Local Missions
Interfaith Homeless Network: From July 1, through December 31, IHN sheltered 157 families that included 291 children. The last time we hosted, March 6-12, we had three families as guests, 3 adults, with 5 children. Many thanks to the individuals, families, small groups, and Sunday School classes that helped host these guests in Jesus’ name. IHN carefully screens homeless families with children, and working through the network, all these families move into housing. As they prepare and await for housing, these families spend their nights as guests of local congregations.
Mustard Tree Ministries: A homeless initiative started through the former Forrest Avenue UMC.: Recently our Common Ground class teamed up with the residents of the Hixson Morning Point Community to put together 60 health kits for Homeless persons in Chattanoooga. Also, our Next Generation Sunday School Class has breakfast and worship with persons at Mustard Tree Ministries every 5th Sunday. This ministry is looking for small groups to prepare meals for Sunday morning worshippers for the 1st Sunday of each Month and every other 4th Sunday.
Needs for Winter:
Long underwear (especially sizes L & XL), thick socks, blankets, hand & foot warmers, tents
Chattanooga Community Kitchen: provides to the homeless, food, clothing, health care, job training and employment opportunities, case management, a day center.
Chattanooga Area Food Bank: In 2009, provided 8.8 million pounds of food to residents and agencies in a 20 county service area, and provides food for over 20,000 people in our area each week.
Common Ground Classes: “Helping our relationships with one another and God by teaching the roots of our Faith and our United Methodist Heritage, each short term class helps a local mission. Previous classes served as Greeters, served with Teen MOPS, Worked with “Widow’s Harvest,” and with the residents of Morning Point.
Volunteers in Medicine is a primary care medical clinic, providing medical services to working families of Hamilton County who otherwise have no access to health care. From 2005- 2010 VIMedicine estimates giving $7,394,020 in medical care. Volunteers offered $2,573,216 estimated worth of their time serving 25,128 patients.
The Bethlehem Center is dedicated to transforming the lives and communities through ministries focused on character development, education and Literacy, Leadership Development. The Beth has served continuously for more than 90 years, and remains a pace-setting model for transformation and revitalization of inner-city communities.
St. Andrew’s Center promotes spiritual, educational, economic, and social growth for individuals and the community. The Faith and Food initiatives offer a community garden; gleaning, hand picking what harvesters leave behind to donate to area food banks; & Hartnell Farm. Hartnell Farm needs persons on May 7, 9-Noon to help clear brush, axes, hand pruners, and gas powered chain saws would be helpful. Call Rev. Betsy Flory 770-633-2736 for information.
Widows Harvest Ministries: Offers help to widows in our area with home repairs, maintenance, yard work, and other needs. The State of Tennessee, House of Representatives, has passed House Joint Resolution 122, calling May 15 a “Day of Special Prayer for Widows.” Many widows houses in our area have badly leaking roofs after the recent storms. Contact 266-0260 or www.widows.org
UMCOR, United Methodist Committee on Relief, offers teams and aid to areas of disaster. They now have an advance for offerings for relief because of our recent storms, UMCOR Advance #3021326, N. America, US, Regional, Spring Storms 2011. Because of our connection 100% of your offering goes directly to the need with no administration costs. gbgm-umc.org
Teen MOPS Mothers of Preschoolers, meets every Monday night at 6:30pm, the only group for teen mothers in the state of Tennessee. 15 Mothers meet regularly for support, fellowship, educational experiences learning to support themselves, their babies, and helping each other. Childcare is provided.
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These are some of our missions supported by Hixson UMC.
There are others, including some 40 others supported by our 12 adult Sunday School Classes.
If you’d like to take part in these and other missions please contact
Rev. Paul Longmire, cell:423-762-6099 or email: paullongmire@hixsonumc.org