As part of this United Methodist worldwide event, St. Luke’s participated in Change the World by highlighting four new mission initiatives that need a unique kind of commitment for this new decade.
If you missed this special kick-off event, please find information below about how you might get involved.
THE JOBS PARTNERSHIP – PARRAMORE INITIATIVE
What do you do? This is one of the very common "ice breaker" questions in a conversation. Having a job is important in our society not just as a source of income, but also as a measure of self worth and our place in society. There are many people in our communities who need help with the basic knowledge of job search and the network to find jobs. St. Luke’s is partnering with Hurst Chapel AME which is serving as the Lead Church for this Parramore Initiative of The Job Partnership, a faith-based not-for-profit organization. A coalition of local churches and community-based organizations in the area will also be a part of this effort. The 12-week training, which starts in August 2010, is designed to help people gain the "soft skills" needed for employment and includes biblically based life and job search related lessons. The training sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Volunteer Needs: Weekly mentors and job counselors, business networking, employers for a specialized job fair, hospitality coordinators, and a prayer team Contact Person: Mariam Megistie at 407-876-4991 x. 313 or mmengistie@st.lukes.org
FAITH RE-ENTRY ENTERPRISE/FREE
The FREE ministry is a faith driven volunteer program created by St, Lukers that provides critical coordination of community lifelines to released inmates during the first 72 crucial hours of re-entry. We will assist the released inmate now a re-entry client with tools to obtain stable employment and housing, to become spiritually and emotionally grounded, and to help them with family reunification.
Volunteer Needs: faith friends who work with re-entry client for 6-12 months, coordinators for care packages, social workers who develop plans prior to release and a prayer team Contact Person: Bob Crowley, rcrowley6@cfl.rr.com 407-876-4991 ext. 290 or Ray Dorman at Ray.Dorman@marriott.com
New Global Initiatives
CHURCH TO CHURCH PARTNERSHIP IN ETHIOPIA THROUGH COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
St. Luke’s UMC was selected out of hundreds of churches across the nation to participate in a pilot program through Compassion International. We were matched with the Lideta Mekane Yesus Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Both congregations have a reputation in their communities as organized centers and leaders of outreach. Through the help of Compassion International both St. Luke’s and Mekan Yesus will be advocates for children; by releasing them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enabling them to become responsible citizens who know about the life and love of Jesus Christ. The ministry will take on a holistic approach to meet the children’s needs and provide them the opportunity to: receive educational benefits, health care, develop self-confidence and social skills, hear the gospel and learn about Jesus.
Volunteer Needs: coordinating ministry team of 8-10 people, child sponsors, study group participants, and a prayer team Contact Person: Carolyn Green, cgreen@st.lukes.org or 407-876-4991 ext. 239
HAITI REBUILDING
In the weeks following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, St. Luke’s members and friends donated, assembled, and shipped over 500 health kits, supplied money for medication for a medical mission team organized by one of our former interns, provided clothing and food for a resettled Haitian family, and hosted a clinic in cooperation with Justice for Our Neighbors to assist Haitians filing for Temporary Protected Status.
Now it is time to help our friends and neighbors in Haiti rebuild. Trained teams will be sent to work side by side with Haitians as they rebuild houses, churches, schools, clinics, and orphanages. Be a part of rebuilding lives and sharing joy.
Volunteer Needs: a coordinating team of 3-5 people, many volunteers who are willing to travel to Haiti at their own expense for a week at least one time in the next 2-3 years, sponsors for Creole interpreters and a prayer team Contact Person: Lynette Fields, lfields@st.lukes.org, 407-876-4991 ext. 230
Imagine No More Malaria
For more information about how the United Methodist Church is working to eradicate malaria in the next 10 years go to: UMC Malaria Initiatives
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