Partners

Our Partners in Mission & Ministry

FCC believes strongly in our calling to minister to others, both close to home and around the world. We subscribe fully to our denomination's mission and vision, based on Micah 6:8 -- "To be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice."

We believe that our ministry joyfully privileges us to commit our treasure, time, and energy in mission and service to others. FCC tithes ten percent of congregational giving to mission work (half of that goes to support Disciples Mission Fund and half is used by FCC's Missions and Outreach Committee to respond to local and other mission needs). From time to time, we also take special offerings and conduct fund raising events for specific missions and organizations. We also participate in a variety of mission activities. You can read more about just a few of our mission opportunities here.

The Tennyson Center provides a variety of programs for emotionally and crisis-affected children and youth, particularly those suffering from abuse and neglect. Programs vary from daily schooling and therapy, to residential boarding programs. The Center serves children ranging in age from 5-18 and is dedicated to ensuring that these amazing kids have the fighting chance they deserve at a satisfying and fulfilling life. FCC provides financial support to the Tennyson Center on a recurring basis as part of our congregation's Mission Tithe. FCC members occasionally travel to the center to participate in work parties and to serve as adjuncts to Tennyson Staff. In july of 2016, the Tennyson Center opened a satellite office housed in First Christian Church to better serve the needs of El Paso county children. A tithe from FCC's recent capital campaign made possible the renovation of room in the church for that satellite office, and FCC is leasing the space to Tennyson for $1 a year.

FCC is one of the eight downtown churches that established Ecumenical Social Ministries in 1982. ESM is a Christian outreach to homeless and low income people in crisis. ESM's ministries include: medicines, clothes, food pantry, rent assistance, counseling services, and job search assistance. FCC continues its strong support of ESM with monies from a tithe from contributions along with dedicated special offerings, in-kind donations (e.g., food items), and volunteer service. Our Senior Pastor serves on ESM's Board of Directors along with an FCC member.

Family Promise/IHN is a ministry to temporarily homeless families supported by about twenty congregations in Colorado Springs. These congregations provide overnight sleeping quarters for one week and a hot meal each night to the families. About twice a year, families sleep in our Sunday School rooms, and FCC volunteers provide meals, serve as overnight hosts, and help with set-up, break-down, and clean-up. Participants in the program are always families with children, and all families have at least one parent working or actively looking for work. The intent of providing free housing and some meals during their stay is to allow families to accumulate enough money to make a rental deposit and set up housekeeping.

One Nation Walking Together strives to make a positive impact in the lives of Native Americans - a people that are greatly under-served and misrepresented. The organization is about helping people, not just "a cause." By addressing the specific needs of each community they serve, One Nation Walking Together is able to be more than a "dump and run" charity. They deliver the basic necessities of life as a way of walking alongside and supporting some of the most impoverished people in our country. While 2/3 of the donations go to reservation communities in eight western states, 1/3 of the donations stay right here in Colorado to serve urban Natives. Furthermore, One Nation Walking Together provides a range of Emergency Services Programs aimed to address issues of domestic violence, homelessness, and more within the Pikes Peak Region.

FCC has worked with One Nation Walking Together in a variety of ways. We collect special offerings for the organization and have made mission trips to Native American Communities. FCC's latest mission trip was to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, over Labor Day Weekend of 2017. You can see photos from that trip here.

Urban Peak provides services for homeless and runaway youth, including: overnight shelter, case management (food, clothes, medical, job skills, GED), and a variety of counseling, mentoring, and support groups. Urban Peak's goal is to meet youth where they are and to provide them with the assistance and support they need to become self-sufficient or obtain the necessary services they need to exit a life on the streets. FCC makes a monthly donation to Urban Peak, and they are regular recipients of our Second Sunday Noisy Offerings.

TwoCor is a vocational training program for traumatized youth aged 15-19 years in the Pikes Peak Region. Youth are referred to the program from social service and juvenile justice agencies, schools, churches, and families. Since 2004, TwoCor has served over a thousand youth. FCC provides space for some of TwoCor's programs, and also provides support to TwoCor through congregational giving.

Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Week of Compassion provides financial resources and works through partner organizations to facilitate relief and development efforts in areas of great need. FCC supports Week of Compassion with an annual offering (usually in February) special offerings for disaster relief and aid.

The Central Rocky Mountain Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) helps support the ministry of forty-six Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Southeast Idaho, and Northwest New Mexico. The Central Rocky Mountain Regional Minister serves as a pastor to the pastors of the Region's congregations, and many FCC folks take part in Regional activities such as church camp and retreats and also serve in Regional leadership roles.

Disciples Mission Fund is the "common fund" of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. Disciples Mission Fund supports seventy-two ministries in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Five percent of all contributions to FCC's operating budget goes to Disciples Mission Fund to support these denominational ministries. One hundred percent of gifts to the Annual Christmas Special Offering for Disciples Mission Fund goes to support the Central Rocky Mountain Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and there are other "special day" offerings through the year that are designated for particular denominational ministries.

TESSA’s mission is to help women and their children achieve safety and well-being while challenging communities to end sexual and family violence. TESSA strives to realize a community free of personal violence for all in three ways: 1. Provide immediate safety at its confidential safehouse for women, children, and other victims escaping abuse. 2. Empower survivors through programs and support such as Advocacy and Counseling. 3. Create a safer future through Education & Outreach to schools, businesses, and other organizations.

Feed My Starving Children. Each year, Many First Christian folk volunteer at Feed My Starving Children's Mobile FoodPack. This ministry helps provide nutritious meals to hungry children and their families around the world.

Village at the Bluffs opened in 2002 and provides affordable housing for seniors in Colorado Springs. They are committed to assisting residents to "age in place," and thrive in the comfort of their own homes.