Cheyenne First Christian Church History - Part 14

In January 2010, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, killing 200,000 people and leaving 1.5 million homeless.  Christian Borgaard, Pastor Kurt Borgaard’s son, and a 7th grader at Carey Jr. High school, came up with a project asking students and staff to donate $1 each to send to the Red Cross for aid.  This initiative was able to collect more than $2,600 in three days. Christian then extended his idea to the congregation to raise additional money for the Red Cross. 

Also in 2010, Pastor Cindy White held “care ministry” workshops and expanded the visitation program to shut-ins. In addition, she held weekly sessions of “One in the Spirit”, offering a seated exercise class for those who wanted to increase flexibility, strength, and cardio fitness.

The Narthex was remodeled to present an open, beautiful, inviting place for those who attended Worship. This project was funded by the $100,000 anonymous gift from the previous year. Also funded from this donation was the purchase of a computer for the sanctuary, sound equipment, recarpeting for the front steps, and coat racks.    

In September 2010, the Elders developed Quality Congregational Meetings, asking members to meet after church to discuss and give input into various programs. The first meeting focused on children/youth ministries. Marie Parks led a campaign to recruit members to volunteer with this ministry. Through her and Teresa Cunningham’s love and efforts, many programs for the youth were revitalized.  

Responding to input from the Congregation to address two goals identified throughout the Listening Conferences, a campaign was started to retire the debt on the parking lot and house on 26th Street, as well as establish a position for a director of Youth Ministries.  The Capital Campaign was completed and raised enough money to pay off the loan on the house.

Bess Arnold and Ruth Reynolds co-chaired the committee that worked on events to celebrate the Church’s upcoming 85th Birthday in January 2011. This included monthly birthday parties with themes centered around the events of the decades since the Church was organized, beginning with the 1920’s. Judy Osborn researched foods popular in these different decades. 

In December, the Outreach Team donated $9,500 to community service agencies, including Needs, Inc.,  Home Away From Home, Welcome Mat, Salvation Army, Cheyenne Interfaith Hospitality Network, Meals on Wheels and COMEA. Some of the other ministries included the Can-Can Project, collecting tuna for Needs, as well as a collection of food shared between the Salvation Army, COMEA and the Yellow Ribbon Adopt-a-Soldier program to send Christmas packages to military members.  Items were sent to member John Sanford, who was serving in Afghanistan, to distribute to children in need there.  Because of these efforts, the First Christian Church was named one of the top 230 congregations in support of the Disciples Mission Fund.