A. Bringing Believers Together 
B. Manna is Not Insurance
C. Modification of the Guidelines – Your Vote Counts

A.  Bringing Believers Togethers

Christian Care Ministry, Inc. (CCM) brings believers together to share the blessings God has bestowed on them according to the example of Scripture and the early Christian Church. Manna brings Christians together to help one another during a time of disability. CCM facilitates sharing directly between participants who have volunteered in faith to assist one another when a participant has a need for income replacement resulting from an eligible disability.

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B. Manna is Not Insurance

While Manna exists to assist its participants in time of disability, just as with church benevolence programs, there is no guarantee that assistance will be available. Therefore, neither CCM nor Manna participants shall be held liable for any part of a person's financial obligations. Each participant remains individually liable and responsible for their financial obligations at all times. Manna is not disability insurance, nor is it guaranteed in any way. Manna is not, and should never be construed as, a contract for insurance or a substitute for a contract guaranteeing disability insurance. CCM shall not be held liable for a failure to replace any part of a participant's income.

There is no transfer of risk from a participant to CCM or from a Manna participant to the other Manna participants. All such sharing of a participant's need is on a voluntary basis only. All money comes from the voluntary giving of Manna participants, not from CCM itself.

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C. Modification of the Guidelines – Your Vote Counts

The Manna program is governed by the Manna Guidelines (hereinafter referred to as Guidelines). Participants may vote on material revisions to the Guidelines such as eligibility requirements and the sharing limits. Changes to the Guidelines are made if 67% or more of the participants that vote are in favor of the change. Changes to the Guidelines may also be made by CCM's Board of Directors. Any change to the Guidelines made by the CCM Board of Directors will be effective immediately or at the date specified by the Board of Directors. In the event that CCM's Board of Directors materially modify the Guidelines, such as, changing eligibility requirements or the amount to be shared, participants must ratify such modification by affirmative vote of 67% or more of the participants that vote within 12 months of the modification. If participants fail to ratify the modification within the 12 month period, then the Guidelines will revert to their prior form effective on the date that the participants failed to ratify it or after 12 months from the date of the change, whichever comes first.

The Guidelines are definitive and will overrule verbal statements made by anyone regarding Manna. The current Guidelines govern, not the Guidelines that were in effect when a person joins. The most current Guidelines appear on the Christian Care Ministry website at www.MyChristianCare.org/manna.

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participant – The individual who meets the application qualifications for the Manna Program and abides by the requirements for participation.

recipient – A participant who submits an eligible need and receives assistance from other Manna participants.

need – The loss of a participant's earned income due to the inability to perform the material and substantive duties of his/her occupation or occupations as a result of an illness or injury.

monthly financial assistance – the approved dollar amount to replace lost income based on total earned income and units elected. The actual amount of monthly financial assistance is dependent on monthly shares contributed by participants.

monthly share – The combination of the $10 administrative fee and the $12 variable share amount for each unit elected.

unit – $2,200 of monthly financial assistance not to exceed 80% of the participant's total earned income.

variable share amount (VSA) – the amount each participant commits to based on number of units elected, which is used to assist other Manna participants.

A. Christian Testimony
B. U.S. Citizenship or legal residents 
C. Age
D. Employment Status
E. Tobacco Use

A. Christian Testimony

All participants must have a verifiable Christian testimony indicating a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and profess the following Statement of Faith:

I believe that there is one God eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit.
I believe that the Bible is God's written revelation to man and that it is verbally inspired, authoritative, and without error in the original manuscripts.
I believe in the deity of Jesus Christ—His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, death on the cross to provide for our redemption, bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven, present ministry of intercession for us, and His return to earth in power and glory.
I believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, that He performs the miracle of new birth in an unbeliever and indwells believers, enabling them to live a godly life.
I believe that man was created in the image of God, but because of sin was alienated from God. That alienation can be removed only by accepting through faith alone God's gift of salvation which was made possible by Christ's death.

A leader from your church may be interviewed to verify your testimony. All participants must live by biblical standards, agree that believers are to bear one another's burdens, attend a fellowship of believers regularly, and actively support that ministry (2 Cor. 8:14). Participants must believe the biblical doctrine that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and are therefore to be kept pure (1 Cor 6:19).

Violations of this doctrine include, but are not limited to, the use of tobacco in any form and the abuse of drugs, including legal drugs, such as alcohol and prescription or over-the-counter drugs. In accordance with Scripture, participants must not engage in sex outside of traditional Christian marriage. (Hebrews 13:4)

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B. U.S. Citizenship or legal residents

A participant must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident. U.S. citizens who do not live full time in the U.S. may qualify provided they have filed a U.S. tax return in the previous year. Legal U.S. residents must have a green card or immigrant visa, a social security number, and live full-time in the United States to qualify for the Manna Program . On the day that a participant ceases to be a legal U.S. resident, he or she no longer qualifies for the Manna Program.

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C. Age

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 70. However, if a participant turns 71, and is still employed, they can continue to participate in the Manna program through age 75.

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D. Employment Status

Applicants and participants must be employed in some capacity to participate in this Christian disability sharing program. Retirement income, or other passive income such as rental or investment income, is not considered employment and is not earned income.

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E. Tobacco Use

Applicants must have abstained from the use of tobacco in any form for at least the 12 months prior to applying to be considered for participation in the Manna program. and participants cannot use any tobacco products or their participation will be cancelled.

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The completed application for the Manna Program must be submitted with a non-refundable application fee of $50. If applying for Manna and Medi-Share at the same time, the $50 Manna application fee may be waived. (Medi-Share is CCM's Christian healthcare sharing program. For more information visit www.MyChristianCare.org.) Each applicant, regardless of whether they are in the same household, must apply and participate individually. The application can be requested by calling Member Services at (800) 264-2562 or downloaded from www.MyChristianCare.org.

Participation in the Manna Program will begin once the application and $50 non-refundable application fee have been received, approved, and payment of the first month share has been received.

A.  Manna Sharing
B.  Changing Units Elected
C. Needs Determination 
D. Submitting a Need
E. Earned Income Verification
F. Manna is Secondary to Other Sources of Income Replacement 
G. Withdrawals and Cancellations
H. Reapplication after Withdrawal

A. Manna Sharing

Each participant contributes monthly an administrative fee of $10, which is used by CCM to administer the program, and a Variable Share Amount (VSA) of $12 per unit elected, which is used to assist other participants. Each unit elected represents up to $2,200 of monthly financial assistance not to exceed 80% of the total earned income.

The recipient's VSA and monthly administrative fee are waived for each month that they receive assistance from other participants as a result of a disability. Sharing is accomplished by communicating the needs of participants suffering from eligible disabilities to other participants who send their monthly Manna share to CCM. CCM then forwards the total VSA collected to those participants in need.

The partial replacement of actual earned income lost due to an illness or injury will be presented to Manna participants for sharing for up to 12 months. Up to 80% of the verifiable lost earned income will be presented for sharing. Further, if in a given month the total eligible needs exceed the VSA collected, the needs are shared on a prorated basis.

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B. Changing Units Elected
Participants can change the number of units elected at anytime, but must apply in writing to do so. If the request to change is submitted on or before the15th of the month, the start date for that unit level will be the first of the following month. However, if the request is received after the 15th of the month, the start date will be the first day of the second month following the request.

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C. Needs Determination

1. Eligibility

The following factors are considered to determine eligibility.

a. The event/condition must have been treatment free, symptom free, and medication free for 12 months prior to joining Manna and 90 days thereafter. Exception: if an otherwise eligible accident-related injury occurs within the first 90 days of Manna participation, it will be considered for sharing.

b. If the participant has increased their unit level during their Manna participation, the event/condition must have been treatment free, symptom free, and medication free for 12 months prior to the start date of the new unit level and 90 days thereafter in order to be shared at the new unit level.

c. If the participant decreases their unit level, there is no waiting period and sharing will be at the lower level of units elected, provided they have been a participant for at least 90 days.

d. Income must be lost because of the inability to perform the material and substantive duties of the participant's occupation due to illness or injury.

2. Events/Conditions Not Eligible for Sharing

a. The following events/conditions are not eligible for sharing: elective cosmetic surgery, mental illness and depression, pregnancy, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Epstein Bar Syndrome, causes from acts of war.

b. The following events/conditions will not be eligible for sharing unless surgery is involved: carpal tunnel syndrome, back injuries, and knee injuries. For instance: the participant has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel and the doctor states surgery is required. The event/condition will then be eligible after surgery is performed.

3. A need is not eligible for sharing until income has been lost for 60 consecutive days. Financial assistance for an eligible need will be presented to the participants for sharing beginning on the 61st day following the first day the income was lost. If other participants send in their VSA, checks will be issued at least once a month, subject to Section V. (A) above.

4. Financial assistance ends when recipient is able to return to work or after 12 months whichever comes first. A new incident of the same nature will be considered for eligibility 12 months after the previous incident's sharing period has ended.

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D. Submitting a Need

A completed “Request for Financial Assistance” (RFA) form will initiate the verification process and must be submitted within 60 days of the disabling incident. These forms can be downloaded from www.MyChristianCare.org or requested by calling Member Services at (800) 264-2562.
CCM relies on the medical and lifestyle information provided on the RFA forms and during the subsequent information gathering process to determine whether or not a participant qualifies for Manna financial assistance.

Failure to disclose medical or lifestyle information that might disqualify the participant may result in termination from the Manna program. If terminated, no refund of shares will be issued. If a participant recalls or becomes aware of any medical history that was not reported on the RFA forms or during the subsequent information gathering process, that information should be immediately submitted in writing to CCM.

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E. Earned Income Verification

The recipient must demonstrate recent earned income and must supply any documents requested by CCM to determine the amount of income lost. These documents may include completed income tax forms (such as W-2, 1040, 4506, 1099), a filed quarterly income tax return, and most recent pay stubs.

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F. Manna is Secondary to Other Sources of Income Replacement

Compensation received by a recipient (after the waiting period) from benefits such as disability insurance, worker's compensation, state or federal programs, fraternal benefits, or any other resources designed to supplement all or part of income lost due to an injury or illness will be deducted from the assistance amount. These benefits must be exhausted first. The recipient agrees to report such sources of other income and to cooperate fully with CCM staff to determine and obtain any other sources.

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G. Withdrawals and Cancellations

All withdrawals or cancellations are effective on the first of the month. If a participant wishes to withdraw, please inform CCM by mail, e-mail or fax at least 15 days prior to the desired effective month. United States mail should be addressed to Christian Care Ministry, Attn: Manna, P.O. Box 121505 , West Melbourne , FL 32912 . E-mails may be sent to memberservices@mannacds.org and letters may be faxed to (321) 308-7779.

The foregoing notwithstanding, if a participant fails to submit their monthly share for two consecutive months, CCM will take this as an indication that the participant desires to withdraw from Manna and his or her participation will be cancelled effective at the end of the month for which he or she last submitted a monthly share.

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H. Reapplication After Withdrawal

A participant who has withdrawn must re-apply for the Manna program by paying the $50 application fee and submitting to the full application process and review. 

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A. Sharing Faithfully Each Month
B. Praying and Extra Sharing 
C. Adherence to Lifestyle Requirements 

A. Sharing Faithfully Each Month
Faithful sharing makes it possible for participants with financial needs to continue with their current financial responsibilities in spite of their inability to work. Every participant receives notice of the monthly share amount that is due before the twentieth of the next month.

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B. Praying and Extra Sharing
Participants are encouraged to pray for these participants and their families. They may also wish to send cards, letters, or emails of encouragement as many have expressed how blessed they are by their fellow participants who take the time to contact them. The names and addresses of the recipients assigned to receive monthly shares are published on the monthly share statement.
Prayer requests may be submitted by calling Member Services at (800) 264-2562.

Participants can give over and above their specified sharing amount to help another participant in need by sending an additional amount with their share payment and mark their monthly share notice to share the extra amount.

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C. Adherence to Lifestyle Requirements

When applying, applicants must read and agree with the terms in the application regarding certain lifestyle requirements. These requirements include: refraining from sexual relations outside of traditional Christian marriage, no use of tobacco or illegal drugs in any form, or abuse of legal drugs, including alcohol. If a participant chooses not to live by these lifestyle requirements, they will be disqualified and his or her needs will not be eligible for sharing.

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A.  Mediation and Arbitration
B.  No Conflicts of Interest

If a participant believes that a medical or financial eligibility determination of a need was inaccurate within the provisions of the Guidelines, a signed appeal letter may be submitted to Christian Care Ministry, Attn: Manna, PO Box 121505 , West Melbourne FL 32912 or faxed to (321) 308-7779. The appeal will be presented to an “Appeal Panel”, which models the biblical pattern of Matthew 18:15-20. The determination of the Appeal Panel shall be final and binding on CCM.

Should a participant disagree with the determination of the Appeal Panel, the parties agree to be bound by the following mediation and binding arbitration agreement in an attempt to resolve issues and bring reconciliation.

A. Mediation and Arbitration

The parties to this agreement are Christians or Christian organizations and believe that the Bible commands them to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or within the Christian community in conformity with the biblical injunctions of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Matthew 5:23-24, and Matthew 18:15-20. Therefore, the parties agree that any claim or dispute arising out of, or related to, this agreement or any aspect thereof, including claims under federal, state, and local statutory or common law, the law of contract, and law of tort, shall be settled by biblically based mediation.

If resolution of the dispute and reconciliation do not result from mediation, the matter shall then be submitted to an independent and objective arbitrator for binding arbitration, with each party to bear their own costs and attorney's fees, and with the cost of arbitration itself to be borne by CCM. The parties agree that the mediation and arbitration process will be conducted in accordance with the “Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation” (“Rules”) contained in the Peacemaker Ministries booklet Guidelines for Christian Conciliation. Consistent with the Rules, each party to the agreement shall agree to the selection of the arbitrator. The parties agree that if there is an impasse in the selection of the arbitrator, the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries in Billings, Montana (406-256-1583), shall be asked to provide the name of a qualified person who will serve in that capacity. Consistent with the Rules, the arbitrator shall issue a written opinion within a reasonable time.

The parties agree that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out. The parties agree that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of this agreement, and they expressly waive their right to file a lawsuit against one another in any civil court for such disputes, except to enforce a legally binding arbitration decision for the reasons stated.

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B. No Conflicts of Interest

CCM does not gain financially in any way by determining that a financial need is eligible or ineligible for sharing. CCM is a not-for-profit ministry and no person owns all or part of CCM. CCM impartially carries out the wishes of the participants as expressed in the Manna Guidelines.

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