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MISSIONS at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon

 The Missions Ministry Team at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon is continuall working to make opportunities available for persons to put "boots on the ground" and live out their faith through action in serving and witnessing to others in Jesus' name. In addition to efforts within the church, we also partner with a number of local agencies and missions to provide serving opportunties on a regular basis. Below is a list of some of our more prominent opportunities, but the list is not all-inclusive, and it is never final as we continue to pursue avenues to meet needs in and around our community.

• Jimmie Hale Mission -- Downtown Jimmie Hale Mission, Inc. is a Christian-based organization, which includes a homeless shelter for men, a shelter for women and children, recovery programs, learning centers, and thrift stores.  Once per quarter, a team from GMV goes to the men's shelter to serve them a meal and to join with them in a time of worship together.

• First Light Shelter -- First Light is a Center for Homeless Women and Children located in the heart of downtown Birmingham. It offers the only emergency shelter accepting homeless women and homeless women with children 24 hours a day in the area.  Once per quarter, a team from GMV goes to the shelter to serve the women a meal and to join with them in worship and fellowship.

• Firehouse Shelter-- The Firehouse Shelter is the only emergency shelter for homeless men in Birmingham that has no time limit on the length of stay.  Because of this, the Firehouse Shelter is able to establish deeper relationships with clients and is able to better serve their needs to help them achieve long-term sustainability.  While not as regular, the Firehouse Shelter does have occasional volunteer opportunites or materials drives.  When that happens, they contact us because they know we are a church with a heart for their ministry.

• Royal Family Kids Camp-- RFKC is the nation's leading network of camps for abused, neglected, and abandoned children.  In 2008, Gardendale-Mt. Vernon convened its first week-long Royal Family Kids Camp with great success.  In the last three years, more than 60 children's lives have been touched by the love of Christ as demonstrated through loving camp counselors, activity leaders, and assistants.  The counselors are extensively trained in dealing with children in these circumstances and are armed with love and compassion that the children have not known.  We are in need of more counselors so that we can accept more children to the camp.  Anyone who so desires can find a place to help with RFKC.  In addition to the need for counselors, there are also opportunities to assist with registration and check-out, fundraising, and more.

• Meals on Wheels -- Each week, volunteers from the church deliver warm meals to shut-ins throughout the community.  For some, this may be the only human contact they have all week.

• Community Work Days-- Once or twice per year, the Missions Team organizes a community work day during which teams from the church travel to different homes or areas of the community to accomplish various tasks.  Some may do home or yard maintenance for elderly or disabled individuals.  Othes may do some painting or garbage pick-up at local schools or agencies.

• School Supplies -- Every year at the beginning of the school year, we hold a drive for the donation of school supplies.  This is then supplemented by Faith Promise funding as needed, and teams deliver the school supplies to local schools for use by children and educators throughout the community.

• Doughnuts for Teachers -- Just before school begins, as teachers around the county begin their in-service days of preparation, we purchase doughnuts and teams deliver them to the breakrooms at all of the local schools as a gesture of our appreciation for the ministry of teachers and school administrators.  While there, the teams offer an opportunity for prayer, when allowed.

• Live Nativity -- In 2010, GMV presented its first Live Nativity.  Over the course of two nights, volunteers dressed in costumes and posed in a constructed manger scene while passers-by drove through to see the spectacle and remember the reason for Christmas.  With an estimated 250 cars driving through and doubtless hundreds of others seeing it from the highway, the Live Nativity was a powerful witness as to why we celebrate Christmas.

• Hot Chocolate at the Christmas Parade -- For those seeking a great one-time service opportunity, we set up a tent every year during the Gardendale Christmas parade and hand out cups of hot chocolate to tose in attendance in an effort to help the community sense the warmth of both a hot drink and of Christ's love.

• Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes -- Each year, the Missions Team coordinates our local church's drive for shoeboxes filled with toys and goodies for children around the world.  This is part of the Operation Christmas Child project carried out by Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse organization.

• Home Repair Team -- The Home Repair Team is on standby year-round to carry out minor home repairs or light contract work (such as constructing wheelchair ramps) for those financially or physically unable to complete the repairs themselves.

To learn how you can get involved with any of these opportunities, visit our Get Involved page.  This list is not exhaustive, and the Missions Team is always looking for new ideas or perceived needs for ministry.  If you have an idea or know of a need we could help to meet, email missions@gmvumc.org.