The Native American Spirituality group will create bridges of understanding between at least two groups of peoples who strive to build a more spiritual life.  Learning more about the diverse examples of Native American spirituality as a possible increased way to understand the meaning of spirituality will be done through interaction, teaching and experiences.  We will compare Native American Spirituality and Christianity, and understand what is meant by “balance” and “focus.”  We hope that participating in Christian Pow Wows and other events will encourage deeper respect of cross cultural ministries and challenge participants to find out where they fit into the scheme of life. 

The Operation Shoebox/Christmas gifts group organizes and sends boxes of needed items to boys and girls around the world.  Shoeboxes wrapped with Christmas paper are provided to SonRise Church congregants who volunteer; they take as many boxes as they’d like to fill.  Each box will contain a list of the items needed by a boy or a girl.  Once the volunteers buy items and fill the boxes, they return them to the Operation Shoebox/Christmas gifts group at SonRise. The Fall 2009 ministry is through the Franklin Graham Ministry of “Operation Christmas Child;” the collected boxes this year will be distributed to the Graham Ministry.

CONTACT PERSON:  Shara Heinbaugh

Operation Classroom is a group within the Rocky Mountain Conference that builds classroom buildings, teacher training and provides education resources for children in Sierra Leone. A particular ministry of SonRise through Operation Classroom has been the support of a School for Working Children. The group will meet to educate the congregation to the needs in Sierre Leone, to gather supplies, to raise funds for this cause and to plan future trips to Sierra Leone.

CONTACT PERSONS: John and Elaine Blinn

The primary focus of SonRise Quilters is to provide quilts for children in South Africa through the “Our Journey Project,” Prayer quilts for those within our congregation that are seriously ill, and Baby quilts to the new babies born in the church.  Meetings begin with Devotions, and then participants begin work on our mission quilts.  There are occasional fieldtrips and social events.  People with all levels of sewing ability are welcome at any time; occasional instruction is provided.  The Quilter’s meet year-round on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at SonRise Church.  If there is interest, an evening meeting time can be scheduled.

CONTACT PERSON: Sheri Watson