Cornerstone you have heard the call of God once again to live lives that impact others, choosing to live more simply so that others might simply live. For the 6^th year in a row you have chosen to extend the love and grace of God to the poorest of the poor, changing their lives and helping them live.

Each year we partner with Orphan Resources International (ORI) in Guatemala and OMS, Int'l in Haiti. The general offering amount rotates each year with 2009 going to Guatemala.

Each year this is how it goes: our first priority is the orphans at Fundaninos, one of the orphanages which ORI serves in Guatemala. We always make sure we care for their needs before any others. Families and individuals have an option to sponsor a specific child at Fundaninos or in Haiti through Starfish Kids. If the children at Fudaninos do not have enough individual sponsors (as was the case this year) we make up the difference with the general offering.

We also believe that partnering globally needs to be linked with partnering locally. We send a tithe (10%) to Hamilton Living Water Ministries (HLWM). That tithe is determined from the general offering amount, not the portion that sponsors the children.

The balance is then given to the ministry designated by the mission agency, in 2009 that was ORI and Rosa de Amor.

      The breakdown of the offering is as follows:

• Fundaninos w 56 children $33,600
• Starfish Kids   47 children $14,100
• Hamilton Living Water Ministries, Inc. $2,000
• Rosa De Amor $9807.56
• Total $59,507.56

We are most excited this year to see the extension of this offering into the corporate sector of our community. Several companies are providing matching donations for gifts written directly to ORI, HLWM and some to OMS, Int'l. So this offering number will go up and next year we're already excited for the possibilities.

So thank you Cornerstone for being the Body of Christ serving the poor around the world.

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About The Live Simply Project

2009 marks the 6th year for The Live Simply Project (formerly known as The Christmas Offering). The goal is simple – to live more simply so that others might simply live. The God of the Bible is the God of the poor. Orphans and widows hold a special place in God's Kingdom (James 1:27). The poor are at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus (“good news for the poor”). We have found that as we seek to have the heart of God, our hearts are broken by the things that break His heart, the poor of our world.

The argument could be made this year that we should take up a special offering to benefit the ministry of Cornerstone Church here at home. The economic downturn has affected our ability to do what we had planned this year. Ministries have lean budgets. Staff have received no raises for 2009 and again in 2010, even taking a week without pay this year to help the church make it through 2009 in the black. But God does not call us to an “either or life.” We cannot let go of our partnerships in Guatemala or Haiti nor can we neglect ministry here at home. It is “both/and.”

The challenge is to reduce your spending on Christmas and give that difference to The Live Simply Project. You can participate in three ways:

1. Give an undesignated gift. All undesignated gifts will go to an orphanage in Guatemala called Rosa de Amor. ORI has told us this is the place where our financial gifts can make the biggest difference this year.
2. Sponsor a child at the Fundaninos Orphanage in Guatemala. Complete the form linked below (also available at church) to indicate your desire and ability to sponsor a child for either $35 per month. It is always our policy that the Fundaninos Orphanage is sponsored fully before any general offering goes elsewhere. So the first approximatley $30,000 will go to Fundaninos.
3. Sponsor a child in Haiti through Starfish Kids, Int'l. Use the form above to indicate your desire to designate your offering in this way.

A tithe (10%) of the General Offering will go to Hamilton Living Water Ministries, Inc which is our local mission partner.

HOW IT WORKS (our guiding principles)

1. Acts 1:8 guides us: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." We are called to ministry in each of these areas. It is not multiple choice.
   
2. The general offering rotates between Guatemala in the odd years and Haiti in the even years.
3. Our partnerships are with ORI and OMS, Int'l, not with Fundaninos or Radio 4VEH.
4. We have agreed with ORI that Fundaninos will always be fully funded
5. Each year we ask the missionaries on the ground where the general offering is needed the most.
6. The entire Christmas Eve offering is given to The Live Simply Project.