Missions at St. James
In 2021, St. James changed our approach to the way we carried out our mission to the world. These changes involved:
- Adopting an Acts 1:8 model of outreach.
- Our mission team was restructured to have specific focus on our community (Jerusalem), our region (Judea/Samaria), and everything beyond that was our Ends of the Earth.
- No longer funding missions out of the general operating fund but moving to a Faith Promise model.
- Conducting an annual Global Impact Celebration.
In adopting the approach above, God has blessed us with more funds to support His work, extended our outreach locally, regionally, and internationally, and raised the level of individual engagement in the mission of Jesus.
Where and How We Serve with Our Mission Partners
Following the pattern indicated by our Lord in Acts 1:8, St. James seeks to impact persons with the Gospel in our immediate community, in our region, among the nearby marginalized, and to the ends of the earth where we discern God is calling us. We break that down in the following ways (click on the + to expand).
Our Local Missions
Local Missions encompasses the Five Points community roughly defined by us as the area bounded by Macon Highway to the south, Baxter Street to the north, East Campus Road/S Milledge Ave to the east and the Middle Oconee River to the west.
Outreach in this area includes:
- On church campus events such as Food Truck nights, outdoor concerts, block parties, and drive-thru prayer
- Access to our playground for community children throughout the week
- Classes/seminars that minister to the spiritual, physical, emotional, or psychological needs of individuals in our community.
The following two Mission Partners are located within our local mission area described above.
SWAT
Wesley Foundation
Our Regional Mission Partners
Regional Missions encompasses the greater Athens area including Athens-Clark County and its five
contiguous counties of Barrow, Jackson, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Madison.
Teamwork or Homework
Athens Pregnancy Center
Bethel Haven
Bigger Vision of Athens
City of Refuge Athens
Covenant Care Adoptions
Downtown Ministries
Mercy Health Center
Sleep In Heavenly Peace
Ends of the Earth Mission Partners
Ends of the Earth includes any location or area outside our defined Local and Regional Mission areas.
AoG Tanzania
Do you know what could beat the exciting feeling of having.
FEBC Cambodia
So you’re trying to surf a site like myspace, hotmail or yahoo mail.
Stoneworks International
Photographs are a way of preserving a moment in our lives for the rest.
TMS Global
Do you know what could beat the exciting feeling of having.
Village of Hope
So you’re trying to surf a site like myspace, hotmail or yahoo mail.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Photographs are a way of preserving a moment in our lives for the rest.
Global Impact Celebration (GIC)
The Global Impact Celebration or GIC is an annual event in our church we often refer to as "the most exciting 44 hours in the life of the church." On the weekend of the first Sunday of February each year, we bring in mission partners and potential partners for the purpose of learning what God is doing in the world through various types and places of ministry.
Additionally, we celebrate how God has allowed St. James to join Jesus in His mission and we commit funds to allow that partnership with Him to continue the next year.
Faith Promise
Faith Promise giving is a way of supporting missions at St. James by making a commitment to give a certain amount of money, trusting that God will provide the means to fulfill that commitment. Some key components of Faith Promise giving are:
- It is not a pledge, but an expression of faith and obedience.
- It is giving above or beyond tithes and offerings.
- The commitment is made each year at the Global Impact Celebration.
- The commitment is between the giver and God.
- No record of the commitment is kept by the church.
- If God does not provide, there is no obligation to give.
Faith Promise is the only means we use at St. James to finance our mission efforts locally, regionally, and around the world.
To make a 2025 Faith Promise Commitment, Click HERE.
(Note: Your commitment will be anonymous. We will only see the amount committed not your name or email.
We only need to know the amount for planning and budgeting purposes.)
Current Status of Faith Promise FunD (2025)
Receipts are at 51% of $86,971 Goal
AS OF 05/30/2025
Beginning Balance ..........................................................$ 20,493
Receipts Year-to-Date .....................................................$ 46,719
Missions Ministry Disbursements .................................$ 18,594
Transaction Fees .............................................................$ 145
Current Balance ...............................................................$ 48,618
Commitments Yet to be Paid in Fiscal 2025 .........$ 29,418
Missions Ministry Disbursements (2025)
- Artists in Christian Testimony- Kami Rice: $1,024
- Athens Prayer Network: $225
- Bigger Vision: $1,389
- Cantrell Family Support: $5,000
- Compassion in Crisis- Nysia Kilgore (Tanzania): $1,500
- FEBC- David & Vickie Creel (Cambodia): $2,900
- Kairos Prison Ministry (Women): $300
- Missionary Care Ministry: $1,000
- Perspectives USA- Steve Pierce: $1,000
- TMS Global- William & Morgan O'Neal (Selma, AL): $1,500
- Wesley Foundation: $1,250
- Women's Camp Elema, Russia: $1,500
GIVE ONLINE TO FAITH PROMISE HERE
Short-Term Mission trips
Short-Term
Specifically, Short-Term Missions trips:
- further advance the ministries of St. James supported missionaries and ministries.
- strengthen discipleship within the congregation.
- cultivate a heart for missions.
- change the lives of participants forever.
- influence the congregation in a positive manner.
- are a vital part in fulfilling the strategic goals of the world-wide church.
