Merry Christmas!
If you're reading this during this busy time of year, I want to say thank you for your heart for missions and serving others! It's definitely been a bit of a roller coaster these past three years, but through it all I've been encouraged by so many of you who passionately love the Lord and look for ways to consistently bless others. I see you truly embody John 20:21, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Starting in 2023, we have some new ways for you to be a blessing! We're starting a refugee ministry through World Relief to serve refugees coming to the Upstate. We're forming a United Ministries Housing Team to serve families who are in their new shelter program (formerly GAIN and IHN.) And last but not least, our Crisis Ministry program is looking for a few dedicated volunteers to help support its clients. Read more about all of these opportunities in our spotlight section.
Wishing you a Christmas filled with love, hope, peace and joy. May the love of Christ fill your heart and home.
Mignon Fowler
Director of Missions & Outreach
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GIVE NOW……PACK LATER! Give to the Missions Advent Offering now then volunteer to pack meals in March during our Missions Impact Weekend. 50% of the meals will go toward Ukraine refugee relief and 50% will stay in the US for disaster relief. This is a great opportunity to involve your whole family in hunger relief and the work of missions.
Donations can be made by check with Missions Advent Offering in the memo line or through Realm using the drop down menu. More information can be found on the Missions Event page.
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SAVE THE DATE!
MISSIONS IMPACT WEEKEND 2023
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Please mark your calendars now for
Missions Impact Weekend, March 10-12, 2023!
Join us to celebrate the work of our mission partners around the world. Come meet them, encourage them and pray for them. We'll have a special night of worship and music, a food packing event for all ages, and great food and fellowship with our mission partners. Bring your families and friends!
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Click on the graphic to go to our Mission Trip info page. We still have spots on our Costa Rica and Tanzania trips. |
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NEW MISSIONS
OPPORTUNITIES IN 2023!
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"Welcome the Stranger"
Greenville is receiving 550 refugees and World Relief is seeking help from local churches to assist new families integrating into our city.
Opportunity:
Support refugees and immigrants on their journey to self-sufficiency and integration. Material needs and tangible service is helpful but the greatest gift we can give is friendship, community, belonging and acceptance as we value their stories, dreams and contributions.
Volunteers (Good Neighbor Teams) will:
- Befriend and help support a newly arriving refugee family for 6 to 12 months.
- Provide tangible care with things like an airport welcome, apartment set-up, provision of initial food and clothing, transportation to appointments, school registration, community orientation, English tutoring and job preparation in conjunction with World Relief.
- Provide friendship, community, love, and encouragement.
Impact:
Refugees are survivors, leaders, teachers, artists, dreamers and laborers. They are children, forgotten, persecuted, made in God’s image, our new neighbors and our future friends. While they may have significant needs as they first arrive and face the challenges of adjustment, they also can be an incredible blessing to the community that receives them. You will learn stories of courage, resilience, and renewed hope. You will have the opportunity to build relationships that are lasting, promote human flourishing, and model the love of Jesus Christ.
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me" ~ Matthew 25:35
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Opportunity:
We are building a team to support United Ministries' new Housing Program (formerly known as the Interfaith Hospitality Network or IHN).
UM’s Housing Program provides short-term shelter for families with children experiencing homelessness, as well as longer-term housing for established participants who are on their journey to self-sufficiency. If you have a heart for serving families with children, we would love to have you join us! We are seeking individuals or groups who can assist us periodically throughout the year.
Volunteers will:
- Assist with cleaning and preparing homes for new families
- Sort and organizing household supplies for use in our housing units
- Engage with families and children in activities throughout the year with things like community meals, parties, craft/art/music sessions - ideas welcome!
Impact:
Each year United Ministries serves approximately 180 adults and children who are experiencing homelessness. Please join us as we strive to provide a stable place for families to call home while working to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40
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Crisis Ministry Volunteer Team |
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Opportunity:
Buncombe Street’s Crisis Ministry program is building a small but dedicated volunteer team and we’d love for you to join! If you have a heart for the marginalized and local ministry opportunities, this may be a great place for you to plug-in at BSUMC. We envision a supportive team of 5 volunteers who can commit one hour of their time twice a month.
Volunteers will:
- Provide navigated resource assistance and prayer to first-time callers
- Make follow-up client calls
- Wrap first-time client gifts
- Support our Crisis Ministry Coordinator with any current needs
Impact:
When individuals and families call for assistance, they are often at their most vulnerable, and hearing a kind voice in that moment can be the encouragement they need to keep going. Your listening ear, words of advice, and prayers can interrupt their despairing thoughts and give them hope. What an impact!
“You are the light of the world!” ~ Matthew 5:14
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If you would like to be involved in any of these new volunteer opportunities, please email Mignon Fowler. You will be contacted in January with more details.
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Director of Missions & Outreach
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