Those of us who are part of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (The Alliance) are grateful to God for His ongoing hand of blessing, provision, and empowerment over our nearly 150-year movement.

 

 

Humble Beginnings

On a late November afternoon in 1881, several adults huddled around a small heating stove in a “cold and cheerless” New York City dance hall. Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson—resigned from his prestigious pastorate just two weeks before—had called the meeting, inviting all believers who supported “an aggressive spiritual movement” to reach the city’s neglected nonbelievers. Seven people showed up. But God moved mightily in their midst.

 

 

Simpson felt an increasing concern for the “unchurched masses, the thousands who felt themselves alienated from the formal church but not from the Lord.” Of the nearly 12 million immigrants arriving in the United States between 1870 and 1900, more than 70 percent entered through New York City. This moved Simpson to challenge the social norms of exclusivity in his previous church by ministering to those who felt ostracized and without a home. His passion to reach these disenfranchised masses drove him to the docks of New York City’s South Street Seaport to evangelize arriving European immigrants.

The Genesis of a Vision

“My plan and idea of a church,” Simpson said, “are those which are exemplified in the great London churches … comprising thousands of members of no particular class, but of the rich and poor side by side.” In fulfillment of that vision, Simpson launched the Gospel Tabernacle in the heart of Longacre Square (now known as Times Square). Through these humble beginnings, The Christian and Missionary Alliance was born, and now comprises more than 6 million people worshiping in 25,000 churches in 180 languages and dialects.

 

 

Since its founding moment, The Alliance has remained wholeheartedly committed to bringing the hope of Christ to the neighborhoods and the nations. 700 U.S.-sent Alliance international workers are fulfilling The Alliance’s All of Jesus for All the World vision through gospel advancing and compassionate care ministries in more than 70 countries. These ministries have been and continue to be supported primarily by the generosity of the people sitting in the pews of our 2,000 U.S. Alliance churches.

Serving the Underserved

In addition to sending and supporting Alliance international workers and funding their global work, our U.S. Alliance churches have reached deep into their communities to extend the love and care of Christ to the lost, wandering, and suffering in tangible ways. In addition to a broad range of outreach events, these churches continue to welcome immigrant and refugee populations into their communities and help them establish themselves, just as our founder envisioned.

 

 

I have seen churches engaged in ministries to veterans, the homeless, alcohol and substance abuse victims, prison inmates, hospital patients, pregnancy centers, special needs children and adults, and the Deaf community, and many other struggling and underserved people. My own Alliance church has a neonatal hospital ministry to parents of premature and at-risk babies.

I have seen churches start community gardens and food pantries to address food scarcity issues in their communities. I have witnessed churches open their doors to those who have lost everything in devastating wildfires and other natural disasters. Other churches have welcomed financially challenged ethnic congregations to hold their worship services in their buildings. Still others have opened their facilities to local governments, police and fire departments, non-profits, and other groups or organizations that need meeting and training space.

I once visited a church in the Pacific Northwest where lumberjacks in the congregation would fell trees and deliver firewood to residents who needed to stay warm during the brutal winter months.

I traveled to a Virginia church whose members put themselves in harm’s way during the 2002 D.C. Sniper crisis by pumping gas for frightened motorists.

I attended a church in Western Pennsylvania whose pastor became a biker so that he could welcome other bikers to His church, where many have found a home, and some serve as church leaders. The church still hosts an annual “Blessing of the Bikes” event that proclaims the gospel to thousands of bikers.

I could go on and on.

 

 

 

Helping Churches Fulfill Their Calling

Orchard Alliance has had the privilege of partnering with many of these churches in raising their visibility and influence in their communities and beyond. Since 1959, Orchard has granted nearly 2,000 loans to churches for the purchase, construction, or renovation of their facilities, enabling them to expand their ministries, welcome and disciple new believers, and better serve their communities with the love and care of Christ. We have been able to provide these loans through thousands of depositors who, over the years, have invested their savings in Orchard Alliance to better equip Alliance churches to fulfill their God-given callings.

Today, more and more people are returning to church, seeking solace from the turmoil and chaos of life. By investing your savings with Orchard Alliance, you help Alliance churches fortify and expand their ministries to welcome and care for those who have yet to experience Christ’s loving embrace and perfect peace.

To learn more about how you can put your savings to work to support our Alliance churches and their ministries, click here or contact our Customer Care team at (833) 672-4255 or info@orchardalliance.org.

 

Faith & Finance Perspective

The Church is God’s chosen means of revealing Himself and demonstrating His glory to the world. Church facilities that are welcoming and hospitable to the lost and wandering and equipped to disciple believers into spiritual maturity play a critical role in advancing Christ’s Kingdom on earth. But church buildings alone are merely empty shells unless we, God’s people, give freely of our time, spiritual gifts, practical skills and talents, and financial resources—with joy and gratitude that our God invites us to do so.

 

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 – Ephesians 3:10-11