Our hope in this blog is to share the story of the early development of ViaCordis, our missional house church network based in the greater Los Angeles area. We know there are others with similar visions all over the US and beyond and we welcome the chance to dialogue with you and learn from one another.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Hug a tree… in Madagascar

Between Jan 1 and May 1, 2010 our church, the size of a modest living room, gave money that will result in 80,600 trees being planted in Madagascar.

The tree-planting project, aimed at stopping the deforestation that is devastating the economy and environment of Madagascar, is run through www.edenprojects.org. Their mission statement? “Eden Reforestation Projects recreates healthy forest systems that restore hope, alleviate suffering, empower people, and build local economies in impoverished communities.” At ViaCordis, we are supporting them through our missions giving.

Our operating budget, made possible in part by our low overhead (no building, no paid staff), is set as follows:
• 60% global missions
• 20% local missions
• 10% admin / reserve
• 10% leadership development

That means we’re giving away 80% of our offerings. Of that 80% we’re focusing our attention on creation care, medical care, evangelism, and church planting. One of the missionaries we are supporting is even headed to Madagascar, where our trees are. How’s that for holistic ministry?