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Outreach Missions Christ’s Community is actively involved in many missions. We invite you to search your heart as you read through this listing, and prayerfully consider getting involved with one or more mission opportunity. Missions is an excellent ministry for Sunday School classes or other church groups. And we’re always on the lookout for committed team members. If you feel a tug at your heart, please contact Bonnie Yetter to find out how to join us, or to get more information about what we do. JOPLIN TORNADO RELIEF Christ’s Community UMC has been instrumental in serving the community in the weeks following the EF-5 tornado. Efforts have gone from immediate response after the storm hit to helping church families and others with debris removal to housing volunteers. We just closed our ”store” which allowed survivors to shop for needed supplies, which were generously donated by groups from all over the U.S. Our focus now is on housing the many teams coming to Joplin to help us restore our lives. We will continue providing housing as long as teams coming here need a comfortable place to stay. Due to a huge youth event July 24-30 and another youth group coming to stay the week of July 31-August 6, we are not hosting teams during that time. However, we are hosting volunteer teams again beginning August 8. Teams may either contact Dana Fox @ 417-451-2310 or by contacting us directly @ 417-781-8701. We can accommodate 25 persons. Teams must be self-sufficient, but will have the use of our kitchen facilities, showers, and classrooms (for sleeping). THANKS TO THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND CHURCHES WHO HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED! WE LOVE YOU AND THANK GOD FOR YOU! African Volunteer Mission Teams We support a clinic and classroom project in Sierra Leone. American Indian Christian Mission and School in Show Low, Arizona While the majority of the ministry takes place at the school, the AICM also runs a bus ministry to the Apache Reservation as well as numerous other programs on the Navajo Reservation. The CCUMC Youth group ministered at the AICM in the summers of 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and just completed their 2011 trip. Do you want to be included in next summer’s trip? Contact Walter Hayes, our senior high youth minister, and find out how to sign up. Community Clinic – An All-Volunteer, Free Medical Clinic Community Clinic is a non-denominational, private, not-for-profit agency that provides free medical assistance to patients with no medical insurance and no access to medical care. Christ’s Community supports the clinic financially and congregational members are welcome to volunteer in any way they may be of service. Church World Service / Church Women United Provides blankets for the needy in the United States and abroad. To find out more about what you can do to help, go to www.churchworldservice.org. Community Service Projects Throughout the year, occasions come up that need our assistance, whether in our church family or in the community. We have a Men’s Group which takes on the task of assisting local organizations from time to time. To find out more about this opportunity, contact Bob Gray. Crosslines Churches of the Joplin Area Crosslines provides food, clothing and financial assistance for the low-income families of the Joplin area. They are located at 2nd and High St. We support them financially and our church volunteers the last Wednesday of each month. We are always needing volunteers to spend time at Crosslines on our volunteer day, from 10:00-2:00. You do not have to stay the entire time - any help you can give us is much appreciated. Contact Kathy Lewis, Executive Director, for more information. Congregational Passion Fund This fund provides support for our church members or persons in our community who have special needs. One-time gifts of financial support for utilities, prescriptions, or car repairs are considered. Food Pantry A small food pantry is maintained for church members and walk-ins. Pantry food is coordinated with the Holiday Food Basket Program and Crosslines needs. The church may provide spiritual guidance, along with a warm meal. Occasionally, needs for the pantry are published in the bulletin. Four Corners Native American Ministry, Shiprock, NM Four Corners’ Ministry helps small Navajo churches financially, while encouraging them to become self-supporting. CCUMC teams have traveled to minister to these people. Habitat for Humanity We financially support community volunteers who build modest but adequate houses in partnership with god’s people in need. Families must qualify for the program.
We hope to help a family left homeless by the recent tornado to build a Habitat home. If you would like to be involved, please contact our Lead Pastor, Chris Sloan.
The Hispanic Ministry in the Ozarks We financially support Fausto & Alma Villagrana, Hispanic missionaries from Mexico who were commissioned by the Global Ministries to serve this area. Holiday Baskets Food baskets are given to several families in need both from our congregation and the community for Thanksgiving. If you are aware of someone in need, please contact Bonnie Yetter. LifeChoices LifeChoices provides accurate information to help bring a positive solution to a difficult pregnancy. They also provide free pregnancy tests, free physical exams, free ultrasounds for women at risk, and STD/HIV testing and treatment. We support them financially and have a couple of volunteers from our church who are very active in the vital ministry to the SW Missouri area. Life House Located at 516 N. Wall in Joplin, Life House is a neighborhood ministry designed to meet the needs of the residents in that area of town. Volunteers work to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical assistance through various programs. This is another new ministry for our missions team this year, and we are proud to be associated with Life House.
The Mozambique Initiative We are one of the MO Area Churches who support over one hundred UM congregations in Mozambique. We provide the salary for Pastor Rev. Angeli Nhatsave. The compound where our church is located includes schools, hospital, water and electricity. Rapha House of Joplin Rapha House is a new ministry for our church this year. The Joplin location is the US headquarters for the organization, which spends much time bring about the rescue of young girls who are victims of child trafficking in Asian countries. They provide a safe house for the girls, teach them skills which can be used to provide an income, and, most importantly, give them the love of Jesus. Rapha House needs volunteers in the Joplin location to help with tasks locally. Contact them at 621.0373. They are located at 118 S. Main. Red Bird Mission We support this UM ministry in Kentucky’s mining area. Since 1921 they have distributed food, clothing, household goods, and the Gospel of Jesus to the poor. Russian Church Since 1991, the UM church’s evangelizing in Russia has seen the growth of four churches to over one hundred churches. We support this worthy cause by donating a pastor’s salary. Salvation Army Christ’s Community supports the Salvation Army financially and with occasional food needs. Each Christmas, we support their Bell Ringers ministry with teams of church folks who volunteer to ring the bell for the kettle donations outside a local Wal-Mart. Transitional Housing / Economic Security Economic Security offers a housing program for homeless families. Christ’s Community sponsors one of the homes. We offer friendship and assist the family in the home. Families must work or be in school to continue in the Program. The Program is strictly monitored by Economic Security. UMCOR As many of you know by the media, UMCOR is one of the first relief agencies on the scene when there is a national tragedy. They minister in the areas of relief, refuge, reconciliation and rehabilitation. Watered Gardens Watered Gardens is another ministry new to our listing this year. James Whitford and his team of volunteers have a passion to meet the needs of the homeless and less fortunate. They minister by providing worship services, meals, furniture & appliances, clothing, shower facilities, toiletries, school supplies, and have persons on standby to help folks move, repair vehicles, home repair, yard maintenance, & counseling. Young Life This is a group that meets weekly to appeal to youth who are unchurched. We support a scholarship program for the youth summer camps. Missionaries: WGM Bob & Kathy Owen Bob and Kathy have been missionaries to Intibuca, Honduras for many years. Bob is responsible for church development and is the area coordinator for the national church agriculture community. Kathy teaches English as a second language and music. They both are Bible study teachers and have numerous roles in their ministry. OMS INTERNATIONAL Millie Young Our church has supported Millie for many of her forty-nine years in missions, most of which were served in Bogota, Colombia. While she is still active in serving as a missionary, she lives in the US. Her most recent project included raising money for the Colombian Christian schools. Mission Trips: Family Mission Trip - Our youth group takes a trip to Show Low, AZ each summer. Trips include maintenance, VBS, worship, one-on-one interaction with the Navajo people. Jamaica Mission Trip - Volunteers spend a week or two in Jamaica each year. These trips combine construction and medical assistance to the people of Falmouth. If you are interested in this type of mission trip, contact Karen Fenstermacher. Disaster Relief Trips -Whenever disaster strikes, our Missions Team is eager to seek ways to help the people in the affected area. CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON THE JOPLIN TORNADO RELIEF EFFORTS. Contact the church office if you would like to get involved, 417-781-8701. |