Hope United Methodist Church

3474 Rothsville Road, Ephrata PA 17522
Office: (717) 738-3774 | Fax: (717) 738-3789

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Henderson Settlement

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V.I.M.

 

Who or What is a VIM?

Volunteers In Mission is a group of people who give of their time and talents to help others. Why would they do that, you ask? Because of the rewards they receive. The reward of feeling good about yourself, the reward of feeling you are the hands and feet of Christ and the reward of seeing the gleam in the eyes of the one that just received their help.

We have such a group here at Hope. Well what have they done, you ask? Recently this small group of men and women has financially supported the youth with their mission trip to Red Bird. They have already allocated monies towards their next trip to Henderson Settlement. They have also sent Five hundred dollars directly to Henderson. Sometimes we don’t send money, but actually go on the mission trip ourselves.

Sounds great, but why don’t they help out our local people, you ask? Within this past year, the group has helped do repairs at Clare House and supply kitchen help at Water Street Rescue Mission, as well as seventeen people spending a Saturday building a deck at Gretna Glen. Not local enough, you say. Within the last few months, VIM has washed windows, cleaned leaves and pulled weeds for some of our congregation here at Hope. We recently insulated a home, painted, made minor repairs and replaced windows for a local family. They have also set aside a few hundred dollars to help the trustees of Hope defray some expenses.

Wow! you say. I wonder how they get the money to do these projects. Glad you asked, for you see that’s where you can help. Oh no, another group going to ask me for money! No, they work for their money. You can help by buying one of their delicious subs, the next time they sell them, on Feb. 6, 2002. You may also want to buy an Entertainment book from them. These books save you money. You could use some of the money you save to buy the subs. VIM also works at Hershey Park and has the proceeds sent directly to Hope Church.

Why not consider becoming one of us, we ask? Contact Dave or the church office for info.

One of the service branches of the United Methodist Church - including Hope UMC in Ephrata - is "VIM". Let's look at the brief history of VIM at Hope.

In May 1992, a few hearty souls spent a Memorial Day weekend in the Hazleton area of the Eastern PA Conference laboring to rebuild a playground and make the church yard a more attractive site. Then in October 1992, six couples from Hope spent a weekend near Fairfield in Adams County learning about "hunger" and gleaning in nearby orchards and vegetable farms. We joined other churches in a workday at Camp Innabah in 1993 and began planning a "full-week workcamp" to the RED BIRD MISSION in Beverly, Kentucky, for 1994.

14 adults and 5 youth "signed up" for the '94 Red Bird workcamp. We rented a van, added one family van and a Suburban to motor down Route 81. Enroute we stayed in homes of church members of Smythe Chapel, a tiny UM congregation near Abingdon, VA. After worshipping with our hosts on Sunday morning, we journeyed through the Cumberland Gap to the "hollers" and coal-mining area of Kentucky - arriving at Red Bird on time for supper and orientation. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the workcampers from other churches and the native Beverly residents - along with fellowship and worship each morning and evening - was a rich and Spirit-filled experience for all of our troupe.

The seeds were planted and because we wanted to keep this Spirit alive and provide similar opportunities for others to experience workcamps locally and beyond our Conference, "VIM" was officially organized in the fall of 1994 and held its "first sandwich sale" on January 25, 1995. We were closely tied to the Missions Commission and depended on Hope members for support whenever a workday at one of the Church Camps or an extended workcamp was scheduled.

In the meantime, one of our most active "VIM'ers", Tony Fritz, traveled to St. Vincent in the Caribbean with the Eastern PA Conference VIM Team and later went back with his wife Jenny to the same island. Tony and Jenny shared and recorded their experiences and always encouraged others to "get excited" about VIM opportunities.

We became aware of a local missioinal need at Water Street Rescue Mission where groups from county churches could serve the evening meal to the residents and homeless who lined up each night for a hot meal. Beginning February 25, 1995 and continuing each month thru December 2000, Bob Givler and other adults have dedicated their time to serve at Water Street. Bob always encourages youth and families with their older children to discover the joy of serving in this unique way.

In addition to week-long work camps at Red Bird Mission, VIM members and guests have journeyed to HENDERSON SETTLEMENT - also a UM Mission site in southeastern Kentucky - where the terrain is more conducive to farming but the people are poor because their homes are so distant from any town or areas where industry or work is available. Here as at Red Bird, we built porches, repaired roofs, painted and did general repair work for a most appreciate clientele. Some of us also clipped and counted those thousands of "Campbell Soup labels" which are sent from churches across the denomination and used to buy vans, computers and other equipment which would not otherwise be affordable. (Keep saving those Campbell Soup and other labels for Red Bird and Henderson!!!)

The VIM Committee has reorganized for 2000, electing Dave Schmid as chair and Sally Erisman as secretary/treasurer. We will continue to support work camps and the identified needs of the less fortunate in our county, state and anywhere God calls us with "sub sales" and other fund-raisers - like volunteering at Hershey Park food stands and selling pies, etc., etc., etc.