Mentoring Program through FCC in Sedalia

First Christian Church Sedalia is in partnership with Washington Elementary to provide a mentoring program to their students.

A student like the one in this picture is paired with an adult, who spends time with the child, at least once a week for an hour, building a relationship while playing games, eating lunch, and attending special events. They also work on reading, math and any schoolwork help the student might need. Each relationship is special and the church members are finding this to add depth and meaning to their lives. One mentor is quoted as saying, “Mentoring is by far the best outreach program that I have ever been involved with. I never say, 'I have to go to Washington, because it’s always a privilege and something I look forward to.'”

This ministry was launched in 2005/2006 by church member Tim Whitmore. Tim moved to Sedalia from Jefferson City where he had been a part of a similar ministry. The ministry took off in Sedalia and now three of the five local elementary schools have similar programs run by members of other local churches.

At Washington elementary there are currently 35 students paired with adults from this church and across the community, and there are still many more students that would like a special adult mentor. For information about volunteering, please contact Loleeta Combs at First Christian Church 660-826-5300 or Michelle Hofstetter at Washington Elementary School 660-826-2216.

Story and photos courtesy of FCC pastor Rev. Chad McMullin.



Caring Hands Can Change the World

At Willow Street Christian Church in Hannibal, the Caring Hands tutoring program serves the underserved, making a real difference in people's lives every day. 

The program began in 1998 as a seminary project of former Associate Pastor Rev. Norma Bernard. It is now a separate 501(c)(3) organization with current pastor Rev. Minnie Smith serving as director. Each day after school an average of 22 students come to have a healthy snack, read, get some help with their homework, and socialize with each other in a safe and nurturing environment. The program has grown such that this daily number of children served is up from 14 just last year.

Under Rev. Smith's direction the tutors, who are primarily local college and university students, help the children with all subjects. Each day there are six tutors on hand to guide homework, quiz spelling words, listen to reading, and support the program’s mission to help every kid become all that God intended for them to be.

The tutors are paid and the program is funded by local churches and service organizations, foundations, individuals, United Way, and large employers, with Willow Street struggling to pick up any slack. They welcome donations of any size emphasizing that no contribution to this vital ministry is too big or too small.

Miss Minnie, as the kids call her, notes that Willow Street CC really has become a “neighborhood parish” in their Hannibal community. Most of the participating kids are there every day of the week - for tutoring, Tuesday evening children and youth ministry, Sunday morning school, breakfast, and worship, and just playing on the playground.

The program even reaches out to the children’s parents helping with food preparation, transportation, and supervision. The goal is for them to feel loved, welcomed, and useful as they join with the church in service to God and God’s people.

Read more about this wonderful program in a recent article by Trevor McDonald of the
Hannibal Courier-Post, who graciously supplied all photos.

FCC Edwardsville Missions

The youth group from First Christian Church of Edwardsville just returned from a mission trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas.  They are so grateful to have had the opportunity to stay at First Christian Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas.  The congregation was so amazing and the hospitality was fantastic.  It was nice to learn the history of that church and the significance it played in getting the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.  

Half of our youth group cleaned a transitional apartment at SevenHills Homeless Center.  The other half organized the warehouse and painted the men’s dorm room at the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter.  Our youth worked very hard and brought smiles to many faces as well as gave them hope where they thought there wasn’t any.  

Each of our youth found this trip inspirational in their own individual way.  We hope that this begins a lifelong journey of walking with Christ and serving others in whatever capacity we are able.                             Story and photos courtesy of Associate Minister Jeff Wrigley.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The congregation also just held a Souper Bowl of Caring where they shared a meal and collected much needed food items for their local food pantry. Participants were invited to dress in their favorite team jersey and participate in some fun activities to get ready for the big game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another current mission project for the congregation is the adoption of a bedroom for updating/redecorating at Good Samaritan House. The work weekend is scheduled for March 11-13 and will include the demolition phase, then new flooring, paint, and furniture!


Looks like they're putting Mission First!

 

Community CC Works on Lynnville CC Build

Community Christian Church in Manchester sent a mission team to Lynnville, Illinois to assist in construction of a new church sanctuary on January 15-18, 2016.  The Lynnville Christian Church was founded in 1833 by Barton Stone and they built their present church in 1919.  There are structural problems with the foundation and basement of the present church and the sanctuary is not handicap accessible.  The new building will be readily accessible for all.  During this weekend work event, the team from Community worked with members of the Lynnville church to insulate the walls of the new structure, started on insulation for the roof and installed dry wall on the ceiling.  In addition, baseboards, door frames and other molding was removed from a room in the old church and will eventually be installed in the new church.  Stained glass windows will be repurposed in the sanctuary of the new building, also.  Two groups of strangers met on Saturday morning and worked together for three days and departed on Monday with new friendships.  In more ways than one, mission was accomplished.

Story and photos courtesy of CCC's Beth Bean. 

Central CC in Higginsville Celebrating Seven Years of Souper Suppers

The Higginsville Food Pantry, run by the Church Women of Corder and Higginsville, saw a significant increase in the number of people needing food towards the end of 2008.  The need for extra food seemed to rise at the end of each month. The Heat and Hunger Fund, administered by the Higginsville Ministerial Fellowship, saw an increase in the number of people needing assistance with utilities. 

The Ministerial Fellowship put together a committee to address this reality and from this came the idea of the “Souper Supper.” The idea was that the churches that participate in the Ministerial Fellowship would take turns providing a meal the last full week of January, February, and March. These meals would be open to the entire community and anyone would be welcome to come and eat. The first meal was served in January of 2009 and has continued ever since.  The meals have grown significantly and now an average of 800 people are served each week. Due to the large amount of people at each meal, people are allowed to call in ahead of time and “meals-to-go” are provided for as many as requested.

The week of meals is set up so that each evening a unique menu is prepared and served by that evening’s sponsoring church. Each church is responsible for planning and preparing its own meal. There is no outside funding so each church funds its own meal. Most of the food is donated by members of the church that is serving the meal.

The general idea is that at the end of winter months, it can often be difficult for some to have to resources to provide hot, nutritious meals. This ministry is meant to simply meet this need and provide an easy access both food and community. There is no advertising from churches or evangelistic tracks. Instead, it is simply a ministry of hospitality.

Story and photos courtesy of pastor Matt Limback.

FCC in Neosho Blankets Children with Love

The outreach committee at First Christian Church in Neosho has recently started a new service program, Blankets/Socks of Love, to benefit children in their community. 

The idea sprang from the church’s involvement with the Church World Service blanket distribution program. It occurred to outreach committee co-chairs Alva Jane and Robert Allen that just as people around the world benefit from warmth and protection of a good blanket, children right in their own area could do the same.

The unfortunate reality is that even locally there are families who have financial trouble keeping their homes a comfortable temperature during the winter. A warm blanket and some fuzzy socks can really make a big difference in improving comfort. Tragically there are circumstances where children even find themselves unexpectedly unable to return to their homes and have nothing at all with them. In such a situation, a blanket helps provide a sense of security and comfort – like a hug when they need it most.

The committee is working with the school district, its Bright Futures program, and coordinators of the local food pantry to identify needs and help with distribution. 

Throughout the church the program is gaining support from Sunday school classes, youth groups, and others who have donated and even made blankets for the cause. Organizers welcome suggestions and ideas from folks who have experience with similar programs as they strive to blanket those in need with love.

Story and photo courtesy of Alva Jane Allen

Broadway CC Shelters the Homeless

For the past eight winters, Room at the Inn has worked with members of the Columbia community to provide for those who have no place to go in the cold winter months.  Broadway Christian Church is one of five Columbia congregations that opens its facility to the homeless for shelter.  Broadway hosted Room at the Inn for the month of January.   Other Columbia congregations, including Fairview UMC, Missouri UMC, First Presbyterian and First Baptist are the other hosts for this ecumenical ministry, for periods of one to three weeks at a time through the first part of March. 

Guy Adams, our Mid-America Moderator, is one of many, many volunteers who help make Room at the Inn work.  Working as a member of a “restoration team,” which cleans the facility every morning, Guy cleaned the men’s restroom among other tasks.  He hopes his actions reflect our Mid-America priority on Mission and Ministry, as well as our denominational Mission First Initiative.

 

 

One evening at the church guests were treated to some selections by harpist Maria Trevor. She plays every Tuesday evening at the church's Harp & Healing service.

 

Story and photos courtesy of Guy Adams.

FCC Dexter Helping Single Mothers

Why should the church be in the rental business? 

This question was a topic of discussion among the board of First Christian Church in Dexter as they considered how they utilize a home that had been donated to the church years ago. In the end they decided that, in fact, they shouldn't be in the rental business; they should be about doing the work of God.

 

The church decided that they should be using the property to help families in need. As several members are involved with the Regional Healthcare Foundation, this seemed like a natural place to start. The group was introduced to their Mother-to-Mother program, which provides mentoring and transitional housing to single, working mothers for up to one year, and a perfect use for the house was found!

After some repairs and sprucing up, the house is ready to serve in this wonderful ministry that will help many families for years to come.

This project was featured last month in an article by the Dexter Daily Statesman. (Please note that Rev. Mike Williams previously served in Delaware, not Maryland as the article states.) Photo by their Noreen Hyslop.

Youth Sleep Out to Raise Awareness and Funds for Street Dependent Youth in our Community

On November 6th, 2015 members of National Avenue Christian Church gathered for the Rare Breed Sleep Out! The Seventh Annual Sleep Out, hosted by the The Kitchen Inc.’s Rare Breed Youth Services, invites youth to sleep outside on a chilly November night.  It's a family-friendly event where participants spend the night in cardboard houses they build to simulate the experience of youth homelessness. There is a cardboard house building competition and prizes for the team and individuals who raise the most money.  

Throughout the night, we were treated to soup, bread, cookies, and hot chocolate as well as games. One of the best parts of the event is that youth who attend the Breed on a regular basis come and spend time in community with those participating in the Sleep Out. We had the opportunity to get to know our neighbors and hear about their experiences.  Our group spent hours constructing a cardboard mansion for our shelter for the night.  Sleeping in the makeshift cardboard shelter in the cold gave us a little insight into what too many of our neighbors experience in our community.  The next morning one parent noted, as he packed up his kids to go home and sleep in his warm bed, the youth from the Breed were loading the bus with an uncertain future ahead. We are grateful for the work of Rare Breed and this experience. We know we have a lot of work to do to make sure everyone has a home in our community! 

Our group was able to raise over $2,000 to support the work at Rare Breed.  To find our more about Rare Breed visit: http://www.thekitcheninc.org/rare-breed-youth-services.html.

 

Story and photos courtesy of
Tulley Beard, NACC Youth Intern

Lord's Acre Dinner & Auction

On Saturday, November 7th 2015, the Jacksonville Cairo Unity Christian Church held  their 14th annual Lord’s Acre Dinner and Auction. This event takes place the first Saturday of November and is a huge outreach fund raiser. Over the past 14 years the event has netted $241,368.00 and has averaged $17, 241.00 per year. This year was our biggest ever when we netted $25,046.

 

The evening includes a full turkey dinner, a live auction and a silent auction. We make the evening fun with door prizes and other games as well to keep people interested. The church normally serves around 400+ meals and brings in guests from not just out of town but out of state as well.

 

The church has been very good at making this an actual church event with very little of the planning or the responsibilities falling on the pastor. The members own this event and they work all year long getting donations, creating new ideas, sending out “Thank You” notes, getting our activity center prepared (the Activity center was one of the first projects paid for by this dinner), and of course getting the food distributed and prepared.

This year, $10,000 was set aside to give to the Northeast County RIV School District, located in Cairo Missouri, to set up a $1000 music scholarship for a choir and band member in honor of Nola Goodrich. Nola was the church's organist and music director who passed away from CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) in August of 2015. It also made donations to a project at the Jacksonville Veterans Cemetery to put wreaths on all the tomb stones. We have annually used the money to support the Buddy Pack Program, Safe Passage (a local women’s shelter), and to help raise money for kids in our community to go to camp.

Previous Outreach projects have included sending money to the DOC churches in Joplin after the tornado and funding for a better entrance into Cairo from Highway 63. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Rev. Zane Whorton at zanew78@gmail.com.

Story and photos courtesy of Rev. Zane Whorton.

WGCC Wrapping for Heifer

For the last several years now Webster Groves Christian Church has raised at least $5,000 at Advent/Christmas to donate a Gift Ark through Heifer International, and they're working on it again this year.

 

The annual project is spearheaded by the youth who challenge the congregation to meet this goal, and sponsor a number of events towards the project.

 

One unique fund raiser is their gift wrapping service. Youth, parents, and sponsors welcome weary shoppers and wrap, bow, and tag their packages until they're beautifully tree-ready. This year's wrapping event raised well over 20% of the cost of the ark.

 

Many people also contributed to the effort by donating enough for a specific animal in someone's honor. Such donors received presentation cards and information about their selected animal and how it changes lives. 

Until the goal is met the Heifer Ark, which was handmade by a member, will remain in the church ready to receive any donations. The congregation's team page is also available for online contributions. 

FCC Helping to Feed People in St. Joseph

First Christian Church in St. Joseph has been partnering with the Open Door Food Kitchen since its founders asked themselves, "Who will feed the hungry?" Open Door, only a few blocks from the church, has been serving hot lunches to those in need in downtown St. Joseph for over 30 years. The organization was started in 1984 by faith-based groups the city and is supported solely by private donations and the work of volunteers. Many church groups serve at the kitchen and First Christian is responsible for the first Tuesday of every month. On those days, a group of four to five FCC volunteers arrives at Open Door at 9:30 in the morning to begin cooking for an anticipated crowd of 150-200 guests. If our day to serve happens to fall on a school holiday, often youth of the church will show up to lend and hand. The standard meal on Tuesdays is usually ham and beans  or chili and corn bread. In addition to those who cook the meal, other FCC volunteers bring baked goods or drop by with donations of fresh fruit and milk.  Some of the food for the lunch is donated by the local Second Harvest Community Food Bank.  

When it is time to serve at 11:00, four or five more FCC volunteers arrive, don their hair nets and aprons, a prayer is offered, and guests are invited to come through the line and get their lunch. If there is a lull in work, our volunteers often stop to grab a tray and sit and eat with the guests.  On a typical day, guests at the Open Door are all ages, including children and the elderly.  Some guests are homeless but others are simply struggling financially or are out of work. 

In the last two years, we have increased our support of The Open Door by picking up extra dates not covered by other local groups as well as preparing the Sunday sack lunches any time there is a fifth Sunday in a month.  On those Sundays, the church often hosts what we call "Worship Without Walls." We meet in the sanctuary for fifteen minutes of traditional worship and then split up into teams to engage in mission projects in the building and in the neighborhood, including preparing the sack lunches for the Open Door. Much of the work of preparing the lunches on a these Sunday is done by our children who set up an assembly line and fill small paper sacks with sandwiches, fruit, water bottles, chips, and a dessert. They then help deliver the sack lunches to the Open Door in time to distribute them to the guests who have arrived for lunch. When this and other mission projects are done, the congregation then regroups in our Fellowship Hall for communion, lunch (the same sack lunch we prepare for the guests at Open Door), and a sharing of our stories from our time serving the community together. 

Story and photos courtesy of Brian S. Kirk,
Lead Pastor, FCC St. Joseph

Delicious Fundraiser at Brentwood Christian Church

For about 10 years now the Eve Circle women's group at Brentwood Christian Church has been making Cookies in a Jar to support their mission in Nicaragua with The Rainbow Network. The jars contain most of the ingredients for the finished product of cookies, brownies, or soup, layered beautifully to make the perfect Christmas gift for teachers, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. 

This year the project yielded 70 jars of soup mix, 60 jars of double chocolate chip cookie mix, 36 jars of snickerdoodle mix, and 36 jars of brownie mix (which has been described by some grateful neighbors of project organizer Susan Bowen as the best brownie mix you can buy!). 

Church members donate the ingredients and the Circle provides the jars. In years past, the women assembled the mixes themselves over four Tuesday evening meetings. This year, the whole congregation was invited to stay after the October 25th worship service and help with the project. The assembly line strategy got everyone involved, got the work completed in one session, and a good time was had by all!

The jars sell for $9 each and raise just over $1,000 after expenses. 

Affton Christian Church Serves 400 Thanksgiving Dinner

Affton Christian Church served a free turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day.  What started out as a hope and a dream of a few people seven years ago has turned into a community-wide ministry. 

 

 

 

This year over 400 meals were served or delivered by nearly 100 volunteers, half from the congregation and half from the community.  Though this number is down from last year, it should be noted that 2 other congregations in close proximity of ACC served an additional 300 meals on Thanksgiving Day.

 

 

"It tells me there is a genuine need to connect to one another,” said Rev. David Woodard.  “A guest commented as he was leaving the dinner, ‘It’s just me. I have no one in my life, but thanks to you I don’t feel alone. I feel the Spirit of Christ.’  And that’s why we do this.”   

FCC Serves Eldon

Last night First Christian Church in Eldon hosted a Thanksgiving Community worship service. This special gathering was not only a service of gratitude, but one of generosity as it marked the conclusion of Eldon's Month of Sharing.

 

Serve Eldon is a non-denominational faith based organization that provides practical acts of community service for the people of Eldon, and it has been busy this last month! It seems that everyone from ministerial alliance members to young school students was involved in making the Month of Sharing effort a huge success.

Literally thousands of items have been donated to the local food pantry and Mustang clothing closet. Last night's worship service was the final collection point for the Month of Sharing drive, but donations can still be made directly to these agencies. Learn more about Serve Eldon on their Facebook page.

Wyatt Park CC Participates in St. Joe Serve

The weather was perfect Sunday, September 27th  as nearly 60 members of Wyatt Park Christian Church joined together with servants from 14 other churches for St. Joe Serve. The intention of St. Joe Serve is that “the church will leave the building” and go into the community to serve in Jesus’ name. This year, more than 400 people from 15 congregations participated, doing home repair and clean-up work in an older residential neighborhood in mid-town St. Joseph. The evening before, volunteers joined together at Wyatt Park’s weekly 5PM Saturday service for praise music, prayer, and communion, and then they left the sanctuary to walk the neighborhood and pray for the people who would serve, and for those who would be served.

After the work day was complete, volunteers and their families joined with neighborhood residents for a “block party” in the parking lots of St. Francis Catholic Church. In addition to Disciples, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Assemblies of God, Foursquare, and non-denominational congregations were represented.

Story and photos courtesy of Wyatt Park CC pastor
Rev. Scott Killgore.

Four Springfield Churches Recognized for Mission Work

South Street, Central, Brentwood, and National Avenue Christian Churches received the Council of Churches of the Ozarks' Church Collaboration of the Year award for 2015. This is the second year in a row for South Street to receive the honor, which was announced recently at their annual Celebrate Compassion gathering.

 

 

The churches are being recognized for the Wine into Water evening that they presented in February to raise funds for Week of Compassion's efforts to supply clean drinking water in African communities where it is currently unavailable. 

That event included wine and beer tasting as well as a silent auction and other activities. Read all about it here. It was such a success that planners decided to do it annually, so watch our upcoming events for next year's date!

Youth Scholarship Golf Scramble at FCC Edwardsville

On Sunday, October 4th, the First Christian Church Youth Group of Edwardsville, IL held their fourth annual youth scholarship golf scramble.  We were blessed to once again have the Jack H. Enloe Memorial Foundation as the event sponsor.  With the help of our sponsors, donors, and the many volunteers, we have made this event one that golfers look forward to participating in each year.  The youth of First Christian Church raised $10,300 that will be used to help with scholarships for mission trips, camps and activities throughout the year.  Not every family can afford all of the extra curricular activities and expenses throughout the year and we will not leave any youth behind.  We worship as a group, we travel as a group and we have fun as a group!  

 

 

Story and photos courtesy of Jeff Wrigley,
Youth & Children's Minister.

FCC Maryville Member Organizes Faith Run

Having just graduated high school and wanting to help youth like herself focus on everyday faith into the next phase of their lives, FCC's Angie Meyers organized the Faith Run in Maryville.

As reported by the Maryville Daily Forum, Meyers said, "An idea came to me when I was at a meeting for church camp and the guys at the meeting asked everyone how to keep the youth engaged with church," Meyers said. "I was thinking about the fact that kids like to be active. I wanted to find a way to exercise and grow in our faith at the same time." 

More than 50 youth participated in the event, which took place from 10pm to midnight on August 7th, and began with a prayer circle before the 5K of walking/running.

Members of the church helped out by serving at water stations and as crossing guards and 'sweepers' to make sure all were safe. The Maryville Police Department was also on hand to help navigate the crossing of Main Street.

 

 

There is talk of this perhaps becoming an annual event. Way to go, Angie and the active and faithful youth of Maryville!

Read the full Maryville Daily Forum story here.
Thanks to Lisa Smeltzer and Sue Schenkel
for information and photos.

 

The Intersection of Art and Justice at National Avenue CC, Springfield

On a recent Friday night, the Gallery at National Avenue Christian Church in Springfield, Missouri was filled to the brim with beautiful art, delicious food, and more than 300 people. For the past two years, National Avenue has been hosting the monthly meetings of Studio 55 – an art guild for artists who are over 55.  The Guild’s membership has grown dramatically in the past two years and they credit the beautiful meeting space and the hospitality of National Avenue for much of that growth.

 

Studio 55's second annual art exhibit and silent auction on September 4th was a benefit for two of National Avenue’s justice partners: RareBreed, a Springfield organization providing help to street-dependent teenagers; and Crosslines, a ministry of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks that serves families in crisis situations. All the proceeds from the silent auction and 25% of the art which is sold will go to these two agencies. The sales from last year’s event were a little over $1,000.00. Sales from the event this year are currently over $5,000.00 and the exhibit will remain in the Gallery until the end of September.

The Gallery at National Avenue was created out of a desire to find the intersection of art and the practice of doing justice in the Springfield community. As part of its mission, the space is used throughout the year as it shares distinctive exhibitions of contemporary fine art by local and regional artists working in a broad range of media and styles. This mission is lived out more fully as each event benefits a charitable organization as part of the gallery's commitment to social justice and community outreach.

 

 

Story and photos courtesy of NACC staff.
This event was covered by the Springfield News-Leader here.