iPads give students much needed access to technology
Mary Sapienza teaches children that live in poverty, English Language Learners, and students coming from a vast diversity of life experiences in her 4th and 5th grade classroom at Gutermuth Elementary, a Title 1 school in Louisville, KY. Many of Mary’s students are not accustomed to traditional classroom settings and also lack the common background knowledge and basic academic language most Common Core Standards require. While Mary has long enlisted the help of technology to
FCC Supports Local Flood Relief Efforts
In February 2018, Louisville experienced days of torrential rain and wide-spread flash flooding. During this time, the Ohio River rose to near record highs, forcing businesses to close and locals to evacuate their homes. In the wake of this local disaster, FCC joined the relief efforts by donating a Wholeness Ministry Grant to the American Red Cross Kentucky Region. For the last 100 years, the American Red Cross Kentucky Region has been there for the people of Kentucky and So
FCC Member Works to Make the Blessing of Clean Water Possible
Water with Blessings, in operation for over a decade, is a faith-based mission that has provided over 72,000 water filters in over 45 countries. In 2018, First Christian Church of Louisville member, Joy Davis, requested a Wholeness Ministry Grant for the second year in a row to purchase the supplies needed to craft the covers used to protect the filters when they are shipped. While these filters provide lifesaving technology, they are also meant to serve as a reminder to tho
FCC Collaborates to Create an Ongoing Partnership For Peace
In 2015, First Christian Church of Louisville partnered with Peace Catalyst International by offering them a grant to use toward their ministries of creating reconciling partnerships between Christians and Muslims. In talking with Martin Brooks, the Midwest Regional Director of the organization, our pastor Brian Gerard learned about the difficulty Martin has had getting Christians to open themselves and their churches to on-going relationships with local mosques and their mem
FCC Continues to Build Bridges with Our Muslim Neighbors
In a world where some have distorted the message of Islam by committing unspeakable horror, it is essential that we not allow the actions of those evil few to shape how we see an entire religion. The way of Christ is one of peace, grace, and the sharing of faith in ways that build bridges with others - especially those who are different from us. For the past four years, First Christian Church of Louisville has been building relationships with our local Muslim community. We h
FCC Helps Louisville's MOLO Village Provide Ministry of Healing and Hope
The MOLO Village Community Development Corporation (MVCDC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by St. Peter’s Church to engage residents of west Louisville’s historic Russell neighborhood in holistic approaches to community development. MOLO especially focuses its work on individuals and families impacted by the high rate of poverty, incarceration, and recidivism by helping them transform themselves into resources that benefit the entire community. “MOLO” means“welcom
FCC Provides Scholarship for Innovative Summer Camp
“Sowing a seed is the only way we really know the sun is working" ~Braylee Breed, 2nd Grade Sowing Seeds with Faith is a Louisville-based private tutoring service with tutors ranging from JCPS teachers to JCPS retirees to current college students. Sowing Seeds provides the highest caliber of educational support to students of K-12 in every subject. Sowing Seeds with Faith particularly excels in math, reading comprehension, and black history. The Sowing Seeds with Faith missio
FCC Provides Care Through a Unique Clothing Boutique
Every year, many of the young girls that come to Maryhurst, a child welfare agency located in Louisville, KY, show up with little more than the clothes on their backs. With very little to claim as their own and no place to call home, Maryhurst is a place of new beginnings for girls who have been traumatized by unimaginable abuse. The young women live at Maryhurst for 9 - 12 months, receiving a wide range of clinical services to help them heal and come to terms with their pre
How Do We Show Compassion for Another?
Stephen Ministry: Christ Caring for People Through People Last month’s article briefly described some of the components of our Stephen Ministry training and listed the above question as one of the topics. When we think of compassion words like sympathy, care, concern, tenderness may come to mind. We may string these words together ... compassion is sympathetic concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Merriam-Webster defines it as “both an understanding of another’
FCC Sponsors Mission Trip to Central America
Inspired by a university sponsored spring break service trip to Guatemala, University of Kentucky student Stephen Sims, wanted to find other ways to return to the area and serve the people of the region. Funded in part by a 2018 Wholeness Ministry Grant from First Christian Church of Louisville, Stephen was able to travel to Central America with Catalyst Resources International this past summer to serve the people of several different countries. According to their website, “C
