Make an Impact
Messiah Church is a church of compassion and community outreach. Members and friends of Messiah devote their time and talents to support local, national and global missions. From serving at the local food shelf to traveling to developing countries we serve through mission, there is a place for you to get involved! Sign up for any of these service opportunities and community outreach programs at the Missions area in our lobby. For more information, contact Linda Seaton, Missions Committee Co-Chair.
Messiah Church is committed to supporting several organizations consistently and long-term. Each month, we do a “Second Mile Offering” to support a specific organization, and when you visit for the first time, you can elect to have Messiah make a donation to one of several organizations on your behalf.
Current Needs & Volunteer Opportunities
Second Mile Offering
Our January Second Mile Offering supports Feed My Starving Children. Every year, millions of children die from preventable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and under-nutrition. Hunger is still causing nearly half of deaths in children under 5 years old. Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) believes hope starts with food. As a Christian nonprofit, FMSC works with food distribution partners that stay within communities, empowering them to move from relief to development. FMSC meals are developed by nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition. Nutrition allows children to grow, thrive and develop to their full potential. For more information, visit the Feed My Starving Children website at www.fmsc.org.
Give throughout the month of January, online by selecting “Second Mile Offering,” in worship with cash or checks designated for Feed My Starving Children, or text the word “Funds” to (763) 333-2673 and follow the prompts.
Donate Women’s Springtime Clothing to Resale Select
Donations of new or gently used springtime clothing, accessories and handbags are needed to prepare for Resale Select’s Ladies Night event on Thursday, February 20. Save the date! This event is open to the public, and proceeds from the store benefit families and kids at Interfaith Outreach. Thanks for checking your closets and dropping off items Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm. Resale Select is located at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth.
Simpson Shelter is in Need
We have started the year strong with many donations of cold weather gear and personal care items for Simpson Shelter. Thank you! Mentioning Simpson Shelter and their mission to friends, family, and the community is also making a difference to expand their reach.
Many items are still needed and appreciated:
- Personal Care Items: Along with the traditional items (shampoo, body wash, conditioner & lotion), there is a need for razors and shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and incontinence products (men and women)
- Clothing: socks (men and women), and underwear (men and women)
- Household: new or gently used sheets, bath towels/washcloths, and dishtowels
- Food: cereal, cocoa, tea, coffee, and soup packets
- Winter Gear: These items are necessities! Hand/foot warmers, long underwear, waterproof hats and gloves (knit items are not sufficient enough for our cold weather), and lip balm
All items can be placed in the Simpson Shelter basket outside of Heritage Hall. You can also shop Simpson Shelter’s Amazon Wish List. Shop from home and items are sent directly to them. If you have any questions, please contact Lavinia. For more information on Simpson Housing Services visit www.simpsonhousing.org.
Make a Difference at Interfaith Outreach
Help create opportunities for neighbors to thrive! Volunteers are needed to engage with and supervise children while parents access resources at Interfaith Outreach. Help fill daytime, after-school and occasional evening volunteer shifts. This is a family friendly opportunity. Click here to learn more.
Are you seeking a fun and fulfilling way to give back in the community? Interfaith Outreach is always looking for volunteers and they’d love your help! Interested? Click here to sign up for a “New Volunteer” meeting to learn more. Contact their Community Engagement team at getinvolved@iocp.org with any questions. Interfaith Outreach is located at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth.
Sunday Morning Greeters
Sunday morning greeters are a vital and important part of our hospitality and connection ministry here at Messiah. A friendly welcome is a great way to start the worship experience – whether you are a first-time guest or a long-time member. Whether you have served in this way before, or are just stepping into this area, would you prayerfully consider if there are Sundays where you could serve? Click here to sign up. Contact Carolyn Loeffler at cloeffler@messiahchurch.org or (763) 473-6968 with questions.
Plug In as an Adult Leader with Messiah Youth
We’re looking for awesome adults (ages 19-99) to serve with Messiah Youth Ministry. Being a leader in Messiah Youth Ministry looks like…lots of pizza, Oreos, getting to know awesome teenagers, celebrating when they pass their permit test, being excited when the braces come off their teeth, learning about Jesus together, serving the community, weird games, connections to Disney movies you’d never think to make, praying together for their friends who are struggling, introducing a new generation to the original Karate Kid, DIY Escape Rooms, charades, Starburst, helping choose shoes for Prom, cheering them on at choir concerts and band concerts and football games and plays, watching teenagers grow in their faith, growing in your faith, being part of something that’ll leave a lasting impact in the lives of everyone involved…Who wouldn’t want to be part of this?!
We really need help for Wednesday Night programming (6:30ish-8 pm), every week, or every-other week/twice a month.
Contact Sami Tierney, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, at stierney@messiahchurch.org for more information. Click here to learn more about Youth at Messiah.
Seeking Musicians for Journey Contemporary Worship
The Journey Contemporary Worship Team is looking for a piano, bass and guitar player for rehearsals and Sunday worship at 10:30 am. Whom do you know who would enjoy a fabulous opportunity for an outlet for their musical ability? No need to be a member of Messiah Church – we love all musicians who love to use their music to glorify God. Contact Joy Ann Harmon, Director of Worship, at jharmon@messiahchurch.org for more information. Click here to learn more about all Music at Messiah.
Local Missions
Bloom Early Learning & Child Care
Bloom is an accredited, award-winning, non-profit early learning center housed in Messiah Church. Because poverty early in life is a proven barrier to success later on, Bloom passionately strives to break the cycle at the start through nurturing care and exceptional early learning programs.
By providing scholarship assistance to half the children in our center, Bloom enables low-income single mothers and families to work or pursue education to improve their futures while giving their children the best possible start in their lives.
- Serving children 6 weeks through Pre-K
- Providing a nurturing, safe and intimate environment
- Using values-based programs and excellent curriculum with stellar outcomes
- Dedicating 50% of enrollment spots to children from families living under the poverty level in the Plymouth/Wayzata area
Our Shirley Robinson Scholarship Fund is a memorial to the wife of former Messiah Church pastor, Rollie Robinson, who originally challenged his congregation to help break the cycle of poverty through the provision of high quality, affordable early learning and child care. Gifts from individual donors, grants and fundraising events, as well as those from corporations, public organizations and faith communities, help Bloom assist children of low-income families. Contact Mary Olsen at (763) 449-0600 or visit www.bloomearlylearning.org.
Interfaith Outreach
Messiah Church has been an important partner in Interfaith Outreach’s efforts on behalf of the community to serve at-risk families in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth and Wayzata. For opportunities to get involved, contact Linda Seaton.
Interfaith Outreach was launched in 1979 by a small group of believers who envisioned a way for our community to respond to the unmet needs of struggling families and individuals in our midst, and to help them move toward self-sufficiency. From its modest beginnings in a church basement with no budget and a volunteer staff, Interfaith Outreach has grown to a sophisticated direct service provider and respected community catalyst. To learn more about Interfaith Outreach, visit www.IOCP.org.
Habitat for Humanity
A Christian non-profit organization, supported in the Twin Cities by Messiah UMC for more than 20 years. Habitat provides guidance, materials and volunteers to help owners restore their houses, protecting their investment in the home and restoring pride of ownership. Additionally, Messiah supports, “Brush with Kindness,” a ministry of Habitat to help 125 families each year to rehab their homes. Habitat is supported at Messiah through volunteer workdays periodically throughout the year.
For more information, please call the church office at (763) 473-6968. To learn more about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, visit www.tchabitat.org.
Simpson Housing Services
Messiah partners with Simpson Housing Services by providing many service opportunities including serving meals at the Emergency Shelter, working as an overnight volunteer at the Emergency Shelter and tutoring children. They are also in continuous need of donations such as socks, T-shirts, underwear, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant.
For more information on Simpson housing services contact our office at (763) 473-6968, or visit www.simpsonhousing.org.
The mission of Simpson Housing Services is to provide free shelter and affordable housing with support services to homeless men, women and children. They assist individuals and families in their effort to improve their life situations and advocate for their human and civil rights.
The Simpson Center for Servant Ministries (Simpson CSM)
Simpson CSM is a ministry that seeks to cultivate holistic vitality in the urban community by building relationships with neighbors and partnerships across urban/suburban/rural communities. Messiah Church partners with Simpson CSM by volunteering their time and talents through community meals, food pantry, clothing store donations and produce fairs.
The CSM carries out its work through Health and Wellness activities, service opportunities and through the Poverty and Justice Institute. For more information on Simpson CSM, call the church office at (763) 473-6968 or visit www.simpsoncsm.org.
Imara International
Messiah Church is proud to be in partnership with Imara International and to support its Executive Director, and Messiah member, Carol Erickson, through its prayers, and donations of time, talent, gifts and service. To find out about the next mission trip opportunity, and ways you can help, contact the church office at (763) 473-6968 or visit www.imarainternational.org.
Imara International is a U.S. based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization working in Kenya. Imara’s purpose is to provide an opportunity for teenage mothers to earn a high school degree and learn marketable skills to support themselves and their children. Imara fosters a safe, healthy environment where respect, faith, and teamwork are a central focus. Infants and children who are part of the Imara family are provided healthcare and early childhood education. Imara’s program is structured to teach life-sustaining skills that build strong families and communities while breaking the cycle of poverty. To learn more about Imara International, visit www.imarainternational.org.
Light of Hope
Light of Hope provides care, shelter and education to Kenyan girls in need. They develop leadership skills and help girls realize and reach their potential. For information about Light of Hope, visit www.LightOfHopeKenya.org or contact John Harmon at (612) 298-2069 or at jpharmoncpa@msn.com.
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. Messiah Church partners with FMSC by providing financial resources and countless volunteer hours packaging healthy meal-packs. To learn more about Feed My Starving Children, visit www.FMSC.org.
The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and we ship these meals to nearly 70 countries around the world.
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
UMCOR is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work includes programs and projects in disaster response, health, sustainable agriculture, food security, relief supplies, and more. UMCOR is a ministry of The United Methodist Church through the General Board of Global Ministries.
Messiah Church supports UMCOR through various project (health kits, flood buckets) as needed by the organization. To learn more about UMCOR, visit www.umcor.org.
