MISSIONS MINISTRY

Mission of Memorial United Methodist Church's Mission Ministry:

The people of Memorial United Methodist feel it is our responsibility as children of God to share the story of His Son and His unconditional love with everyone we can. We will do this by striving to meet the needs, both physical and spiritual, of the people in our community, our nation and the world.

Mission Projects at Memorial

Eyeglass Collection:

Memorial is currently collecting used eyeglasses to benefit needy Hondurans. The Chesterfield-based Friends of Barnabus Foundation (www.fobf.org) collects the eyeglass donations from local churches and takes them to Roanoke. There, the Lions Club recycling center refracts, packages and labels the glasses, then returns them to the FOFB. Last year 150 volunteers went to Honduras to distribute the glasses and offer free medical clinics to people who would otherwise never see a doctor. The people these mission teams reach would likely never see clearly if not for the eyeglass donations. In Honduras, they would have to travel a full day to the city, and even then the glasses would cost A FULL YEAR'S SALARY. So far, Memorial has collected 72 pair. That's 72 people we will touch with God's love. If you have used glasses, please bring them to the church and place them in the basket labled "Friends of Barnabus Eyeglass Collection" or contact Michelle Black by email.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE KITS:

Memorial is also collecting Health, Baby and School kits to send to the annual conference in June. These are among the most requested items, as they are very useful in times of disaster or in on-going development programs.

HEALTH KITS

  • 1 hand towel
  • 1 washcloth
  • 1 comb
  • 1 metal nail file
  • 1 bath sized bar of soap
  • 1 toothbrush
  • 1 tube of toothpaste (4-7 oz)
  • 6 band-aids
Bundle all items into the towel and tie it together with ribbon or yarn. If you would like to contribute, but cannot make up the kit yourself, a donation of $12 will also provide a health kit.

SCHOOL KITS

  • 1 pair blunt scissors
  • 1 pad or notebook with 150-200 sheets of ruled paper
  • 1 12" ruler
  • 1 pencil sharpener
  • 6 new pencils with erasers
  • 1 large eraser
  • 12 sheets colored contruction paper
  • 1 box of 24 crayons
  • 1 12"X14" cloth bag with cloth handles
Bundle these items into the cloth bag, fold the top over, and secure with 2 large rubber bands. A donation of $11 will also provide a kit for use in a classroom setting.

BABY KITS

  • 4 cloth diapers
  • 2 shirts
  • 2 washcloths
  • 2 gowns or sleepers
  • 2 diaper pins
  • 1 sweater or sweatshirt
  • 2 receiving blankets (one may be a knitted/crocheted blanket)
Bundle these items inside one of the receiving blankets and secure with diaper pins. A donation of $35 will also provide a new baby kit to an infant in a mother and child care program.

Support Our Troops:

Most of you have heard of Operation Dear Abby, which enabled servicemen (and women) to receive encouraging letters from concerned citizens. Due to security risks, letters and parcels can no longer be delivered to unnamed personnel. But we can send e-mails! If you have internet access, please visit http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/ a secure website where you can choose any branch of the military and send a prayer and a message to someone risking their life for your freedom. If you don't have internet access, you can visit the Heritage Public Library in Providence Forge, where internet access is free and the librarians are ready to help you! These messages come at a time when fellow Americans are separated from family and friends, and could really benefit from a thoughtful word of encouragement and a prayer. Please take the time to bless a total stranger. In turn, you will be blessed as well. "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40

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