A Heartfelt Thank You: Partnering with IDES to Bring Hope and Restoration
We are so thankful for the supporters and partners that make our ministries possible! This giving empowers CMF’s diverse ministry teams to share the love of Jesus in places where the gospel is needed most. Funds received at the end of 2024 had even more impact.
For over 50 years, we have been blessed by our partnership with IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service). Together, we have witnessed God’s hand at work in communities around the world, as hurting people receive a message of love and hope.
Most recently, we joined forces to bring aid and encouragement to our friends and neighbors in Tennessee and North Carolina. Thanks to IDES’ generous year-end donation match, a remarkable $75,000 is now being used to support recovery efforts in these areas.
Responding to Disaster: A Commitment to Restoration
Hurricane Helene was an unprecedented storm that swept across multiple states, leaving devastation in its wake. In response, IDES swiftly mobilized to provide relief, partnering with churches and volunteers to begin the long road to recovery. This vital work will continue throughout 2025.
Among the key partners in this effort are First Christian Church of Elizabethton, TN, and Oak Grove Christian Church of Arden, NC, alongside many other churches in the region. Through their dedication, home rebuilds and restorations are already underway, including the restoration of Elk Mills Christian Church in Butler, TN.
Stories of Hope Amid the Storm
The impact of these efforts is best seen in the lives of those touched by this ministry.
One family found themselves in a terrifying situation as floodwaters rose rapidly around their home. David, the husband, was nearly swept away but miraculously regained his footing and survived. Though they are not believers, IDES volunteers have surrounded them with love, care, and the message of Christ—seizing every opportunity to share His hope.
In another incredible story, a married couple with two teenage daughters lost everything when both their home and the home of their aging mother were destroyed in the floods. They were introduced to IDES staff and volunteers, who immediately committed to rebuilding their home. That following Sunday, something amazing happened—they attended church for the very first time.
Witnessing God’s Work Through Your Generosity
When we reflect on these stories—of families in Tennessee and North Carolina finding hope in the midst of devastation, and of countless lives being transformed through CMF’s global ministries—we can see so clearly that God is at work.
To everyone who generously gave to CMF’s missionaries and ministries in 2024, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your generosity is changing lives. And to our long-time partner, IDES, thank you for multiplying the impact of these gifts and for being the hands and feet of Christ in times of crisis.
Together, we are making a difference.