local/international missions
Freshwater is committed to fulfilling 'The Great Commission' that Jesus gives us in Matthew 28:18-20:
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
One of the ways we engaged with The Great Commission is through supporting both local and international missions. Below is a list of ministry partners both near and far that are playing their part in fulfilling this command of Jesus Christ.
United Christian Services, paw paw, mi
United Christian Services’ mission is to embrace the teaching of Jesus to care for one another through assistance in emergencies, while encouraging self-sufficiency.
UCS provides assistance for those facing a wide variety of emergencies from homelessness to minor auto repairs.
The program serves residents in eastern Van Buren County, including Gobles, Paw Paw, Mattawan, Lawton, Lawrence, Decatur, Bloomingdale, and Hartford. Programs and services include Lydia’s Clothing Closet, The Food Porch, Finance Classes, Individual Needs Assessments, and Coffee Connections, a multi-services Monday morning event.
For detailed information, please visit: unitedchristianservices-evbc.com
Daily Recovery Zone, paw paw, mi
The mission of the Daily Recovery Zone is to build a strong recovery community. Programs offered strive to empower individuals to attain sustainable, long term sobriety through recovery support programs, education, and community engagement.
After overcoming addiction herself, Jewel Dailey saw the need for a safe space where those in recovery could turn for support and encouragement. In 2019, she opened The Zone.
For more information, please visit the website: dailyrecoveryzone.com
Water for good (formally lifewater international)
Water for Good is a faith-based, non-profit organization working to provide clean, safe water in Central Africa. Since 2004, they have been committed to creating a future where no one dies from a preventable WASH-related disease*. In partnership with local churches and leaders, they help communities establish access to reliable water, critical sanitation and hygiene practices, to ensure sustainable change, empowered communities, and a healthy future. In the fall of 2024, Water for Good merged with Lifewater International to combine their missions, goals, manpower and equipment to better serve those in need.
THEIR MISSION
Transforming lives through sustainable access to safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene in the places that need it most.
THEIR VISION
Every child experiences safe water, a healthy community, and God’s love.
*Diseases related to water, sanitation, and hygiene
For more information visit: https://waterforgood.org
chris & alysha poiner, REAL LIFE campus MINISTRIES, ferris state university, big rapids, mi
Real Life Ministry’s mission is to cultivate a community that embodies God’s presence at the University where students discover and grow in Christ.
The Real Life Student Organization at Ferris believes “real life is experienced in a deep personal relationship with the Creator of all things!”
Chris and Alysha Poiner were introduced to Real Life Ministry in 2014, when they both were students at Ferris State University. They continued to be involved during the duration of their time at Ferris. In 2020, they were called into full-time ministry with Real Life when they were invited back to serve as staff.
In their work with Real Life, Chris and Alysha offer multiple avenues to reach both believers and nonbelievers at Ferris. Some of these are monthly Large Groups, biweekly Community Groups, individual discipleship, and Student-Led Initiatives. Their ministry also offers Prayer and Worship, weekend retreats, and this summer a mission trip to Guyana. They also have Outreach and Evangelism events on campus where students involved with Real Life have the opportunity to share the gospel with others.
One of the most rewarding aspects of their work is “watching young adults flourish in their walk with Christ during their years at Ferris.” Serving on the college campus, they are able to watch students make the personal choice to follow Christ without family influence, and to guide and mentor others who haven’t considered the role of Christ in their life. The Poiners say discipling young adults and witnessing growth first-hand is what makes their work most rewarding.
Through their ministry work, Chris and Alysha have ”learned to trust the Lord and to go to prayer first, knowing that only He can change hearts.”
For more information about the Poiners and Real Life, please visit: https://reallifefsu.com
jim schultz, EAGLE'S WINGS disc golf
Eagle’s Wings Disc Golf is part of the global organization Push The Rock.
The mission statement of Push The Rock is “Using the power of sports to impact the world for Jesus one life at a time.”
Since 2015, Eagle’s Wings has been following the vision of Push The Rock, using the growing sport of disc golf. Freshwater church member Jim Schultz has traveled extensively, helping build new disc golf courses while carrying out the mission of Push The Rock.
For more information, please visit: pushtherock.org
CARLIE H, lovejustice.ngo, ASIA
While serving as a missionary in Asia, Carlie has partnered with a school where she has had the opportunity to teach the next generation and disciple Christian teachers, as well as new local believers and their families. She has created a biblically aligned fine arts curriculum and built a Christian community in the school.
Outside of school, Carlie's role is unique in that she has built connections with other organizations in the area. In this role, she has put her hands to many different ministries. These vary from going up into the mountains bringing Bibles and fellowship to local people to running worship seminars for local worshippers/worship leaders.
Carlie and two dear friends have pioneered a Kid’s Prayer Room, which is a children’s ministry open to all missionary children foreign and local. This program supports the children and their family in growing their faith and teaching biblical truths. Each year these children and missionary families from around the world are invited to join in a week-long camp for this same purpose, including an outreach in the country that hosts the camp. Some of Carlie’s favorite testimonies have come from these camp events.
AMBER and DANIEL GREEGOR, ETHNOS360, MEXICO
Ethnos360 believes there is potential for every believer to be part of the Great Commission.
The Greegors, along with their four children, relocated to Mexico in July of 2023. They say they “caught Christ’s heart for all people to have the opportunity to know their Creator.” The Greegors are aware that people must have access to the Truth via a Believer who can fluently communicate with them, have the Bible written in their heart language, and a church in which they can grow and fellowship. These three elements are not accessible to about one third of the world.
The Greegor family expresses a heart to partner with Jesus to make a lasting impact on generations to come. To move towards this goal, the Greggors have made a long term commitment to remain in Mexico, in an effort to help create this lasting impact through church planting, Bible translation, and Discipleship, so that future generations will have the opportunity to know and worship their Creator.
For more information, please visit the website: https://ethnos360.org/missionaries/daniel-and-amber-greegor
Wings of God, paw paw, mi
Wings of God is a group home for women who were previously incarcerated. Freshwater helps support Wings of God in a variety of ways. To find out how you can help, visit wingsofgodinc.org or contact our office.
For more information on any of these missions, please feel free to email our Community Pastor, Ash at ash@freshwatercc.org.