Missions
Contact: Paul Gallogly at 770.330.8434 or ptgallogly@charter.net.
 
LAWRENCEVILLE CO-OP
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.
 
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.
 
PRISON MINISTRY
Reaching into our prison system and sharing the word of God is a significant challenge. At McKendree, we support this effort through the work of Duane Reynolds. Duane teaches a Disciple class and has led a Kairos group (part of the Walk to Emmaus program). Dealing with the inmates typically is not his biggest challenge --we have found that just getting access and permission to offer these programs is the toughest part of the cause. But, the satisfaction of bringing some of these hardened criminals to Christ is worth the effort.
 
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.
 
GWINNETT CHILDREN’S SHELTER
This shelter serves 300-500 children annually by providing services for children in crisis in Gwinnett. Serveral members of our congregation serve as mentors for the children in this program.
 
ONE GREAT NIGHT OF SERVICE (OGNS)
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 and policemen) 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 and emergency assistance personnel. Prayer blankets and supply bags are distributed to hospital patients.
 
THE GREAT DAYS 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!!
 
GULF COAST RELIEF
The needs in the gulf coast region are still great! McKendree in partnership with The North Georgia Conference of United Methodist Men is continuing to send teams to this region to help with the rebuilding efforts.
 
MEXICO MISSIONS
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.
 
COSTA RICA
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.
 
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, a team will return in 2009 to continue building this significant partnership. 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.
 
ORPHANAGE IN TSAEDA CHRISTIAN, ERITREA
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.
 

Our Full-Time Missionaries
David and Karen Smith are the co-directors of the House of Mercy Orphanage, in Piedras Negras, Mexico.