Local Missions

The United Methodist Church has a long history of concern for social justice.  It is our mission to inspire all persons to respond with gifts and service to the needs of people both locally and globally, through outreach programs supported by First United Methodist Church.  Mission service and outreach to others is woven into our very being as followers of Christ and members of FUMC, Colorado Springs.  This page highlights our top priority local missions.


Rooms 4 Rubbish

This mission provides a service to downtown Colorado Springs in the picking up of trash.  It also provides opportunities to make new friends and lend a helpful hand to someone in need.  Clients from the Marian House Soup Kitchen are referred to First United Methodist Church for the Rooms 4 Rubbish (R4R) program.
 
We gather, a dozen members of FUMC and as many Marian House clients, at the Marian House once a month on a Sunday afternoon.  We introduce ourselves, pray and form teams to go out into the area on foot collecting trash together.  At the end of this two hour service project the clients receive either a voucher for one night's stay at a local motel or bus passes for local Metro transit.  They also receive a "goodie bag" with socks, toothbrush, etc.  
This ministry is powerful for all involved.  A strong relationship of trust and common purpose has developed between FUMC and the staff and  clients of the Marian House.
 
If you wish to participate in this ministry you can contact either Rev. Todd Spencer or Rev. Marlene Urban-Funk at 471.8522.  The lay minister at the helm of R4R is Joy Fredrick. 
To read article recently published in Colorado Springs Gazette:
http://www.gazette.com/articles/looked-114031-attention-trash.html
 
Interfaith Hospitality Network - IHN
 
First Untied Methodist Church (FUMC) participates in a cooperative program with other churches in Colorado Springs, called the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) or just "The Network".  Each congregation in The Network provides overnight lodging and meals for up to 16 people (three or four families) for one week, two to four times each year.
Our guests are families who are temporarily without a home, due to accident, illness, or other emergency.  Each family has been screened by social workers before being accepted into the program.  Families stay in the church for seven nights, starting on Sunday evening through the following Sunday morning.  Families arrive "home" each day around 5:00 pm and leave by 7:00 am the following morning.  Families go to the IHN day center each morning to prepare for school or jobs or pursuing affordable housing.  They receive counseling and support from licensed IHN social workers.  Most families regain economic stability and are able to leave The Network within two to three months.
Volunteers in the IHN program provide homeless families with basic human needs - shelter, safey, and sustenance - with a spirit of warmth and hospitality.  In addition to setting up rooms, furnishing meals, and overnight hosting, volunteers do simple but immeasurably important things.  They talk to guests.  They listen to them.  They treat them with respect.  Volunteers can be a source of hope when hope has been lost.
If you are interested in more information about Interfaith Hospitality Network IHN at FUMC, please contact Katy Adams at katy_adams@comcast.net or Rev. Marlene Urban-Funk at marlenef@fumc-cs.org.
For more information about IHN in Colorado Springs, follow this link:  http://www.ihn-cos.org/
 
Habitat for Humanity - Apostle's Build

We have joined hands with 11 other local congregations to build a home for a family who deserves it.  Work began in May 2011.  Over 35 members of FUMC have  agreed to get their hammers and head out to the work-site at Woodmen Vistas.  In addition to these volunteers we have raised nearly $5, 000 from our congregation to pay for a portion of the home.  Some of our members have kindly agreed to keep our crew fed on at least one of these Saturdays.
To learn more about how you can join the Habitat Apostle's Build crew contact Rev. Marlene Urban-Funk at 471.8522 or via email at marlenef@fumc-cs.org.  Our fearless leader for this ministry is Gordon Kunzman.
 
Here is more about our local Habitat for Humanity Chapter: 
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity does not build fancy houses.  We build affordable homes-homes that provide much more than shelter.  Our homes give low-income families the chance to experience the pride, dignity, and self-sufficiency of home-ownership.
 
Habitat families truly own their homes and are required to make a significant investment in order to become home-owners.  Families not only agree to pay back their zero interest, 30-year mortgage, they also save money and contribute a down-payment and invest 350-450 hours of sweat-equity into the construction of their own home, the construction of another home, or the execution of administrative tasks at the Habitat office.
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity truly provides a hand-up.  Families are empowered to purchase a home and to remain self-sufficient in that home for years to come.
Habitat's relationship with each family extends far beyond the doorstep of their new home.  The 30-year mortgage financed by Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity evolves into a 30-year relationship.  Habitat works with each family to ensure that they make their monthly payment- and provides counsel and assistance when they cannot  Before and during the home-building process, families receive financial counseling; help with debt-consolidations, and classes on yard and home maintenance.
http://www.pikespeakhabitat.org/Home.aspx
 
 

Human Justice Ministry & Fair Trade

The Human Justice Ministry of First United Methodist Church celebrates the full humanity of each woman, man and child, all created in the image of God, as individuals of infinite worth.
With this new and expanding ministry we envision, support and seek to aid in bringing about "A world free of slavery and the exploitation of human beings."
Our mission as we tackle the complex issues surrounding human trafficking, exploitation, and oppression throughout our world is:  "Through powerful awareness building, we will equip our congregation and our local community to be smart activists who use their prayer, purchasing power and knowledge of the world in ways that liberate those who are held captive."

Finally we hope to use a variety of means to bring awareness to the presence of these critical issues affecting millions across the globe.
We hope many will join with us in the following:
  • Raising awareness of global slavery
  • Promoting conscientious consumption
  • Supporting legislative awareness
  • Participating in Freedom Sunday activities
 

Buy Fair Trade at The Gate

Located on the main level of our church, near the Welcome Desk is a bookstore with a heart.  The store manager is a great resource on Fair Trade and sells a wide variety of fair trade gifts and consumables.  Do you know who picked the cocoa for that chocolate bar you bought at the corner store?  Do you know who made that necklace or that scarf you picked up at the local department store?  You will be assured that the items you purchase from the Fair Trade labeled inventory and sections are free from any slave labor practices.  Fair wages were paid to hard workers for their job well done and buying these items will make a world of difference, for both you and for them!!
Come by and peruse the great selection of books and the beautiful fair trade collection at The Gate.
Click for open hours:  http://www.fumc-cs.org/Outreach/TheGateBookstore/tabid/2053/Default.aspx
 
 

KAIROS Prison Ministry

KAIROS means "God's special time" in Greek.  The mission of the KAIROS Prison Ministry is to bring Christ's love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families, and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of becoming a productive citizen.  KAIROS volunteer teams of 30-40 dedicated men and women  go into prisons to pray, share love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, share meals, and fellowship with the incarcerated on a one-on-one basis.  The first visit is a 3-day event, during which time the team teaches a short introductory course on Christianity.  Subsequent visits are monthly half-day reunions with the prisoners over a 12-month period.
Savings to the taxpayer are substantial.  As one former prisoner put it, "It cost the governments about $1,000,000.00 to try me and to imprison me for several years, but a $100 program keeps me out!"  In addition to having a positive impact on prisoners, the program has a very favorable effect upon volunteers.  Many volunteers acknowledge that the team training, with its emphasis on introspection, honesty, sharing, and community, enhances their own spirituality.
We encourage you to prayerfully consider how you might be used in "God's special time" with Kairos.
If you are interested in more information about KAIROS Prison Ministry, please contact Roland (Ozzie) Oswald at bettya@q.com.
To learn more about KAIROS International follow this link:
http://www.kairosprisonministry.org/
 


First Stars - A Special Ministry to Local Families at Christmastime

At Christmas, we participate in a gift drive for local families that are unable to afford Christmas presents.  The First Stars mission gathers names of local school children, along with their clothing and toy gift ideas.  Our volunteers make "stars" with the student information and members of our congregation select one or more stars and purchase the requested items. The wrapped gifts are returned to the church and our hard-working "elves" organize and distribute the gifts to the students at school, during the week before Christmas. 

This mission truly captures the meaning of Christmas and spreads Christ's love to children and their families in need.  First Stars is a wonderful mission, but is very labor intensive and requires many "elves" (volunteers) during a very hectic time of year.
If you are interested in helping to bring special joy to some hard-hit local families and would like more information about how you can be a blessing this Christmas through our First Stars, please contact Val Stephenson at v.stevenson@comcast.net.
 


Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM)

First United Methodist Church  is one of eight downtown churches that established Ecumenical Social Ministries as a nonprofit organization in 1982.  At the time, each of these churches was involved in social ministry to those in need in small ways.  By collaborating, they have been able to combine financial, in-kind and volunteer resources to serve the most vulnerable. 
Considered an outreach extension for the community, ESM responds to the emergency social service needs of low-income, homeless and unemployed individuals and families in Colorado Springs.  In addition to our overall financial and volunteer support to ESM, our congregation also collects food items each month for the Food Pantry program, and oversees First Fund.  With the generosity of our members, First Fund collects tens of thousands of dollars yearly that are distributed by ESM, specifically for medical needs.
To find out more about all the services provided by ESM, follow this link:
http://www.ecusocmin.org/
 

The Green Team
 
In Genesis 2:15, God puts Adam in the Garden of Eden to till the earth and keep it - an equally good translation would be "to serve and preserve the earth".  We at First United Methodist Church take seriously God's intention for Creation and want to do our part.  The Green Team is actively seeking ways to reduce waste and energy consumption in the church building as well as in our members' homes. We are dedicated to educating our community on ways that they can make a positive impact on their God-given environment through articles, film series, and other venues.  FUMC is also a host site for a Colorado Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program which enables and encourages the community to eat in ways that are healthier and more sustainable for the Earth.
The Green Team meets on the 3rd Monday of every month. 
If you would like more information or wish to become a part of this effort, please contact Rev. Tom Lank at toml@fumc-cs.org


For more information about the commitment of the United Methodist Church to global missions:

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/

http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/
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