LOCAL MISSIONS

Christian Helping Hands is a ministry of churches to those in need. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Christian Helping Hands has assisted those in need residing in Pearland, Friendswood, Brookside and Manvel with food, rent and utility assistance, clothing vouchers, gasoline and medical vouchers and emergency lodging. C.H.H. has also provided school supplies and Christmas gifts, as well as assistance to those affected by flooding in the area. In the first 19 years, Christian Helping Hands provided assorted services to 41,000 families representing 143,000 people.  We support C.H.H. with donation collections of food, school supplies, and monthly financial gifts. We also send people to volunteer regularly as interviewers, warehouse workers, and to do Red Barrel and Bread Run pick-ups. Contact Helen Gabriel at hgab@aol.com

Habitat for Humanity of Alvin-Friendswood-Pearland (AFP) is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Volunteers provide most of the labor. Individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor “sweat equity” into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.  We send volunteers on the third Saturday of each month to the Huser Village and 3rd and Willis sites in Alvin. Directions: Highway 35 South, take by-pass around Alvin. Cross FM 528. Cross Highway 6. Turn left on Mustang Rd. (traffic light). Pass Alvin Community College. Turn left into Huser Village about ¾ mile past college. Check in at “the shack” for your assignment. Contact Scott Foreman at 4sforeman@sbcglobal.net

Meals on Wheels is a ministry of delivering meals that have been prepared at Southeast Memorial Hospital to elderly and shut-ins in Pearland who have applied through Pearland Meals on Wheels. We support Meals on Wheels with financial gifts and volunteers who make meal deliveries one week each month. Contact Jack Carson at jbcarson@ev1.net

The Christmas Food Basket Ministry provides a food basket and a Bible to over 100 families locally. This year, donation collection will begin on November 11^th and run through December 10^th. Basket preparation will be on December 14^th and delivery will be on December 15^th. Contact Wendy Standorf at wendystandorf@comcast.net

Brazoria County Alliance for Children, Inc., is a coalition of persons committed to easing the trauma for child victims of abuse and neglect in Brazoria County.  The alliance oversees two programs:  Community Partners of Brazoria County and the Children's Advocacy Center of Brazoria County.  Community Partners assists Children's Protective Services in meeting the needs of children beyond what the state and county provides.  Community Partners serves over 600 children a year in numerous ways, three of which are:  The Rainbow Room, an emergency supply room for children who are taken into CPS care; The Christmas Program which provides each foster child with gifts at Christmas Time; providing birthday gifts for foster children.The Children's Advocacy Center uses a team approach involving law enforcement, the District Attorney's office, and CPS, in servicing children who have been sexually abused or physically abused.  It provides a safe place where a child can be medically examined and can be interviewed by video for use in prosecuting the offender.  The victims of child abuse can receive emotional support and other services in a child-friendly environment. Members of FUMC are active in the Alliance, Community Partners, and the Advocacy Center.  Volunteers are always welcome and needed.  If you would like to volunteer or contribute to any of these programs, you may do so by contacting Bunnie Philipp at, 281-485-7641. You may also contact the Center directly at 979-849-2500.

“The Cottage” is a project of United Way of Brazoria County’s Women in Leadership Society, a Pearland-based non-profit organization that serves women and children who are economically disadvantaged through transitional and permanent housing, employment/education training and placement, counseling, child care, family support, and periodic follow-up.   The Cottage will be a transitional housing facility for single mothers and their children living below poverty. The mission of The Cottage is to provide love, shelter, encouragement, educational support and family guidance to single women and their children in crisis. We want to provide a haven for recovery and education for development of work and life skills in an effort to build strong, self-supporting families. Construction of this facility will be done in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. We have pledged $30,000 toward the construction of The Cottage. Many of the women of our church serve in Women in Leadership Society in a variety of ways.

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

Hurricane disaster assistance was provided to 87 Hurricane Katrina victims as our Memorial Fellowship Center was transformed into a shelter immediately following the devastation caused by this storm. We continue to provide aid to victims of both Hurricane Katrina and Rita by sending mission teams to Mississippi and Louisiana. In addition, $20,000 and 150 flood buckets were sent to U.M.C.O.R. (United Methodist Committee on Relief) in 2005.

Mobile Medical Clinic
Following the Tsunami disaster in 2004, we constructed and sent a mobile medical clinic to Indonesia to be used by on-site doctors upon its arrival. In addition, we have pledged $30,000 to be used in the aid of this disaster.

Currently, we are constructing a clinic that will be shipped to Trees of Healing Ministry in Kenya, Africa. To volunteer for this project, contact Les Sprott at lsprott@comcast.net or visit the Volunteer page.

The God Box offering is given by members of our church each Sunday over and above their tithe. Funds from this offering go to assist local residents in need. From time to time, these funds are used to support missionaries and for larger projects. Over $40,000 was received to aid during the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Generation One
Saturday, May 17th! Catch the vision!
NEW MISSION OPPORTUNITY!
Get involved in the mission field right here in our own backyard!  Generation One is a backyard ministry located in the Third Ward of Houston. It is committed to the spiritual growth and physical rebuilding of impoverished areas in this inner city area. Generation One is working in
partnership with area churches and businesses to organize the response of those who have a heart to serve and volunteer their prayers, talents, resources, and sweat to improving the quality of life in this part of Houston. One
objective of this ministry is the Next Generation and will focus efforts on
“…making sure that the Next Generation knows what their potential is and believes that they can achieve it!” Plans to help accomplish this objective include organizing afterschool programs, mentoring, urban camps, and outings.
A second objective is to improve the overall quality of life for residents in this poverty-stricken area of the Third Ward. Our goal is to tear down dilapidated homes and abandoned buildings and rehabilitate existing homes. There are ample opportunities for volunteers at the corporate, group, and individual
levels to make a significant difference in the lives of others and the community overall. There is a great need for volunteers in the areas of mentoring,
restoration, job training, and urban camp as well as prayer partners, financial partners, and sponsors. For more information, visit www.generationone.net.

We will meet at the church at May 17th at 8:00 a.m. and carpool to Generation One to take a tour and see how we can get involved. For more information, contact Lori at lsaia@fumcpearland.org or 281-485-1466. If you plan to attend, email lsaia@fumcpearland.org and let us know, so that we don't leave you behind!