Missions Team

Newark FUMC hands around world The Missions Team is committed to connecting the congregation of Newark First UMC to mission opportunities in our community, nation, and world. This dedicated group strives to increase awareness of various missions, to connect those seeking a way to give back to organizations needing support, and to increase congregational support of missions through their time, talents, and offerings.

The 2020 Youth Mission Trip – Family Promise of Wayne County: Due to COVID 19, the annual Red Bird Mission Trip was replaced by mission work at the Family Promise of Wayne County Day Resource Center in Lyons, NY. Fifteen adults and teens worked on a rotating schedule during the last week of July. The effort was supported by a $1,500 grant from United Methodist Women, as well as donations from Phelps Cement and Four Seasons Rental in Newark. Work included creating a patio, building a picnic table, repairing and painting a wheelchair ramp, and fencing in the children’s play area. You can view the full Wayne Post article at this link: https://www.waynepost.com/news/20200805/newark-church-takes-mission-trip-to-family-promise

All are welcome. The Newark First United Methodist Church is Handicap Accessible.

Nomads 2019: Nomads are volunteers who take an RV and go where help is needed. Click on the following link for information on Rod and Janie Reeder’s 2019 Nomad journey: Newark FUMC Nomad 2019

Highlights include:

Ongoing local missions include Newark Food Closet, Family Promise of Wayne County, Vacation Bible School (VBS), Casawasco Camperships, hospice programs, emergency response teams, and the free lunch program.
Ongoing national/international missions include Red Bird Mission, CWS Blanket Program, Imagine No Malaria, Africa University, Heifer International, and UMCOR.
Special/Seasonal opportunities include Bibles for Hannick Hall, Samaritan Purse Shoe Box, The Giving Tree, Thanksgiving & Christmas baskets, and college student care packages.

(For additional information on some of these programs click on the “Community Service” dropdown under the “Missions” tab.)

Red Bird Mission Work Camp: Red Bird Work Camp is a work opportunity for volunteers in mission. Work Camp strives to provide home repair for low-income community residents and maintenance for Mission buildings and grounds. Some examples of work projects are small room additions, painting, building porches or ramps, and grounds keeping. On a very limited basis, light duty work is available. Fees ($400 total) cover the cost of each person’s application, lodging, meals, and materials used. It does not include the cost of transportation or expenses on travel days.

Work Camp provides an opportunity to serve, to be successful in the giving of your time and to experience the joy of being in ministry with others. In addition to providing mission opportunities, Red Bird strives to provide an atmosphere where participants grow spiritually and gain a personal understanding of mission. Evenings are spent in Christian fellowship and learning about the diverse ministries of Red Bird Mission.

2019 Red Bird Mission Work Camp: On August 3, eleven intrepid missioners left for Red Bird Work Camp. This was the fourth time we have ventured to Clay County Kentucky, the poorest county in the United States.

The area suffers from high unemployment having once been the home to many coal mines. The poverty level is something we are not familiar with and the daily challenges (clean drinking water) are daunting.

We were tasked with replacing a porch, re-flooring the living room, and flooring and replacing a wall in a small bedroom. It’s safe to say we can be both sad and glad that the porch will outlast the house itself.

Red Bird Mission has five focuses:

Education: pre-K through 12th grade school
Health and Wellness; dental and medical clinics
Community Outreach: low-cost water kiosk and other initiatives
Economic Opportunity: employment, community store for clothing and furniture, outlet for crafts
Community Housing Improvement: work camp

Visit http://rbmission.org for more information.

The experience brought missioners closer together through shared travel, devotional and worship experiences, good hard work and learning new skills, sightseeing and communal living (the dorms, dining hall and worship center are air conditioned!).

How can you help?

pray and pray some more
be part of the 2020 Work Camp experience: volunteer
contribute monetarily through June’s Blessing Basket or directly to Red Bird Mission through UMCOR
participate in corporate rewards programs (see http://rbmission.org/support/ )
pray again

We hope you will become a prayer partner of Red Bird Mission and join with the work campers in 2020. What is to be gained far outweighs what could possibly be lost.