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Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance;
for you serve the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24

The Role

The Role of a board member should not be taken lightly. It is a very important job with responsibilities that have a lasting impact on others.  If you have never served on a nonprofit board before, please read the following articles.  Even if you have been on the board of directors of another organization, you might find the following articles helpful.

Boardmanship as a Calling

Our Name

Alpha Omega Christian Communities For The Chemically Injured, Inc. (AOCCCI) is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. God  called several individuals who had first hand knowledge and life experience living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities to form this ministry.

Alpha is the very first letter of the Greek language. Omega is the very last letter in the Greek language. Alpha Omega is mentioned in the Book of Revelation a number of times and stands for Jesus Christ. Jesus is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. He is the founder and head of this ministry.

AOCCCI is a Christian organization. The idea for this ministry came from God. Only through God can it ever become a reality. The founders' know first hand that God is still active today and is still healing people of these terrible life-destroying diseases. The chronically ill, including those individuals unable to participate in society due to chemically injury and sensitivities, need to hear the life changing message that Jesus cares and loves them.

Communities refer to our original goal, to provide environmentally safe housing. Matthew 25:31-46 teaches us that how we treat others we are treating Jesus. We are not to ignore the destitute, the homeless, the stranger, the sick, the prisoner, the hungry, etc. An Intentional Community is one way to address the needs of the chemically injured.

The Chemically Injured are individuals whose immune system is reacting to everything. These people are in need of help. Many have been abandoned by their families, friends, spouses, and have spent all their money trying to find a cure. Doctors can not cure these diseases, only God can heal people.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him,
how can the love of God be in him?
(1 John 3:17)

God is calling His people to help the chemically injured.

The Target Population

AOCCCI's target population is individuals who are hypersensitive to chemicals. These diseases can go by the following names: Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Environmental Illness (EI), Sick Building Syndrome, and Gulf War Syndrome (GWS). Other diseases that are common with individuals who suffer from chemical hypersensitivity include Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Fibromyalgia, Candida-Related Complex, electromagnetic field (emf) sensitivity and other serious chronic health problems.  If you are unfamiliar with MCS, please read the information available at the following sites.  Though AOCCCI dose not agree with the belief that no one can be healed of MCS which these sites support, the information well enlighten you to the world individuals with MCS are forced to live in and the suffering they endure.

MCS For Beginners
Health Risks of Chemicals

Providing Housing

AOCCCI's original dream was to form Intentional Communities for the purpose of providing environmentally safe places for the chemically injured to live.  Creating such communities is still a far off goal.  There are many types of Intentional Communities in existence around the world.  Exactly what form AOCCCI's first community will take is not yet clear and will have to be decided in the future.  What is a non-negotiable is that 1) only the truth found in the Bible will be taught at this community, and 2) the community will be for individuals sensitive to chemicals and therefore will be environmentally safe. If you are unfamiliar with the Intentional Community movement, you can learn more at the official Intentional Community web site.

Mission Statement

Where We Are Today

At the present time AOCCCI is mainly an Internet ministry.  The Internet is providing an inexpensive way to teach and minister to individuals around the world the biblical truths that though chronic diseases affect us physically, they have spiritual roots.  That is good news.   Once the spiritual roots are dealt with, often the body will start to function as God designed it too.

AOCCCI publishes an on-line newsletter (Healing God's Way) every other week aimed at teaching the mind-body-spirit connection cause of chronic diseases.   AOCCCI publishes an occasional on-line newsletter (AOCCCI news) whose purpose is to keep interested individuals informed of our progress.  AOCCCI's web site receives hundreds of visits each month.

The Outdoor Chapel is an outdoor church for individuals in the San Antonio Texas area who are unable to attend a traditional indoor church because of hypersensitivity to chemicals.  AOCCCI's co-founder, Kiri Hyatt, is the pastor.   God healed Kiri of MCS in 1996 and she is currently attending Seminary.

Qualification of Board Membership

1. All board members MUST have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. All board members must have some understanding of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, either from personal experience or from studying about the disease.

3. All board members must have compassion towards the needs of the Chemically Injured and care about their plight.

4. All board members should have at least an awareness of the environmental issues as they relate to human health. 

5. All board members should feel God has called them to serve.  Anyone wanting to be on this board in order to receive human praise has false motives and is not fit to serve. Matt 6:1 says, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Passage continues through verse 4).

6. Board members who are married or plan to marry must have spouses who are supportive of the ministry and the time the board member must devote to the work.  If in the future the board decides to have a function for fund raising or another purpose, spouses of board members need to be willing to attend.

7. All board members must have the time available to serve, the understanding that serving on the board of directors is an important job not to be taken lightly, and the health to do the job.

8. AOCCCI is in need of reorganization.  For that reason the board will need to meet more frequently during 2004.  Potential board members need to be able to commit to monthly meetings.  They should also plan on spending a few hours a month reviewing changes to documents and working on board related projects.  It is hoped that in the future board meetings will be quarterly.  (If distance requires it, meetings may take place over the Internet, either via email or chat room).

Responsibilities of Board Membership

1. Attend board meetings.  Part of attending board meetings is to come prepared.

2. Since AOCCCI is a Christian ministry, prayer is fundamental.  All board members will be required to pray regularly for AOCCCI and attend scheduled prayer meetings.  Prayer meetings may occur before or after board meetings or at other times as the board decides.

3. Many nonprofits require board members to donate to the cause, often a specific amount.  AOCCCI does not require compulsory giving for two reasons.   First, 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  Second, it would be wrong to exclude potential candidates for board membership because they financially can not give.  Therefore, AOCCCI only requires that each board member diligently pray and seek God concerning giving towards the work of AOCCCI.  AOCCCI requires each board member to faithfully give what they believe God is asking them to give, whether that is simply their time or a large check each month.

4. Fund raising is a major necessity of all nonprofits.  Board members should participate in this activity.  AOCCCI  requires each board member to tell others about the ministry, the plight of the chemically injured and the financial need.   It is understood that some individuals have a gift for selling and fund raising while others do not.  It is also understood that some individuals have lots of friends and acquaintances who could easily write a check, while others do not.   Therefore board members will not be required to reach a set number of donors or amount of donations.  Board members are only asked to faithfully do their best.
   

Board Goals

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. (Hebrews 3:4)

Goal #1: Develop a donor base of $500 a month in donations.

Goal #2: Update business plan and other business documents. Work toward this goal will begin as soon as a new board is in place..

Goal #3: Education and Public Relations—Appearances on Radio Talk Shows, Newspaper articles, etc. Board will decide when to begin this goal.

Goal #4: Increase donor base to at least $1000 a month. Work toward this goal will begin as soon as goal #1 is completed.

Goal #5: Seek large donations towards the purchase of a ranch/land, preferably ten acres with a large house on property. Work toward this goal will begin when goal #2 is completed. Estimated start--2005

Goal #6: Develop housing plan for land use (campground or permanent homes/apartments/rooms and amenities—bathrooms, showers, laundry room, etc.) Work toward this goal will begin as soon as goal #5 is completed. Estimated start--2006