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 Table 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
Easter Offering
Each year we select organizations special to Messiah Church to receive our special Easter Offering. This year, our Easter Offering supports these three mission partners:
- Church of the Living Rock – A United Methodist Church dedicated to reaching new people and cultivating spiritual vitality in the Latino community of South Minneapolis.
- Imara International – Providing life skills for Kenyan teenage mothers and early childhood education for their children, breaking their cycle of poverty. For more information on Imara, click here.
- Light of Hope – Empowering orphaned and abused Kenyan girls by providing care and education, giving them tools to reach their fullest potential. For more information on Light of Hope, click here.
Give throughout the month of April, online by selecting “Second Mile Offering,” in worship with cash or checks designated for Easter Offering, or text the word “Funds” to (763) 333-2673, and follow the prompts. Please indicate which partner you are supporting with your offering – undesignated gifts will be equally distributed.
Early Response Basic Training
Interested in volunteering for disaster relief through UMCOR? Become an Emergency Response Team (ERT) member! This training gives you the credentials and skills to enter areas affected by floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters. ERTs remove debris, clean out flood-damaged homes, and help prevent further property damage while providing a caring Christian presence. The next Early Response Basic Training and Re-Certification Courses are Saturday, April 27, 8 am-4:30 pm (deadline to register is Saturday, April 20) at United Church of Two Harbors, Two Harbors, and Monday, June 17, 8 am-4:30 pm (deadline to register is Monday, June 10) at Kelly Inn Best Western, St. Cloud. For more information and to register, click here for the April training and click here for the June training. Messiah member, Linda, is a trained Early Response volunteer and would be happy to talk to anyone interested.
Interfaith Outreach Bicycle Repair & Tune-Up Day
Saturday, April 27, 9:30 am-2:30 pm help Interfaith Outreach repair and fix bicycles donated through the Medina City Clean Up and other sources. Bikes will be made available to families and kids served by Interfaith Outreach to enjoy this summer or utilize for transportation. Volunteers with bike repair experience needed – no training provided. To learn more, visit: www.iocp.volunteerhub.com.
UMW Spring Salad Luncheon & Fashion Show
Join us for the annual Spring Luncheon & Fashion Show, Saturday, April 27, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, hosted by the UMW (United Methodist Women). Following a salad lunch, enjoy an Interfaith Outreach fashion show featuring clothing from Resale Select and models from Messiah Church. Hear an update on the opening of the new Bloom Early Learning & Child Care campus at Plymouth Presbyterian – a free-will offering will be taken to benefit Bloom. Bring a friend and a salad to share! All women of Messiah and the community are welcome.
Spring Cleaning? Bring us Your Books!
Do you have current gently used or new books to donate? Bring your books to Messiah by Sunday, May 5 and they will be donated to Interfaith Outreach’s Resale Select store. Or, take your books directly to Resale Select at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth, Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm.
Try Out Serving at Interfaith Outreach’s Food Shelf
Wednesday, May 8, 5:30-8 pm volunteer your time at Interfaith Outreach‘s food shelf assisting families with their selections or bagging items. This is a great way to get a taste of volunteering in the food shelf. If you enjoy the experience, you are invited you to attend a food shelf training which will allow you to volunteer more regularly at the food shelf. High School students or older. To learn more, visit: www.iocp.volunteerhub.com.
Donate to Interfaith Outreach’s Eid Holiday Gift Program
Through the generosity of the community, Interfaith Outreach provides holiday support for families from many faith traditions. Interfaith expanded its December Holiday Gift Program to support local Muslim client families after Ramadan, similar to how the program has helped Christian and Jewish neighbors. Many Muslim families celebrate the end of Ramadan by buying new clothing for their children and creating cherished memories by visiting family entertainment venues.
In an effort to alleviate the additional financial stress of the holiday period, and with your help, Interfaith Outreach hopes to provide these families with gift cards to Target and passes to entertainment venues for fun family activities. Their goal is to help an anticipated 300 individuals in early June, using a $50/person guideline (the same financial guideline used for the December Holiday Gift Program).
Can you contribute to this important effort?
- Drop off or mail Target gift cards (increments of $25) to Interfaith Outreach by Friday, May 10 at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth
- Give online at iocp.org/donate by Monday, May 27 (select “Eid Holiday Program” from the drop-down menu)
Thank you for sharing this special holiday joy with our neighbors!
Serve at Feed My Starving Children
Join Messiah members and friends to serve at Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen on Saturday, May 11 at 11:30 am-1:30 pm or 2-4 pm. We’ll pack food for starving children around the world – involves standing and measuring ingredients into plastic bags, sealing and boxing. Seated jobs to label bags are also available. Ages 5 and up (accompanied by an adult). To sign up, click here, or contact Melanie. To learn more about Feed My Starving Children, visit www.FMSC.org.
Spirit Lake Mission Trip
The Spirit Lake Reservation is located in central North Dakota on the shores of Devils Lake, and is home to more than 6,000 people in the tribes of Pabakse, Sisseton, and Wahpeton bands. Those who call the reservation home live in extreme poverty and struggle with flooding and a high unemployment rate.
This summer, July 7-13, make it your family’s mission to live life through service with them and join in a Minnesota Conference-wide mission trip. This experience offers comfortable accommodations and a variety of meaningful service work for volunteers of all ages, as well as opportunities to engage with the Spirit Lake community and culture. Registrations and deposits are due by Tuesday, April 30. Total cost is $200 per person (includes lodging, food and transportation). Click here to register. For questions or information contact Becky. To learn more about the Spirit Lake Ministry Center, visit www.spiritlakeministrycenter.org.
Healthy Snack-Packs for Local Students
Looking for a one-time volunteer opportunity you can do from the comfort of your own home? With your help, Interfaith Outreach supplies local kids with healthy snack-packs during after school programs. Volunteers purchase and assemble the packs creating a simple, fun, interactive volunteer experience. For as little as $89 worth of items, you can provide healthy snacks for 100 kids. Visit iocp.org/volunteer (click “One-Time” icon) for details. Contact Najmo at (763) 489-7505 with questions or for more information.
Spring Cleaning? Donate Local to Resale Select
Spring is officially here! It’s a great time to go through closets and clear out the old to make room for the new! Resale Select gratefully accepts gently used items and will put them to great use. The resale store of Interfaith Outreach would like your donations of everything from clothing and accessories to household items. They are currently in need of books – do you have gently used or new current books to donate? “Keep it local” and bring your items to their store at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth, Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm.
Simpson Shelter is in Need
Please take a look at the list of Simpson Shelter needed items to see if there is a way *you* can help. You make a difference!
Priority Needs: disposable shaving razors and shaving cream, deodorant, new bras (all sizes), new thermals for men and women (all sizes), new women’s underwear (sizes 5 and 6), new boxer shorts (all sizes)
Continued Needs: travel size soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion, bath towels (gently used or new), new heavy duty hats and gloves for men and women, new white t-shirts (all sizes), new white socks for men and women, coffee (ground preferred), and hot cocoa
*New* Simpson’s Amazon Wish List: Another way to donate to Simpson Shelter is through their Amazon Wish List. Everything from kids books and car seats for their family programs, to cereal and socks for the shelter, can be purchased online at this site and sent directly to the receiving programs. It’s an easy way to make a difference without leaving the house!
Contact Lavinia with questions. For more information on Simpson Housing Services visit www.simpsonhousing.org.
Interfaith Outreach Volunteer Opportunities
Interfaith Outreach is always looking for volunteers – no experience required! (High school age or older unless otherwise noted.) Find fulfilling and fun opportunities to give back:
- Food Shelf – Join other Messiah members volunteering at Interfaith Outreach’s Food Shelf on Friday mornings. Contact Linda for more information.
- Medical Rides Program – Help schedule and coordinate rides between volunteer drivers and riders on Tuesdays, 9 am-noon. Or volunteer to provide medical rides for others in your vehicle. Volunteer drivers can choose which rides (days, times and locations) they can provide.
- Driver for Adult Learners – Provide scheduled rides in driver-owned vehicle for Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes. Positively impact adults aspiring to learn English so they can create futures for themselves. One ride per week (transporting to Interfaith offices) during the daytime.
- Children’s Play Area – Supervise and play with children (ages 0-8) in their lobby. Check in children and supervise them while parents access our resources. Volunteers 13+ welcome. Ages 13-15 need to volunteer with an adult. Wednesday/Friday 9 am-noon or Monday/Tuesdays 3-5 pm.
- Donation Receiver – Greet and thank donors. Load donations of food, household goods and clothing. Help manage donation storage area. Flexible schedule! Help especially needed Tuesday-Saturday afternoons, 1:15-5:15 pm.
Interested in helping? Contact Najmo at (763) 489-7505. For more information on these and other Interfaith Outreach volunteer opportunities, visit iocp.org/volunteer. Interfaith Outreach is located at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth.
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.
