BASICS (A ministry to college students)
If you have a student away at college, or if you have a heart for these college students, this ministry is for you. BASICS is a monthly ministry whose goal is to encourage college students who are away from home through prayer, cards, and care packages.Spiritual Gifts: Faith, Exhortation (Encouragement)
Contact: Sherri Sweeten, 618.616.5332
Birthday Wishes for Homeless and Under-Resourced Children
Birthday Wishes for Children brings birthday parties to children who may otherwise never have a birthday celebration. There’s always room for volunteers at the three locations we serve: a homeless shelter, transitional living facility, and a phenomenal Christian after-school program serving children from 14 projects. We recognize the significance of a birthday in a child’s life, and believe the gift of a birthday party provides joy and hope in an otherwise chaotic time. Each month committed adults and children volunteer time and resources to make all children feel special regardless of their living situation. Guiding our work is the belief that we are all God’s children and we celebrate together as part of His family.Spiritual Gifts: Mercy/Compassion, Evangelism, Generosity
Contact: Julie Eichholz, 618.233.2812, julieeichholz@sbcglobal.net
Christian Activity Center (CAC)
Did you know that only 40% of East St. Louis youth graduate from high school, and only 25% go on to college or trade school? At the Christian Activity Center (CAC), which serves the most under-resourced neighborhood in East St. Louis, the numbers are very different. In fact, of the kids who attend the CAC, 90% graduate from high school, and 75% go on to college or trade school. This quiet ministry around the corner from Christ Church engages inner-city children during the critical risk-taking hours of 3-8pm. The CAC welcomes more than 165 school-aged children (ages 6-18) through their doors daily, providing everything from after-school snacks to homework tutoring and karate practice.Ways you can volunteer:
4-6pm Tutoring in the homework area
3-5:30pm Work with 6-8 year olds
4-6:30pm Computer Clubhouse – work on projects and games
4-7pm Recreation – play games and build relationships
Spiritual Gifts: Assistance/Helps, Exhortation (Encouragement), Faith, Mercy/Compassion
Contact: Mim Phillips, chuckmim@charter.net
Disaster Preparedness
Christ United Methodist Church is a designated American Red Cross Shelter. When a disaster strikes in our area, the Red Cross will need all of the extra hands it can get to assist with babysitting, unloading and organizing supplies, cooking, serving meals, providing emotional support, secretarial support and transportation. The Red Cross provides training for all civilian volunteers including an Orientation class, Mass Care, Health Services, Family Services, and CPR training for our Parish Nurses. There is yearly training provided by the Red Cross.This is a wonderful opportunity to share our church, share our faith, and roll up our sleeves to help our neighbors in a time of crisis. Time requirement: 3-4 hours per training session.
Spiritual Gifts: Assistance/Helps, Mercy/Compassion
Contact: Rodney and Debbie Muckensturm, 618.628.7090, muckloans@charter.net
Good Neighbor Family Missions
Now you can make a difference right in your own backyard! Good Neighbor Family Missions is a ministry for the ENTIRE FAMILY! We are creating local mission opportunities so that each able-bodied member in your family can pitch in. There isn’t anything more gratifying than serving beside your parents, children and church family! Maybe we’ll work on a Habitat for Humanity home, or help at a shelter, or…help us fill in the blanks!Spiritual Gifts: Assistance/Helps, Exhortation (Encouragement), Evangelism
Contact: Amanda Cates, acates13@hotmail.com, 618.402.7408
Heavenly Jewels
Heavenly Jewels offers hand-crafted salvation bracelets as gifts to men and women who really need to hear the Good News of Jesus. It is a special growing ministry that seeks to share the gospel message with those who are experiencing a significant emotional event in their lives. Offering these people prayer and an outward, visible symbol of the salvation of Christ reminds them that they are not alone in what may be their darkest hour. The people who receive the bracelets are facing some of life’s toughest trials. More than ever, they need to know that Jesus is present in their lives. Things like living in a shelter, divorce, family separation, serious illness, severe depression, life-altering injury, or death of a loved one threaten to plunge us into the depths of despair. It is during those times of utter hopelessness that we need to be reminded that God loves us, and that He is the light that can break through the darkness. We meet the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:30. We need volunteers to make bracelets, provide quality assurance, and prayer warriors to deliver bracelets and pray with the recipients. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your faith experiences, make new friends, and enjoy tasty treats! We need your hands and your ideas to join this exciting ministry!Spiritual Gifts: Hospitality, Evangelism, Generosity, Exhortation (Encouragement)
Contact: Contact: HeavenlyJewels1@gmail.com
Christine McNulty, 618.622.9522, or Theresa Cavalier, 618.257.8346
Nursing Home Ministry
Volunteers are needed to visit residents in local nursing homes. This community service is focused on providing visitors to those residents who have few (if any) family members or friends in the area. Our aim is to visit on a regular basis so that a relationship with the resident is formed. No special talent is required; you simply spend time with an often neglected senior. This ministry is ideal for a family with children since it can be a valuable teaching tool. We will help you select a nursing home and identify a resident for you to visit. This ministry does require self-motivation and a commitment to faithful visitation. Notwithstanding, this is a ministry that makes you feel good each time you visit.Spiritual Gifts: Evangelism, Mercy/Compassion
Contact: Jean Casey, 618.622.1647, wjeancasey@att.net
Nursing Home Music Ministry
Join Forrest Bevineau as he sings for various nursing homes in the area. One Sunday a month, Forrest brightens the lives of people living in nursing homes through his wonderful music. Volunteers are not only welcome, but also very much needed to help with the visitation aspect of this ministry. No singing required.Spiritual Gifts: Evangelism, Exhortation (Encouragement), Mercy/Compassion
Contact: Forrest Bevineau, 618.233.2785, fabsr05@hotmail.com
Summer Domestic Mission Trip for Youth and Adults
Serving Christ goes beyond the walls of CUMC and our community. It goes into the world. Since 1997, Christ Church has sponsored a mission trip with the intent of extending the boundaries of serving Christ across the nation. We have served communities in South Carolina, Denver, Montana, West Virginia, Mississippi, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Work has been accomplished on Native American reservations, hurricane ravaged communities, inner-city, rural areas, and economically depressed areas. In meeting people at their greatest need, we have roofed, painted, added rooms such as bathrooms and bedrooms, renovated flood damaged homes, replaced floors, built walls, hung windows and doors, poured concrete, done plumbing and all types of yard work and gardening. In addition to construction, the mission participants often teach Vacation Bible School, run Jesus and Me Camp, and conduct daily devotionals among the mission group. The bond that develops among the mission team and the communities is life-changing. Regardless of how much you give, you always gain more in return!Spiritual Gifts: Apostleship, Faith, Evangelism, Mercy/Compassion, Wisdom, Exhortation (Encouragement), Administration, Assistance/Helps
Contact: Jane Schwebke, 618.233.3395, schwebkeja@aol.com
Welcome Home Ministry
The Welcome Home Ministry serves Christ around the corner by providing furniture and household items to people in need. Using our hands and feet for Christ, we do more than deliver. We make a house into a home. Spend just 2 to 3 hours on a Saturday and make a big impact on a family's current situation and future. You may just get more than you give. We need volunteers to help us deliver furniture and household items to families (not all volunteers need muscles), arrange future, make beds and decorate.Contact: Sherry Gibson, 618.604.1605, sherryandmikeg@att.net
Sabor Cabor, 316-519-0548, sabecabor@yahoo.com
Winter Patrol
The CUMC Winter Patrol Team consists of people who share the love of Christ with the homeless. This mission is accomplished by delivering much-needed items to the people living on the streets and in shelters. We spend our time serving meals at shelters and walking the streets handing out Bibles, blankets, coats, hats and other necessities. This ministry allows us the opportunity to share Christ with a population that most ignore and who may not have another means to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Although titled Winter Patrol, this is a year-round ministry.Spiritual Gifts: Mercy/Compassion, Faith, Evangelism, Discernment, Assistance/Helps
Contact: Cheryl Shoffstall, 618.660.5033, angelmom137@aol.com