I4C Ministries - Impact for Christ

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Welcome to the first edition of what’s happening with Canyons Community Church local outreach ministry!  

 

My name is Cindy Lantz, the Ministry Development Director for Canyons. I’ve been attending the church for 8 years and on staff for almost a year. I love music but can’t sing so you might want to avoid sitting too close to me during the service. My family and grandchildren bring me tremendous joy.

 

First, a little background on the church’s local outreach. The Good Samaritan Fund (GSF) started several years ago, originally as the Deacon’s Fund, and then later became GSF, with the purpose of fulfilling short term financial assistance needs in our community. By the end of 2020, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and Careportal, were added, to provide additional resources for those in need. More information coming on those key organizations in a later edition.

 

Let me share how God called me into this ministry. I was coasting, nothing messy, but nothing great. I felt something was missing. I had this nagging feeling God was calling me to do more. But what? He didn’t make it clear, so I ignored it. In short, He was nudging and I wasn’t budging. That all changed in the summer of 2020 when I got involved in the GSF. I had no idea what God had in store for me.  

 

I began working with a population group I had not ever been intimately exposed to. They were addicted, abused, hungry, and lost. What’s crazy is the more I got involved, the more I wanted to do. These were raw, vulnerable people asking for help. I wasn’t equipped for this and had no training. How could I help? I underestimated God’s power.  

 

God put caseworkers in my life, classes were made available, I met with other benevolence ministry leaders, new resources and connections that I didn’t have in the past fell into place. These people are now my brothers and sisters, trusted warriors, fighting the same fight. Remember when I said I needed more? God answered that as well.  

 

We now support other organizations, such as From Silenced to Saved (FSTS), Faith Based Community Partners through Douglas County Department of Human Services, and Douglas County Faith Roundtable for Foster and Adoptive Families, just to name a few. Pastor Dave is constantly trying to reel me in.

 

I never expected to find such joy in the midst of the chaos. Providing pajamas and diapers for an infant, a mattress for a 5-year-old who has never had a bed, or grocery funds and kids clothing for a single mom of 7 who recently left an abusive relationship. These are just a few examples of the more humbling moments. I4C provides resources ranging from bikes, medications, funds to keep the utilities on, backpacks and more. All of this is made possible due to God's calling and the generous donations from the Canyons family.

The IMPACT of this has been life changing for me. Speaking of Impact, I’m excited to share what’s next. We've started a new outreach ministry to combine and organize the various programs and resources God has brought to Canyons. After 2 years of conversation and prayer, God placed the following ministry and name on my heart, I4C Ministries also known as IMPACT 4 CHRIST, with a mission of “making meaningful connections between the church and people in need with dignity, compassion and love.”

 

Please stay tuned to learn more about I4C Ministries, our partnerships with other organizations, more stories of how God is moving, and how you can help in the next edition. Until then, I thank you for your time and I look forward to my continued service in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

Cindy Lantz, Ministry Development Director

 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9