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Missions |
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At Duluth First United Methodist Church, you can be actively involved in the mission field in the City of Duluth, in Gwinnett County, in Georgia, in other states and in other countries. If you want to get involved, refer to the current weekly editions of The Sunday Supplement and the monthly editions of The Messenger. They are available for downloading by clicking on Resources/Publications. If you have an interest in any of the following mission areas, please contact Linda Berry, Chairperson of the Missions Committee at 770-622-1427 or by clicking on Linda Berry emai, or contact Nathan Emmelhainz, Associate Pastor, at 770-476-3776, ext. 19, or by clicking on Nathan Emmelhainz. Families in Missions Opportunities for 2008 The Missions Committee is excited to offer the following local, national and international missions opportunities for individuals and families in 2008: Other Mission Fields at Duluth First United Methodist Church: Duluth First United Methodist Church supports various mission ministries in our community and the North Georgia Conference area. The programs listed below are supported through volunteers who are committed to loving their neighbors. Rainbow Village: Exec. Director, Rev. Nancy R. Yancey, 400 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Norcross, GA 30071. Rainbow Village provides an opportunity for families to recover from the devastation of homelessness, addiction and abuse. Housing, life skills training, counseling and after school programs are provided to families. Donations make it possible for families to break the cycle of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Wish list items include: food staples for the pantry, home maintenance and repair, clothing, sports equipment for the children, mentors and teachers. Annual fundraisers include a spring golf tournament and a fall gala and auction. For more information, please click on Rainbow Village. Family Promise of Gwinnett County: Director: Brent Bohanan, P.O. Box 1250 Snellville, GA 30078, 678-376-8950. Family Promise of Gwinnett County (FPGC) was created to mobilize faith communities to partner with social service agencies to end homelessness, one family at a time. FPGC is a network of 20 congregations that provide shelter, meals, and support services to homeless families in Gwinnett County. Various FPGC volunteers provide office services, organize fundraisers, and prepare and serve meals while providing hospitality to the FP guests while in residence in their church. Van drivers also transport FPGC guests to job interviews, jobs, childcare, school and to the host church each evening. Duluth First UMC hosts 3-4 families every quarter. For more information about FPGC, please click on Family Promise of Gwinnett County. Hands of Christ/Duluth Cooperative Ministries: Director: Mary Roberts, 3395 Fox St. Suite 101 Duluth, GA 30096, in the Proctor Square Building. This ministry for those in crisis has served the community of Duluth for many years. Services provided include: food and personal care items, rent, prescriptions and medications, baby items, clothing vouchers and job referrals. For more information, please click on Hands of Christ/Duluth Cooperative Ministries. Wellspring Living, Inc.: Wellspring Living Home, 3089 Duluth Highway, Duluth, GA 30097, 770-476-1037. Wellspring Living Inc. is a nonprofit organization that connects a caring community with women seeking a way out of unhealthy behaviors. The residential program is a place for healing, instruction, and compassionate mentoring for women struggling with the consequences of tragic life circumstances with an emphasis on those who have suffered childhood sexual abuse. As a relationship-based organization, they seek to glorify God by serving women and their families with excellence. The Wellspring Living Store, 770-623-3166, in the Duluth Station on Buford Highway accepts new and gently used items for resale. Furniture donations will be picked up on Saturdays if pre-arranged with the store manager. Proceeds from the sales support the operating costs of the program. For more information, please click on Wellspring Living. Wesley Walk for Others: Wesley Community Centers, 404-872-0086. The annual Wesley Walk for Others circles Stone Mountain in the peak of the fall season. Hundreds of walkers and supporters gather each year in the early morning eager to “give feet to their faith”. They collect pledges for each of the 6.2 miles they walk. It’s a delightful morning of fellowship and fund for all who participate as walkers, volunteers, and supporters. For more information, click on Wesley Community Centers. Project Extend is an ongoing opportunity to help older citizens with home maintenance and repair needs. For more information, please call 404-969-1674. Alternative Christmas Giving Opportunities: Each year during the Advent season the Mission Committee assembles wish lists from various ministries in the community to allow members of the congregation to make individualized purchases or to make donations to cover the cost of the needs. This information is presented in the Fellowship Hall between worship services in November and December. Giving ideas include personal items for: The United Methodist Children’s Home, Murphy Harpst Children’s Home, Quinn House, Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children, Sheltering Arms Day Centers, Family Promise of Gwinnett County children, Rainbow Village families, shoes for various mission sites, holiday dinners for local families in crisis. Letter Writing to Missionaries: If travel to a foreign mission field is not your choice, your support and encouragement is needed for the travelers, for those in full time missionary service and for our pastors, parents and coaches. We want everyone to be involved in providing the necessary resources, prayers and notes of appreciation and encouragement. Mission Trips: Each year our youth groups and families chose among organized national and international mission projects to support. Duluth First United Methodist Church has commissioned groups to travel to mission sites in Honduras, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico, and Buffalo, NY. Generally the trips are planned a year ahead and are conducted in the summer months. These are great opportunities for families to work together with their children in service to others. Orientation sessions are provided to prepare each person for being in mission and for sharing their faith story. Planning, cultural awareness, safety and security and spiritual growth issues are also included in the preparation for each mission trip. Supported Missionaries and Their Mission Field: Ed and Linda Baker – Paraguay |
