Missions Ministries

Adult Work Project Work on short term mission projects outside of Evansville and possibly the USA. Click for recent Mexico Work Study Trip Commitment:  As scheduled. Contact:  Jacque Hardin

 

American Red Cross Blood Drive A blood drive is held semi-annually at Methodist Temple. In March 1999 the Methodist Temple blood donors gave 34 pints of blood to be used in area hospitals. DO YOU KNOW? The American Red Cross, River Valley Region, supplies blood to 58 hospitals in 63 counties. Hospitals and patients in the region use nearly 500 units of blood a day year-round. There is an 85% chance that you or a member of your family will use blood in your lifetime. 6% of the population give blood on a regular basis; 16% donate once a year; and 76% never donate blood. 43% of all blood is used by people older than 65. Blood must be available for us at all times, even if we don't donate. All blood used in our hospitals is voluntarily donated by people like you.  There is no other source for blood.  It is a gift only you can give. Fees associated with blood products are only processing fees incurred through collecting, testing, and distributing the blood. Giving blood is safe.  New, sterile needles, tubes, and bags are used with each donation. There is no upper age limit for donors. You are eligible to donate blood every 56 days (eight weeks). We need volunteers to assist with the semi-annual blood drive at Methodist Temple.  Responsibilities:  Help register donors, set up equipment, manage canteen, etc. Commitment:  2 Sundays a year. Contact:  Ted and Nancy Hitch or L. D. Harry

 

Angel Tree Ministry When mom or dad is in prison, it's the children who do hard time.  But you can let them know they aren't forgotten. This ministry provides gifts for children who have a parent in prison.  These children are often the forgotten victims of crime.  It is a wonderful way to spread God's love and share the "joy of Christmas" with others.  Each November angels with the names of children and a desired gift are hung on our special "angel tree".  Anyone is welcome to choose an angel, buy the gift, and return it to the church for delivery. Volunteers needed for a variety of jobs, such as:  phone callers, Sunday morning recorders, gift organizers, and delivery persons. Commitment:  A few hours between Nov. 1st and Dec. 15th. Contact:  Janet Pollock

 

Auto-Mission of Evansville, Inc. This not for profit ministry is staffed with all volunteers. Its purpose is for providing reliable, affordable, private transportation to those whose ability to get to work would be significantly stabilized.  It is structured to receive donations, to repair autos, and to sell to individuals   at one-half of wholesale Blue Book value or the amount of the repair. Commitment:  Volunteers are welcome for: Personal sponsorship (does initial interview and explanation of process and follows through to moment of presenting the keys and car.  The time involved is usually less that a month per person, which enables volunteer to be involved for short terms and to fit into your own schedule throughout the year). Auto test driver and transporter (may pick up donated auto, will test drive repaired auto before presentation to new owner). Contact:  Frances Pursley or Chuck & Vivian Taylor.

 

Crop Walk CROP is the name given to the local community hunger education and fund raising events sponsored by Church World Service, an international relief, development, and refugee resettlement agency. We participate in this effort by taking part in a fund raising walk in late Fall sponsored by the Evansville Area Council of Churches and the Tri-State Food Bank. 25% of the funds raised are used locally with the remainder going to national and global hunger programs. Anyone can get involved by walking with pledged support, signing up to sponsor those walking, or by making a monetary donation to CROP. Volunteers needed to assist in the sign-up of walkers and sponsors and to supervise the collection of money. Commitment:  A few hours between October 1st and November 15th to walk, collect sign-up sheets and money. Contact:  Rev. Patrick Jackson

 

Habitat for Humanity           Assist with home construction.  Bring your own tools and lunch. Click for Habitat of Evansville Homepage Commitment:  As scheduled. Contact:  Jacque Hardin

 

Helping Hands (Soup Kitchen) Assist at The House of Bread and Peace's Soup Kitchen at St. Paul's Episcopal Church:  plan menu, purchase, cook, serve, clean-up, serve in clothing bank, do "bread run" from Schnucks on First Avenue. Only criteria needed to serve on this committee is a smiling face and willing hands. Commitment:  One Saturday a month Contact:  Marilyn Stubblefield

 

Meals on Wheels Deliver meals from hospital dietary department to homebound persons throughout the city.  Meals on Wheels supply the cars. Commitment:  As little or as much as you can deliver from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. depending on the route. Contact:  Maggie Lett

 

Missionaries:

Terry & Muriel Henderson in Mexico. Terry Henderson is an agricultural missionary assigned to the Methodist Church of Mexico with his wife, Muriel, where they have served since 1972.  As founder and director of the “GIVE YE THEM TO EAT” program, he oversees the work of this integrated development project that is sponsored jointly by the Methodist Church of Mexico and the United Methodist Church through the Advance program of the General Board of Global Ministries. Mr. Henderson describes his work: “This social outreach program complements the evangelistic work of the Methodist Church of Mexico.  We offer classes and courses in leadership development, nutrition and family health care, appropriate technology and alternative construction methods as well as in other subjects related to village life.  We also offer the villagers training in sustainable agricultural practices that will not only sustain them but improve their land as well.  Environmentally sound livestock management practices are also taught and high quality livestock are distributed to rural families participating in the program.”   Methodist Temple provides salary and prayer support for the Hendersons.  We also actively participate in hands-on working mission trips to the development site in Mexico. Click for Henderson's newsletter Click for GYTTE  information.   Gifts can be sent to:  "Give Ye Them To Eat" No. 007629-3RA Advance Office, Room 1400 General Board of Global Ministries 475 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10115 (Make check payable to "Advance GCFA" Contact in Mexico E-Mail:  GYTTEphm@compuserve.com Fax:  011 (52) (22) 49-21-58 Phone: 011 (52) (22) 48-18-02 Local Contact:  Church Office
Andy Wood at U. of N. Colorado for Crusade for Christ. Andy, a member of Methodist Temple, continues with Campus Crusade for Christ.  Andy and his wife, Barb, are currently working at the University of Northern Colorado.  Andy works with the students attending the college, encouraging them to become active Christians and grow in their faith in the Lord.  He leads Bible studies and workshops, in addition to meeting individually with students to answer questions and provide Christian fellowship. Methodist Temple provides salary and prayer support for Andy. Click to read their recent newsletter. (Acrobat Reader Required) Local Contact:  Jerri Close
Dr. Dennis H. Marke, Chief Medical Officer, UMC Health and Maternity Center, Kissy, Sierra Leone, Africa It is through the leadership of Dr. Dennis H. Marke that UMC Health and Maternity Center, Kissy has evolved into the community mainstay that it is today. Dr. Marke is acutely aware of the great need in his country. “ Sierra Leone has the highest infant mortality in the world. Our poor water supply causes continued diarrhea. Malnutrition is rampant in children. Ignorance, poverty and the war increased HIV, and local drugs are really expensive and often fake.” Many doctors in Africa leave their home countries to seek a better life for themselves in countries such as the UK or Canada, but Dr. Marke, originally from the town of Mutoo, in the upper, more rural provinces of Sierra Leone, feels a responsibility to stay with and care for his people. Now, as the Health Administrator at Kissy Center, Dr. Marke stresses the need for the holistic care of the patient and believes that prayer is incredibly important in caring for the sick. He is proud of his staff and the noted improvement in services and skills they have developed over the years, which has supported the strong reputation of the hospital. He looks ahead to continuing the expansion of the hospital, staff expertise and services for his patients and the Kissy community: “They rely on our care and it makes us proud to be able to help them.” About the Kissy Community Kissy is an impoverished community on the east side of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The area is riddled with diseases such as malaria and typhoid. Most homes in the area are concrete and with metal sheet roofs. Running water and electricity is not available. Few have stable jobs and a large percentage of the children are malnourished. The health situation is very poor— few can afford the services of a hospital or doctor.       History of UMC Health and Maternity Center 1974 UMC Health and Maternity Center , Kissy was founded as a health clinic by the Swedish UMC. The clinic was built as an addition to an existing UMC church building in the Freetown community of Kissy. 1980s The health center’s situation was poor: there was no running water, eight under qualified staff members and, the hospital received no more than five outpatients a day for outpatient care. 1993 A new matron was hired. 1995 Dr. Dennis Marke, supported by the Indiana Conference in the US , was asked to join the hospital to facilitate its turnaround. Today Kissy Clinic, as it was once known, has turned into a 60-bed hospital with more than 50 people on staff, including four doctors, nurses, midwives, aides, as well as administrative staff and grounds keepers. The hospital now has a maternity ward and laboratory to extend its services as well as a child nutrition program and HIV-testing and counseling center.               Hospital Services         UMC Health and Maternity Center, Kissy provides a range of primary and preventative health care services comprising general medicine, women's health, pediatrics, nutrition, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) treatment and HIV testing and care. Most patients come seeking treatment for malaria, a parasitic disease that is transmitted by mosquitos and causes flu-like symptoms like headache, fever and vomiting. Malaria becomes deadly if the infection is allowed to progress. It can kill red blood cells, resulting in anemia, and clogging the blood vessels that circulate to the brain. A staggering 90% of patients who submit bloodwork at Kissy Center are infected with the disease. While malaria is almost obsolete in the United States and other developed countries, it kills many in Sierra Leone. Other common ailments faced by the doctors and nurses at UMC Health and Maternity Center, Kissy are tuberculosis, typhoid, scabies, sexually transmitted diseases, and malnutrition. To learn more about Dr. Marke and the Kissy Clinic, visit their website at: http://gbgm-umc.org/health/kissy/index.cfm.
Kaitlin Moore Kaitlin will be leaving in September 2003 to work through the Christian Outreach International group, serving in either the Czech Republic, the Ukraine or Mexico. She is currently asking for prayer and financial support. For further information see Temple Topics February 2003. Local Contact:  Kaitlin Moore

Patchwork Central Patchwork Central was born out of the desire to worship, work, and live together as a community of service in an inner-city neighborhood. The "Meetinghouse" at 100 Washington Avenue is home for the common work and worship space for Patchwork. Patchwork is not a church, but rather the worship services are weekly gathering times which anchor the spiritual life of the Patchwork community.  Many who come together for worship at Patchwork are active in local congregations. Worship Times: 5:00 p.m. Sundays Prayer Times: 8:00 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers Needed:  Major support for Patchwork's operating budget has always come from individual giving and congregational sources from many faith heritages.  Funding also comes from local corporate and foundation grants. Contact:  Calvin Kimbrough at Patchwork or Helen Fisher in church office

 

Shoe Box Ministry This ministry collects, fills, and delivers shoe boxes with personal hygiene items to care agencies that can distribute them to their clients who are experiencing crises. Commitment:  One to two hours usually on a weekday to assist with filling boxes and/or delivering to agencies. Frequency varies depending on need. Contact:  Nancy Mitchell

 

Tri-State Food Bank      Click      to see      additional      pictures The Tri-State Food Bank serves our local 33 county area in supplying food to persons in need. Drivers and volunteers are needed to assist with collecting, sorting, and packing donated items. Volunteer Schedule 2004: 6/05, 7/10, 8/07, 10/02 & 12/04 Commitment:   One Saturday morning per month or more as needed Contact:  Jerri Close

 

United Methodist Youth Home This home is a non-profit agency providing a home for adolescent females who have been removed from their families due to abuse issues, emotional problems, and/or behavior disorders. Two programs are available that offer wonderful opportunities to assist these girls: The "BRIDGES" program is spending time once a week with one young woman who you will be paired with.  This includes taking her off grounds.  To be accepted into this program you are first interviewed by the Community Outreach Director and must agree to a background check.  Some experience with teenagers is helpful. The "Someone Who Cares" program is an opportunity for you to become a secret pen pal.  You are also paired with one of the girls and regularly communicate with short letters, signing your first name only.  You may also send birthday and holiday gifts. Help is needed in the following areas: Gifts, such as clothing, living supplies, computers, or Christmas gifts Honor/Memorial gifts Resource volunteer by sharing your talents and expertise Ambassadors to serve as voices to increase public awareness. Contact:  Amy Bolek,  Nancy Noland or Penne Pirkle

 

YWCA Live Y'ers Mentors Women mentors are needed for middle school at-risk girls to build positive relationships with 1 or 2 girls with the focus of staying in school through graduation from high school The mentor brings lunch (example:  McDonalds) for her girl(s). Commitment:  one and one-half hours over the noon hour once a month at Glenwood Middle School.  Topic and information guidance provided by Courtney Julian, the project coordination at the YWCA.  (Phone:  422-1191) Contact:  Joann Schwentker