Missions

Missions at the Laurel church is an umbrella term for the many missionaries the congregation sends funds to overseas for the spreading of the gospel message. The church is involved with six American mission families in five countries, as well as five international mission families in four countries. Our American missionaries overseas include Chris & Lena Lovingood in the Ukraine, Paul Henderson in Hungary, Greg Clodfelter in Kenya, and Hunter and Lori Hagewood in Brazil. Our international missionaries include Stephan Chan and Siu Ka Ming in Hong Kong, Andrew Banjarnahor from Indonesia, George Funk (with the Gospel Chariot) in South Africa, and Simon Hui in Canada. The Laurel church also supports local mission efforts by Cordell Lee in Rutledge, Tennessee, and Rex Moorer in Kodak, Tennessee. We support World Christian Broadcasting, which goes into China, Russia and other countries. A 14-member mission committee has the responsibility for staying in contact with one or more of our missionaries.

Special missions" helps with short-term mission trips and other mission requests received during the year. These include an annual summer trip to the City of Children in Ensenada, Mexico, Let's Start Talking teams, and medical mission trips. Laurel members involved in the missions ministry also raise money for the China Fund, established to aid the spread of the gospel in China. The fund supports our missionaries to the Chinese.

Tasks of the missions ministry include making decisions about the distribution of funds to missionaries, praying for mission needs, communicating with our missionaries and other Laurel members about mission work, and visiting mission points. The committee meets the second Wednesday night of each month at the church building.