We Will Change the World This Weekend
Have you ever dreamt of changing the world for the better only to let “reality” talk you out of such a crazy notion because it was just too big of a task? Well the reality of it is that you CAN affect positive change in this world simply by working within your own community. This weekend, May 14 - 15, thousands of United Methodists around the world will work alongside their neighbors and within their own communities to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ during Change the World weekend.
Last year, during Change the World weekends inaugural events, more than 100,000 people from more than 1,000 churches around the globe united to make a world of difference in ways both large and small. United Methodists from 13 countries and every state in the U.S. worked to build community locally and fight malaria globally. As of April 29, nearly 1,500 events had been scheduled across 14 countries Change the World 2011. From stocking food pantries and cleaning school grounds to washing cars and renovating homes, people of faith with roll up their sleeves and take to the streets to feed the hungry, aid the homeless, visit the lonely and much more.
This year, Methodists within the Central Texas Conference are again answering the call and stepping up to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in support of Change the World weekend. While many congregations within the Central Texas Conference have already held events, you don’t have to look far to find some way to serve this weekend within our conference. Here’s a list of the Change the World events going on this weekend and beyond that have been reported to CTCUMC.org. If your congregation is involved or hosting an event that isn’t on this list, please contact Vance Morton at vance@ctcumc.org to have this article updated. Also, please send Vance any photos and stories from your Change the World adventures so that they can be evaluated and possibly featured here on CTCUMC.org.
Bethel United Methodist Church - 3196 Bethel Road, Weatherford, TX, 76107
Bethel UMC will be hosting a garage sale benefitting the ministry of Crossroads Youth Ministry, an organization that works with at-risk youth in Weatherford, TX. For more info contact info@bethelumcweatherford.org
Corsicana First UMC - 320 N.15th Street, Corsicana, Texas, 75110
Corsicana First UMC is helping to "Change the World" by raising a minimum of $30,000 for Imagine No Malaria.
First United Methodist Church of Bedford - 1245 Bedford Road, Bedford, TX, 76021
This year, from 2 – 5 p.m., on May 14, Project HELP will benefit from the USPS Stamp Out Hunger food drive. First UMC Bedford is asking for help from anyone with a pickup truck to help collect the can goods from the local post office, or if you would like to help unload the cans they can use you there as well. The team leaves to go pick up the first load of can goods around 2pm. For more info contact lbiggs-scribner@fumcbedford.com
First United Methodist Church Fort Worth – 800 West 5th Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76102
On Saturday May 14, members FUMC Fort Worth will follow the call to "go out and be God's people in the world" by joining hands and hearts with our brothers and sisters in Christ at El Buen Samaritano Methodist Church. The day will begin with a communion service at 9:00 a.m. in the El Buen sanctuary and culminate in a delicious home-made lunch prepared by the members of El Buen. For more info, click here or contact Nancy Tully, director of Outreach Ministries at (817) 339-5063 or ntully@myfumc.org.
First United Methodist Church Grapevine - 422 Church Street, Grapevine, Texas, 76051
Projects this year will include helping Grapevine Village as well as First UMC Grapevine members and elderly and disabled neighbors with home repairs and yard clean up. There will also be opportunities to help at other locations like the Union Gospel Mission, Food Bank, El Buen Samaritano and GRACE. Some of these projects will be suitable for children more than 5 years of age.
First United Methodist Church Mansfield - 777 N Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield, Texas, 76063
This year First UMC Mansfield will be lifting up 2 of its highest impact transformational mission ministries.
ZOE Ministry's African Orphan Empowerment Program. We just began a three year, $250,000 commitment to this ministry that will enable 1000 orphaned children in Rwanda to move from poverty to self-sufficiency in just 3 years.
Wesley Mission Center. This is our own local ministry that serves thousands of people in our community each year with emergency financial assistance, food, jobs, training, counseling, etc. On Change the World weekend, we will be educating our congregation about the life changing impact of each of these ministries and celebrating these commitments to change the world for Christ.
First United Methodist Church of Midlothian - 800 S. 9th St., Midlothian, TX, 76065
First UMC Midlothian is supporting the Change the World initiative by working with Habitat for Humanity on builds, repairs and landscaping for shut-ins and Psalm 91 bandannas for Marines. For more info contact admin@fumc-midlothian.org
Grace United Methodist Church - 101 W Avenue F, Copperas Cove, TX, 76522
As part of its Hospitality team, Grace UMC is hosting “Spring Into Grace” – a community outreach event in the Copperas Cove City park with food, games, music, prizes and church handouts from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, May 14th. For more info visit graceumccopperascove.com
St. Mark United Methodist Church - 1109 West Henderson Street, Cleburne, Texas, 76033
On May 28, St. Mark UMC of Cleburne will take food/groceries to low-income families near Cleburne, Texas. Approximately 65 sacks of food and additional food items will be distributed.
St. Stephen United Methodist Church - 1707 Park Ridge, Arlington, TX, 76012
150 Common English Bible New Testaments will be distributed door-to-door to folks living in the St. Stephen UMC community. The church will also serve free ice cream at the Miracle League baseball field (a field for special needs youth) across the street from the church and distribute flyers for its upcoming VBS.
The Change the World event was created as part of the Rethink Church campaign by United Methodist Communications in partnership with the United Methodist Publishing House and Imagine No Malaria. The concept for Change the World originated with the Rev. Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, and author of Change the World: Recovering the Message and Mission of Jesus.