Missions
Adopt-A-Family
Each year at Christmas Dove “adopts” several
families in the community to ensure that they and particularly
the children have a Christmas to appreciate. Support includes
dinners, presents for all and gift cards for later use.
Cameron Parish, Louisiana
A mission team from Dove traveled to Cameron Parish, Louisiana in July, 2005, to assist in relief and rebuilding efforts for those hit by the devastating force of Hurricane Rita. Dove will be continuing to suppport and help our sister church in Cameron Parish.
One Great Hour of Sharing
Dove of the Desert participates in “One Great Hour
of Sharing,” an annual observance planned by representatives
of various denominations and related to Church World Service
and Witness, the relief agency of the National Council of
Churches. Originally one special worship hour during the
year was reserved for people of faith to contribute over
and above their regular offerings. Today different denominations
celebrate One Great Hour of Sharing at various times throughout
the year, but the cooperative spirit remains. The funding
from One Great Hour of Sharing helps the United Methodist
Communities on Relief (UMCOR) to support a variety of relief
ministries worldwide.
In months with five Sundays, on the fifth Sunday, Dove collects food for redistribution through the St. Mary's/Westside Food Bank, which serves needy families throughout Arizona. The Alliance handles 60 million pounds of food a year, the equivalent of 200,000 meals per day for the working poor.
On the second Saturday of each month, Dove's youth and adults support the food bank by working on site.
Sidewalk Sunday School
The Sidewalk Sunday School ministry focuses on teaching
urban children and their families the basic fundamentals
of Christianity: teaching empowerment through Christ to turn
away from the negative community cycles that face them, and
to turn their hearts, minds and actions toward a lifestyle
that contains promise and hope for the future. Volunteers
travel to the same site each week, spreading the Good News
of the Risen Lord. The mission is to help unchurched children,
youth, gang members, homeless people, family members and
anyone else, hear that there is Someone who loves them, who
wants and desires a personal relationship with them, who
considers them God's most precious child.
Souper Bowl Sunday is an annual national community outreach
program with funds directed to a local project. The program
began in 1990 with a simple prayer from Brad Smith, then an associate youth pastor: "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football
game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl
of soup to eat." That prayer gave birth to an inspiring
a youth-led movement to help hungry and hurting people around
the world. Parishioners are asked to leave $1.00 each for
the needy as they leave church on Super Bowl Sunday. In 2005, more than 100,000 youth worked nationwide to raise almost $4 million for local charities. Dove’s
participation in 2006 totaled $396, which was given to the St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance.
Tumbleweed Center for
Youth Development (www.tumbleweed.org)
The mission of the Tumbleweed Center is to serve abused,
abandoned, neglected and troubled youth. Dove supports this
program by collecting bottled water for homeless youth.
The mission of UMOM is to provide homeless and low-income
families with food, shelter and tools to build a bridge to
self-sufficiency. Dove supports the efforts of UMOM in many
ways, including:
- Back to School Outfits – In late
summer Dove provides each of the school age children
at UMOM with one complete new outfit to start school off
right.
- Shelter Dinner – Once each month Dove members
prepare and serve a dinner for 150 people at the
New Day Center. In winter, the dinner is served at the
Winter Overflow shelter.
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