Mission Fund Team
At St. Paul's we are committed to using a significant portion of our church funds to reach out in the name of Christ both locally and around the globe. Our Mission Fund Team oversees the annual distribution of thousands of dollars to a variety of ministries outside the walls of St. Paul's. With the support and giving of members at St. Paul's, the Mission Fund Team is able to support ministries like: local and national organizations addressing poverty, national and international missionaries, United Methodist missions, bible translators, education ministries and many others.
Here is a list of the ministries we currently support:
Good Works, Athens, OH - a community of hope for those struggling with poverty in rural Appalachia, providing biblical hospitality through shelters, residential care, job experience programs, creative volunteer service opportunities and community development in the context of Christian Community. (Email: goodworks@good-works.net) Download their latest newsletter.
India Missions - helping the poor and needy in India, by providing for the children of Vidya Surabhi Matriculation School, Christ Faith Home for Children, and Seesha (Jesus Calls Ministries) all of Chennai; Devnar School for the Blind, Hyderabad; the outreach program of the Methodist Church in Chennai (Rev. Gladstone Joseph, pastor), and other projects/churches in India. Click here to see some pictures from the Devnar School for the Blind and a Christmas program sponsored by St. Paul's.
Grace Children's Hospital / International Child Care, Haiti - a place of healing and solace for the children of Haiti. Providing excellent medical care from professional doctors and nurses, nutritious meals, and comfort from dedicated nurses aides. View their latest newsletter.
Nyembo Umpungo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa - Mission station started in 1989 by Tom and Sharon Crowe of Alger, OH. Tom and Sharon are now retired, and the station is run by local persons, and includes a community health center, women's school, girls' school, farm and vocational education program. Purpose is to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the people.
Bethlehem Bible College, Bethlehem, Israel - to prepare Arab Palestinians to be servant-leaders in the church and society in Israel. Founded 1979; 41 graduates in 2009. (Email: info@bethlehembiblecollege.edu) View their latest newsletter.
Otterbein Living Communities, St. Marys, OH - UMC-related Retirement Community offering independent living apartments to skilled nursing facility.
United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH - scholarship aid for a student at UTS.
World Gospel Mission, Choluteca, Honduras - Larry and Angie Overholt (of Mt. Vernon, OH) serving the people of Honduras by starting churches, children's Bible Schools, Vocational School,start-up businesses, etc. Also helping with the seminary schooling of Daniel Figueroa. (Email: larryoverholt@wgm.org; www.transcrisur.org) View their latest newsletter.
Wycliffe Bible Translators - Brian Schwartz [of Ohio] working in Davao City, Philippines as a facilities manager at Faith Academy, which provides a quality education for primarily missionary kids from kindergarten through twelfth grade. (Email: brian_schwartz@sil.org; Address: P.O. Box 81439, 8000 Davao City, Philippines) Download their latest newsletter.
WTLW TV 44, Lima, OH - "Witnessing the Living Word" Christine TV station.
C.A.L.L. (Community Action Life Line) Food Pantry, Celina, OH - The CALL Food Pantry exists to express the love of Jesus Christ by meeting the emergency physical and spiritual needs of those persons living in the Grand Lake/Mercer County area who need help to provide for themselves. It is a non-profit organization, assisting persons since 1990 who experience food shortages or "food insecurity."
Challenger Baseball, Mercer and Auglaize Counties, OH - Challenger baseball of Mercer and Auglaize Counties, is part of the National Little League Association. Games are held on Sunday evenings, typically the last Sunday of May through June, in various towns in the two county area. Open to children ages 5 through 18, who are mentally and/or physically handicapped.
O.U.R. Home, Celina, OH - O.U.R. (Organizations Unified for Resources) Home is a nonprofit Family Resource Center concerned with strengthening families and keeping them intact. Its primary function is to provide a central entry point through which all people of Mercer County can find and receive support during times of need.
Serving Friends and Families Ministries, Celina, OH - Serving Friends and Families Ministries is a multi-denominational Christian ministry, with a vision to help individuals in the Grand Lake region. SFFM started in 2005 with the Adopt-A-Block program, where servants of SFFM met individuals in their homes to establish a relationship and determine if they had any unmet needs. Additional programs include assessment/personal needs fulfillment, jail ministry, Manna Food program, Biblical teaching/education programs, and in the future, a Community Kitchen.
Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan's Purse - Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every year St. Paul's acts as a host site to collect thousands of shoe boxes filled and sent to offer hope to children around the world.
Navigators' Church Discipleship Ministry - The Navigators is an international, interdenominational Christian ministry established in 1933. Navigators are people who love Jesus Christ and desire to help others know and grow in Him as they "navigate" through life. Specifically the Church Discipleship Ministry is deeply committed to serving local churches and communities in the venture of spiritual transformation. St. Paul's supports missionaries, Bill and Peggy Mowry, who are regional leaders for this ministry and work to develop churches and church leadership both in the United States and internationally. Download their latest newsletter.