Mission Partnerships at South Church

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

(Acts 1:8)

As early as the Epistles of St. Paul in the New Testament, churches have responded to human suffering and to the pains of injustice by ministering unto “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40)  Seeing how Jesus constantly met people where they were in their brokenness, local churches follow this example by meeting people and families in their brokenness in ways that bring hope and wholeness.  On one occasion, Jesus looked the disciples in the eye and said, “You are the light of the world.”  That sacred identity is inherited by every local church.  The ministry team for mission locates the present brokenness of the world and allocates funds or encourages voluntarism to bring light to bear on that darkness.

We witness to God’s love through partnering with others who are serving locally in Glastonbury, in Hartford and surrounding areas, across the country and across the world. Every year the congregation votes to allocate approximately 18% of budgeted expenses to support this mission work.

 


Glastonbury

Naubuc Backpacks – Fills the nutritional food gap between school and home. Children are sent home for the weekend with nutritional food options which gives young students food security and education on healthy eating.

Glastonbury Youth and Family Services, the Welles Village Activity Council for Youth (WACY)- Donation sends 20 WACY leaders

to the Pees Are Wonderful Support conference at Manchester Community College.

Glastonbury Food and Fuel Bank: Food and fuel assistance is provided to Glastonbury residents in need.

 

Hartford/State

Adelbrook- Serves children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities. They also offer parent training, family counseling, vocational training, transitional services and special education for children ages 3-21.

Christian Activities Council – Donation provides scholarships for their Freedom School summer camp to help Hartford elementary children retain their educational gains over the summer.

GIAA Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance – We are a founded member of the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance, which is the culmination of three years’ of organizing by 35 religious congregations and the Center for Leadership and Justice, a Hartford-based nonprofit formerly called the Christian Activities Council. Area churches, synagogues and mosques held more than 85 listening sessions with more than 1,000 people to understand their members’ hardships and concerns, then worked with staff to distill those issues into four campaigns.

Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective – Provides health and support services, education and advocacy to people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Hartford Hospital Spiritual Care Department – Offers a bereavement program for those who lost a loved one at the hospital, and provides various spiritual and religious materials for patients’ individual use.

Hartford Seminary Black Ministry Program (BMP) – Scholarship support for individuals wishing to increase their leadership and preaching skills in the urban church.

Hartford Downtown YMCA – We help support Footlights, an after school dance/theater and homework youth support program, and Livestrong, a cancer survivor exercise support program.

Open Hearth Shelter –A homeless shelter in Hartford for men. Their focus is on employment and recovery.

Our Church’s Wider Mission – OCWM funds the work the United Church of Christ (UCC) does locally in Connecticut and nationally/globally. The Connecticut component includes helping UCC churches remain strong, effe

ctive and growing. The national component includes responses to national and global disasters, supporting justice immersion centers, and young adults in mission.

South Park Inn- A homeless shelter in Hartford that houses men, women and children. In addition to financial support, various ministry teams provide meals once a month.

True Colors – Affirms youth, adults

and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Provides education, training, advocacy, youth leadership development, mentoring and direct services to youth and families.

Zezzo House – Provides independent housing and supports to adults and families who live with HIV/AIDS.

 

National/International

Crosby Fund Haitian Education- Sponsors education for individual children or young adults in Haiti; money donated supports scholarships.

MATH (Medical Aid to Haiti) – We support part of the head nurse coordinator’s salary at the MATH  Port au Prince clinic location.

SAMALA (Salima Mandate to Limit HIV and AIDs) – We help provide small business loans to women to support their families in ways that do not promote HIV/AIDs. Salima, Malawi.

Sioux YMCA – Serves the children of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, in the poorest area of the United States. We help support Camp Marrowbone during the summer. South Dakota.

St. Mary’s Orphanage – Provides housing, supports and education to 120 children orphaned primarily due to AIDS, as well as a community health clinic. Chezi, Malawi.

United Church of Christ (UCC) International Emergency Relief Fund – Support to help reduce hunger caused by drought in /East Africa.

United Church of Christ (UCC) USA Emergency Relief Fund – Support for those impacted by hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

 

 

ADULT MISSION GROUP

Since 2007, this group has travelled to many states to work on Habitat for Humanity homes as well as hurricane recovery projects in Mississippi, New Jersey and Texas.

To learn more about Youth Mission programs at South Church, click HERE