MCKENDREE FOOD MINISTRIES

By now you may have heard that Angel Food has shut down. This is a major disappointment to McKendree because we have seen first-hand how many lives are touched by McKendree’s ministry that has built up around the program. However, McKendree remains committed to fulfilling our call to minister to the hungry in our community.

We are actively exploring alternatives and will be sharing specifics about those alternatives as we learn more and make decisions, sometime around the new year. Until then, “McKendree Food Ministries” plans a series of food outreach events for the remainder of 2011.

On Saturday September 24, we held a breakfast for all Angel Food customers and volunteers, plus distributed non-perishable food to our clients.

On Sunday October 16, we coordinated with the McKendree Fall Family Fun Fest to provide coupons for barbeque chicken, plus distributed non-perishable food to our clients.

In October, we will launch a Thanksgiving food box drive, and on Saturday November 19, we will deliver boxes of Thanksgiving food to families in our community.

On December 17, we will co-ordinate with Walk Thru Bethlehem, and invite our clients to visit with us. Plus we will distribute non-perishable food.

We have a place for YOU in each of these events.  Please be on the look-out for details on how to plug in.

Watch for further details or for more information, contact Andy Phucas

ACTION MINISTRIES

McKendree UMC has partnered with Hamilton Mill UMC to sponsor a family in the Action Ministries transitional housing program.

Transitional Ministries assists homeless families with children as they move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. This Program works with families with children to empower them to become self-sufficient by providing them with case management, supportive services and housing.

About The Family
The single mother, with four children, is grateful for all that has been done by both churches in order for her family to move into a completely furnished home. She is a hairdresser and is working hard to secure a position.

If you would like to learn more about how you can help support this new ministry and family, please contact Karen Meeks at 678-736-0612.

To learn more about Action Ministries, click here.

FRIENDS OF REFUGEES, CLARKSTON,GA

This ministry meets the needs of refugees through: Mommy and Me Literacy Program, Summer Camp, Internet Cafe’, After-School Tutoring, Grocery and Clothing Distribution and a Family to Family Program. McKendree youth have participated in the Summer Camp over the past two years.

GREAT DAY(S) OF SERVICE

Led by Gwinnett County, volunteers complete much-needed service projects for local schools and non-profit organizations. These projects build community while educating citizens and leaders about the needs around them. Last year over 30,000 volunteers, including large corporations, schools, small businesses, individuals, church groups, and families, completed 150 service projects which made it one of the largest volunteer initiatives in the country!! For more information, Click Here

ONE GREAT NIGHT OF SERVICE (OGNOS)

The focus of this mission is to impact the lives of those who are either receiving or providing care in hospitals and emergency centers (firemen) on Christmas Eve. A large contingent of our congregation participates in the donation and distribution of items for this mission. Teddy bears are collected for distribution to personnel to give to kids in need. Gift baskets are delivered to hospital. Prayer blankets and café meals tickets are distributed to hospital patients and families. For more information contact Elizabeth Reifert, 770-476-3469

GWINNETT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

The goal of this non-profit, Christian housing ministry is to eliminate homelessness and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. We assisted with two construction projects during the last year.

GWINNETT NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

This ministry’s purpose is to improve the quality of life for people living with brain disorders and their families through support and eradication of stigma through an outreach education program.

LAWRENCEVILLE COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES

Operated by an alliance of area churches, the co-op meets the emergency needs of those in the Lawrenceville and Dacula communities. After assessing client needs, the co-op provides food, financial assistance for utilities or prescription drugs, and/or counseling and prayer support for a variety of needs. This ministry has seen a significant increase in need due to rising food and gas prices and economic concerns. In June, they served the needs of over 700 families! July 9 was a record day for the co-op, meeting the needs of 94 families in a four hour period! On that day alone, over 4,000 food items were distributed. During a typical one-day food drive each quarter, McKendree collects less than half that amount. The need is great and hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Click here for directions.

PRISON MINISTRY

Through this ministry a Disciple class has been taught and a Kairos group (part of the Walk to Emmaus program) has been led in our local prison system.

RACK (Random Acts of Christian Kindness)

This unique mission offers a gentle approach to evangelism. RACK is a business size card in a fitted envelope with twenty dollars (or more if you wish) inside. Carry it on your person until you come upon someone in need. Then give it away while saying “I hope this helps in some small way.” Each person and each encounter can determine if more is said, or if more time is spent.

RAINBOW VILLAGE

The mission of Rainbow Village is to provide a healing environment for families facing domestic or economic crisis thus allowing them to rebuild their lives. They do this by offering a community-based transitional housing program that promotes self-sufficiency by providing the necessary assistance and resources for families to stay together while they become self-sufficient. We currently support Rainbow Village with financial assistance, by volunteering in their afterschool program, providing meals bi-monthly and semi-annual work days. For more information, Click Here

SHELTERING ARMS

Preschool education is provided through partnerships with businesses, government, civic groups, United Way and Churches. McKendree has assisted the Lillian Webb Center during our last two Great Day of Service projects.

TAYLOR BROOKS FOUNDATION

This ministry works to...Increase the visibility of childhood cancer, Provide humanitarian support to patients and care-givers, Extend resources to analyze and implement treatment options and Contribute resources to research new treatments. Click Here

DISASTER RESPONSE

McKendree has been involved in numerous disaster response efforts including Katrina recovery on the Gulf coast and long term recovery from the floods of last fall in Gwinnett County. This response group coordinates with UMCOR and UMVIM in providing support and assistance.

COSTA RICA ORPHANAGE

The scheduled trips to this country in Central America will be in partnership with Steve Gober, Rector and professor of the Evangelical Methodist Seminary in San Jose, Costa Rica. Teams will work on light construction, painting, cleaning, leading VBS and worshipping with a Costa Rican Methodist church.

ERITREA ORPHANAGE

Over the past few years, we have dug a well for this group home and are now working to provide the children with livestock which can be used as a dietary supplement as well as a source of income. Other priorities for these children are to provide clothing and medical care.

EVANGELISM EXPLOSION

We support this worldwide ministry that equips churches for friendship, evangelism, discipleship and healthy growth and advocates every member practices “The church, having come to Christ, is to go for Christ.”

INDIA-- HOPE FOR TODAY, ALPHA ORPHANAGE

This ministry focuses on compassion ministry, developing leaders (ILI), and planting churches. The PrimeTimers recently adopted one of the orphans who receives monthly support and Swapna has now begun college to become a nurse.

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

We have provided a six-day National Leadership Conference for 45 leading pastors in the Hyderabad area of India. Pastor Ed Wadsworth has also provided special presentations for a group of new seminary students. ILI trains Christian leaders in over 50 countries.  Chuck Shackelton serves on the Board of Directors of ILI.

KENYA MEDICAL OUTREACH

The mission of this outreach is to bring medical and dental care to the impoverished tribes of Kenya and to wait for God to open the door to know Him. He has blessed this endeavor beyond belief. Members of our church continue to travel with this outreach in service to our Lord.

E. HARDING SMYTHE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (LIBERIA, AFRICA)

Located on the West Coast of Africa, this beautiful country has been torn by revolution and unrest over the past 14 years. Our current focus for this our sister church is support through prayers, relief, and financial assistance for their church building project. Together with McKendree member Aaron Preston, teams have been sent to Liberia and have been able to build an important relationship. With God’s help, we drilled wells for a couple of areas that had not had fresh, clean water for 20/30 years. We send an annual Christmas gift package in October, and collect donations of gently-used clothing, shoes and other useful items during the month of September.

HOUSE OF MERCY ORPHANGE/HANDS AND FEET

Do you have a servant’s heart? Want to be our loving Father’s “hands and feet” on this earth? Do you want to grow spiritually and become part of a small group within the church that is like a big family? Do you need a reminder of how blessed you are? Then, it is time to go on a mission trip to Mexico! No skills are required, other than a desire to share the love of Jesus with folks who are much less fortunate than you. There are several trips throughout the year, usually one during Spring Break, one in the summer and one after Christmas. The House of Mercy Orphanage is our primary outreach effort in Mexico and is located in Piedras Negras.

We are in the process of planning our annual New Year’s mission trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico.
Please contact Jeff Crumpler at 770-315-0207 if you are interested in leading or otherwise being a part of this team.

PUERTO RICO

We assist a Methodist Church in San Juan which has struggled with maintaining a school that serves as outreach and service for the community. This year’s mission team helped with VBS and playground refurbishment.