. They have expanded their programs to other Wycliffe  facilities. Recently they lost two staff assistants to other calling within Wycliffe. This loss is a special problem for which they requested prayer.

Mark announced that Jim and Terui Grace would be visiting Union on Sunday, January 11th. They will be introduced at the two services and present a seminar on their ministry with OMF in Japan.

The meeting was adjourned until 7:PM on January 19th with prayer for Bret, Mindy, their family and ministry.

The meeting of the Mission Committee was re-convened at Union Presbyterian  at 7:00 pm on January 19, 2015. The following members were present: Andy Kjos, Joel Richert, Mark Morris and Teresa Trowbridge. Also present were Pastor Dave Moore, Bi Kjos, and Grant Hatasaki of Young Life.

The meeting was opened with prayer.

It was announced that Clyde had resigned as elder and as committee member. Teresa had been nominated to serve as elder for missions.

The financial report as prepared by Joel Richert for the period ending December 31, 2014, was distributed and discussed. It reflected a balance as of December 31, 2014, of $18,729.66 with all commitments for December having been paid and with funds having been received by the Union body through November 30, 2014.

Since the committee must decide on its financial commitments for its coming fiscal year, which commences on February 1, 2015 and ends on January 31, 2016, Joel distributed the "Mission Accounts by Individuals - FY2015" as revised on 8/5/2014. If the committee decides to continue the same level of financial support to our missions and missionaries, in FY'16 as we have at the end of FY'15 the commitment would be $107,700. After fall discussions, it was unanimously agreed that the financial commitment to each of our missions and missionaries should be continued without change in FY'16, provided that a final review and action on this matter will be undertaken at this committee's next meeting on February 2, 2015.

By that time Union's budget for CY 2O16 will have been determined, and the committee will know the amount of cash carry over from its last fiscal year will be known because the amount from the body's December giving will have been remitted to the committee.

Grant Hatasaki reported on his ministry with Young Life. He is now the Regional Director of Young Life for the Pacific Bay Region.

Allison Hatasaki is the Area Director of the South Peninsula Area which includes Mountain View and Los Altos. Aubrey Bloomgren is the Area Director of the Palo Alto Area, and Tom Tryggestad is the bun??? Director of the East Palo Alto Area.

Also, Tom is the Associate Regional Director under Grant. Allison is goal??? are to increase the number of Young Life volunteers in her area to over forty and to stronger relationships with oral?? abuses?? and ministries. Grant said that the Pacific Bay Region has a population of about four million people with about one half of them under eighteen years. Grant discussed how Wyldlife, which is the ministry to students in Middle School, has become key, because at that time in the life of a participant  the Young Life leaders have an opportunity to meet the participant's parents.

That opportunity is not usually available if the participant is already in High School. Also Grant discussed leadership development for college age leaders, the development of Young Life programs in colleges for participants coming out of High School programs, and Young Life's mapping program.

Elisha and Chrystal Stock have contacted Union about financial support for thee Ministry with SIM in Zambia. It was agreed that at the present time there are no funds available to add any additional missionaries. Also, it was agreed that Andy will send them a message inviting them to visit Union later this year to explain their ministry with the understanding that at the present time we have no available funding.

The meeting was closed with prayer for Grant, his family, and his ministry.

Sincerely,

Andy Kjos, Chairman

NOTICE: The next regular meeting will be held at 7:00 pm at Union on February 2, 2015. We will be finalizing the mission budget for FY'16 and Mark Morris may attend to report on his and Jennifer's ministry in Peru.