Mission Ministry Team

Local Missions

The local missions that we support locally are:

Howard County Pastoral Training

Habitat for Humanity builds simple decent houses in partnership with families in need of housing.

Master Teacher Tutoring

This program operates on Tuesday evenings from 4:45 to 6 PM at Parr United Methodist Church. We partner with Parr U. M. Church to tutor children in 1st Grade to 8th Grade. Presently, Pam Lyon, Mary Ellen Harnish, and Dianne Waggaman run this program which helps about 22 students with adult volunteer tutors at the Parr Center. There are five additional Master Teacher Tutoring centers in Kokomo now, helping many other children in the city.

Kokomo Rescue Mission/ Thanksgiving Dinner

Our very own Pastor Steve sits on the Kokomo Rescue Mission Board. Our church supports the Rescue Mission throughout the year with specific needs, but at Thanksgiving time we host the community-wide Kokomo Rescue Mission Day Dinner. We have several volunteers from around the community, as well as our church members, who assist the Rescue Mission in feeding around 400 people annually. Our church members provide the salads and desserts, decorate the tables and serve meals on Thanksgiving Day. Church members also deliver meals to many families who cannot come to the church. It is a lovely way to reach out to and love others in our community.

Nesting Doves

Nesting Doves is a "Christ-centered home and education center for young women and their babies." They recently had a home on east Jefferson Rd. in Kokomo, but are soon moving to a home provided by the Rescue Mission. Nesting Doves provides support, shelter and hope through the following vision:

• Encouraging young women in ways that lead to a life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Equipping each young woman with the skills and understanding to make decisions that will result in a full and productive life for her and her child.
• Provide a practical alternative to abortion.

Their mission statement is:

Samaritan Caregivers

Samaritan Caregivers volunteers provide help to the elderly and people of Kokomo with medical problems or disabilities. The volunteers may help with transportation, visit people, respite care for a family caregiver, assist with errands, housework, or with home or yard maintenance. Our church provides financial support to this organization.

Yellow Bag Collection

The Mission Ministry Team appreciates how generously Grace members have "Shopped With Joy for Missions." Since February 2008, we have had a great response to the Yellow Bag Collection. We have delivered items worth: $700.00 to KUO, $990 to CAM, $685 to Nesting Doves and $545 to Open Arms.

The yellow bags are located in the parlor and by the Mulberry St. entrance, incase you need new bag. Just as a reminder, the items needed currently by each local organization are:

• Kokomo Urban Outreach—jars of peanut butter
• Open Arms—Hair supplies such as hair spray or gels, brushes, shampoos and conditioners
• CAM—Toilet paper and personal hygiene items such as shampoo, bar soap, tooth brushes and tooth paste and deodorant
• Nesting Doves—Toilet paper, newborn diapers, and laundry detergent-regular or baby friendly

Remember to bring your donated items to parlor area.

We heard Frank Beard tell us in July 13th sermon that United Methodists take the lead in many parts of the world to bring Christ’s love to those in need. We are a caring congregation that shows the less fortunate in the Kokomo Community that we support them.

Mission Tree

During Advent time, our church members fill up a Christmas Tree by buying gold bulbs with a $20 donation to a charity. In 2007, our members donated $1160 to the following organizations:

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