MISSIONS
Daily and weekly updates will appear in the virtual bulletin and on our Facebook Missions Group Page. Please contact Pastor Jean Schafer if you wish to be a part of our Missions activities: schaferjean75@gmail.com.
LOCAL
New Albany Food Pantry
As a part of Healthy New Albany, their mission is to eliminate food insecurity within the New Albany-Plain Local School District by connecting our neighbors in need with food and other critical resources.
Donations of food items can be placed into our Church grocery Cart or you can select items from their Amazon wish list.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/genericItemsPage/1ENM2OLSHYCKS?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_LJfww52IalkAq
Little Bottoms Free Store
Little Bottoms is a free store located on West Park in Franklinton, founded and organized by Central City UMC Church in Grandview. Babies in this zip code have a high rate of mortality in their first year.. Through physical help and emotional support of the parents, the hope is to help these children to reach their first birthday. We partner with them by providing diapers, wipes and other items for infants. After co-vid, we hope to return to be present at the store to offer emotional support as well. We celebrated this ministry at our first annual “Happy Birthday, Jesus” drive through party in December, 2020. Donations accepted year round. Sally Belshaw leads this ministry.
We have a yearly goal of 1300 packs of baby wipes…
If you have an interest in this ministry beyond donation of wipes, contact Sally at sally.belshaw@gmail.com
Kindway/Embark Prison/Reentry Programs
Embark (Marion – Men- Correction Institute) and Kindway Prison Ministries (Women’s correctional institute in Marysville, OH). The UMC puts them all under one heading called
“All In The Community”.
Candidates are carefully assessed for their readiness to participate in EMBARK (men) and Kindway (women).
Both MCI and WCI accept offenders that will be eligible for release or have a parole board hearing within 12-15 months of entry in the program. They train volunteers from the community to deliver programs and services.
The program launched at Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) and the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) in June, 2011. In preparation for release, participants are required to complete a comprehensive series of courses designed to provide them with the foundation and framework to sustain independence.
We became involved with these ministries just before the shut down of Covid.
Contacts: Rev. Mike Pratt, and Pastor Jean for Kindway.
Currently, NAUMC’s involvement has been in helping parolees entering the community with NEW HOME items. We purchase new or some gently used items for their new place
New Home Project – Supporting people who have been incarcerated and are re-entering the community. The purpose of this ministry is give them a fresh start with a few new items. With each NEW PROJECT, we receive a signup genius link. You will need a computer to input this link in your search bar. Not one to use the computer, call Pastor Jean 614-354-6631. She will help you. Items too big, call a friend or friends to go in on the gift.
Kairos Prison Ministry International
Kairos is a ministry that participates by bringing love inside using a 3 1/2 day spiritual weekend and helping to organize Bible study groups led by the incarcerated.
Our church has participated through the leadership of Kim Doran, who participates in these long weekend retreats. Congregation has prayed as well as baked cookies for the incarcerated and the team members.
Faith Mission
Faith Mission Meals helps the homeless at the faith mission shelter in downtown columbus. We prepare a hearty meal and provide cookies and brownies for dessert every 1st Sunday of the Month. There are 3 ways to serve at this time: 1. Donate money to our mission budget,2. bake cookies and brownies and deliver them to the church by noon on that Sunday and 3. When our co-vid restrictions lift, you can volunteer to be on the cooking and serving teams. This team is led by Terri Myser : myser3@gmail.com.
During the months of November and December, we help prepare the men and women for winter by collecting new or nearly new hooded sweatshirts, coats, jeans, warm socks and underwear, leggings (for the women), and warm hats and gloves.
Open Shelter
Open Shelter is a homeless ministry that helps the men and women who want to be more independent, living outdoors in their own communities. They come to the shelter primarily for food, clothing, showers, and some medical care.
We pack 180 lunches which are delivered the second Wednesday of the month. Before Covid, the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches had been prepared and packed with other lunch items in bags by volunteers. Our Current situation has created a need for volunteers to prepare sandwiches at home and deliver the sandwiches to the church to be packed by a smaller team.
Karen Dennis (dklcats@embarqmail.com) leads this ministry.
Bed Brigade
This ministry provides beds, complete with bedding, a bed pal and a Bible to kids in Central Ohio who do not have a bed.
Volunteers are needed to make beds, deliver beds and provide bedding, Bibles, and stuffed animals.
To volunteer, one must register for a time with Dean directly or through Sign -up genius. Here is the information…
Sign-Up Genius links for Builds and for Deliveries
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094BA5AA2EA5F94-bedbrigade3
is the link to sign up for our Bed Build. (The easiest way is to search by creator email, hoovdog52@gmail.com). Easier yet, call or text Dean at 614-296-3162.
It usually takes about 2 1/2 hours to build 40 beds. We start at 8:30 and we’re finished before lunch. We may have help from other churches or organizations, so make sure to sign up before you show up, so that we can use you effectively. In general, we build on the first (Non-holiday) Saturday of the month.
We cut lumber for the build on the Thursday prior to that Saturday, starting at 8:30AM, at the Shop at 1788 Killdeer. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Dean.
Bed Deliveries
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094BA5AA2EA5F94-bedbrigade
is the link to sign up for deliveries. Again, it’s usually easier to search by creator email, hoovdog52@gmail.com. In general, a team of 3 or 4 volunteers, with a delivery vehicle (empty mini-van or pickup truck) and support vehicle (carrying volunteers and bedding) can deliver 4 or 5 beds and make 2 stops. We prep beds at 9:00 and 11:00. We depart to deliver around 10:00-12:00. Usually completed by 11:00 -1:00. We usually deliver every Saturday except holidays.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
English classes for people whose primary language is not English. Classes are held at Whitehall UMC weekly on Thursdays from 6-8 pm. Ways to help? If you speak Spanish or French, you could assist in teaching the classes. Also…The students have children who need to be cared for. We plan activities and stories to read to the younger kids, and school age kids often have homework. Please Contact Pastor Jean for more information: schaferjean75@gmail.com.
Christmas Ministries
Jackson Area Ministry, (JAM) provides resources to individuals who live in Appalachian counties of southeast Ohio.
We provide 40 Christmas meals at Christmas so that they too can celebrate Christ in a special way. Your donations make this possible.
Side-by-Side Ministry serves Westerville families who are in need of resources. We sponsor children with Christmas gifts, and help fill food boxes to enjoy during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
GLOBAL
Heifer International
Water pumps and livestock through Heifer International through donations. We accept donations all year to reach our goal of $3000, enough to purchase water kiosks for a community. Additional donations will purchase livestock (cow, goat, chickens), whatever a family needs. This gift will be sent during the season of Christmas. When making donations, make a check payable to “NAUMC” with a memo of “Heifer”.
Manos Juntas Mission
Medical Mission trip to Mexico with the Methodist Volunteers In Mission (VIM ) November team. The team serves at the Manos Juntos Mission site: with the appointed Missionary, Willie Berman. We host a Medical clinic and help with various projects at the orphanage and school
Lifeline Christian Mission
Meals for Haiti through Lifeline Christian Ministries Lifeline Christian Ministry
Pack meals to be sent to areas of need. $500 sends 216 meals to feed a family of 6. It takes approx. 20 people 1.5 hours to fill 216 packets. Lifeline is located in Westerville on Eastwind Drive.
Stay Connected
Stay connected with New Albany Church Missions online.