We, the congregation of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Martinsville, put our faith into action through the missions in which we actively participate. The programs listed below are a sampling of those missions.

Habitat for Humanity

Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 250,000 houses with families in need, becoming a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing.

Koinonia Farm and the Fund for Humanity
The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity International was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian farming community founded in 1942 outside of Americus, Ga., by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. The Fullers first visited Koinonia in 1965, having recently left a successful business in Montgomery, Ala., and all the trappings of an affluent lifestyle to begin a new life of Christian service. At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of "partnership housing" -- where those in need of adequate shelter would work side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.

The houses would be built with no profit added and no interest charged. Building would be financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund's money would come from the new homeowners' house payments, donations and no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.

Go to the Habitat for Humanity home Page (Click Here)

Continue reading about the Habitat for Humanity history (Click Here)

Wellspring Center "Serving God by Serving Those in Need."

We are primarily a homeless shelter for families of Morgan County, Indiana.  As part of the Community Service Center of Morgan County,  Inc., we are a 501(c)(3) agency that is a member agency of United Way of Central Indiana.  We also receive funding from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, as well as local churches and the kindness of individuals.

- We offer 9 family units for emergency short-term shelter.

- We offer 13 family appartments for transitional housing.

- Resources to prevent evition or foreclosure.

- Follow-up advocacy to prevent reoccurrence of homelessness.

- Children's activity rooms and playground.

- Meeting rooms for life-skill classes, workshops, and community agencies.

Go to the Wellspring Center home page (Click Here)

Relay for Life American Cancer Society

One person can make a difference. Nowhere is that more evident than with the story of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which began in Tacoma, Washington. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office and to show support for all of his patients who had battled cancer. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed – running marathons.

In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He ran for more than 83 miles. That first year, nearly 300 of Dr. Klatt's friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course. Throughout the night, friends donated $25 to run or walk with Dr. Klatt for 30 minutes. His efforts raised $27,000 to fight cancer.

While circling the track those 24 hours, Dr. Klatt thought about how others could take part in his mission to fight cancer. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Over the next few months, he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event, known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.

In 1986, with the help of Pat Flynn – now known as the “Mother of Relay” – 19 teams took part in the first team Relay event on the track at the historic Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000. An indescribable spirit prevailed at the track and in the tents that dotted the infield.

Go to the Relay for Life home page (Click Here)

Continue reading about the Relay for Life history (Click Here)

Hoosier Hills Emmaus Community

In 1991 a group of Christians (Russ Abel, Lee and Belinda Carmichael, John Dorsey, Rex Hinkle, Mark and Marilyn Kinkead, Devon and Nancy Leiter, John and Mary Ryder, and Jack and Dorothy Wolfe) who had taken their Walks in various Emmaus communities began working together to form the Hoosier Hills Emmaus Community, and were able to hold the first set of Hoosier Hills Walks in October of that year. Walk #1 (men) was held October 3-6, and Walk #2 (women) was held October 10-13, 1991, both at Camp Indi-Co-So. Since that time at least one mens and one womens Walk have been held twice each year, usually in the Spring and Fall. Because of scheduling limitations at Camp Indi-Co-So early in our Communitys history, Walks #3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 9 and 10 (one mens and one womens each time) were held at the Star of Indiana building near Bloomington. All Hoosier Hills Emmaus Walks since that time have been held at Camp Indi-Co-So.

Throughout the history of our Community there have been more women than men applying to attend the Walks, and women have sometimes had to wait a year or longer after applying before being invited to attend a Walk. In an effort to help this situation, in 1996 we held one mens (#19) and two womens (#20-A and #20-B) Walks in the Spring, and we have usually held two womens Walks each time since then. In 1998 a backlog of men applicants caused us to hold two mens Fall Walks for the first time (#29-A and #29-B), and we held two mens Walks again in the Fall of 1999 and Spring of 2001. In the Fall of 2000 we broke with tradition again and held one mens and three womens Walks, which allowed us to invite nearly all of the men and women on the waiting list up to that time. A full listing of all Hoosier Hills Emmaus Walks follows, showing when and where each Walk took place and who served as Lay Director and Spiritual Director.

There have been a few changes in logistics through the years. In the early years, the Pilgrims slept in the dormitory rooms at Merryman Center and the team members all slept in cabins when the Walks were held at Camp Indi-Co-So. Although table leaders and assistant table leaders were able to sleep in the same room with Pilgrims at some of the Walks held at the Star of Indiana building, it was not until 1995 when the womens Walks were usually set up so that each table slept together as a unit in the cabins and other team members stayed in Merryman. The mens Walks have more frequently been set up so that the Pilgrims stayed in Merryman and the team members in cabins. From 1991 through the first half of 1999, Merryman Center served as the conference center and Crawford Hall as the kitchen and dining hall. The new facility at Armstrong Center was opened in time for the 1999 Fall Walks, and all Walks held since that time have been able to make use of the new conference room, kitchen, and dining facilities.


Go to the Hoosier Hills Emmaus Community home page (Click Here)

Continue reading about the Hoosier Hills Community history (Click Here)

Operation Christmas Child (Shoebox Ministry)

Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God."  Bob Pierce wrote these now-famous words in his Bible after visiting suffering children on the Korean island of Kojedo. This impassioned prayer is what guided him as he founded and led the ministry of Samaritan's Purse in 1970. His mission for this organization—in his own words—was "to meet emergency needs in crisis areas through existing evangelical mission agencies and national churches."

After World War II, Bob Pierce traveled throughout Asia as an evangelist and journalist with Youth For Christ. While on a university lecturing circuit in China, he stumbled across some courageous women who were living among lepers and orphans, sacrificing everything to share the love of Jesus Christ. Through their selfless love, God gave Pierce a vision for ministry. He dedicated himself to finding and supporting other such Christians who were caring for the poor and suffering in the distant corners of the world.     

In the summer of 1973, Bob Pierce met his eventual successor, an adventurous young student—Franklin Graham—with a growing heart for world missions.  Intrigued by his many stories from the field, Franklin began to spend more and more time with the seasoned Christian statesman. In 1975, he accompanied Bob on a life-changing tour of some of the world’s neediest mission fields, where Franklin saw the poverty of pagan religions and the utter despair of the people they enslave. God had captured his heart for missions.

In 1978, Bob Pierce died of leukemia, and nearly 18 months later, Franklin Graham became the President and Chairman of the Board of Samaritan's Purse. Through more than 20 years of earthquakes, hurricanes, wars, and famine, Franklin has led the ministry in following the biblical example of the Good Samaritan all across the globe. God has blessed the organization under Franklin's leadership, and the ministry has seen explosive growth.

"Go and do likewise," Christ commanded after explaining the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. So we do. Samaritan's Purse travels the world’s highways looking for victims along the way. The work is often dangerous—as it was for the Samaritan—but the message we carry is much too important. We are quick to bandage the wounds we see, but the Samaritan didn’t stop there, and neither do we. In addition to meeting their immediate, emergency needs, we help these victims recover and get back on their feet.

No matter where we go or what we do, though, we offer more than help. We offer hope. To suffering people in a broken world, we share the news of the only One who can bring true peace—Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Go to the Operation Christmas Child home page (Click Here)

Continue reading about Operation Christmas Child history (Click Here)

First Christian Church Also Supports:

Boy Scouts of America, Camp Bedford, Desert Rose Shelter, Gideon's International, Indiana Dream Team, Kairos Prison Ministry, Red Barn Family Store, Special Olympics, The Community Table, The Haven Youth Center, Tri County Men's Fellowship