MISSIONS & OUTREACH
OU seeks to reach out to others in Christian mercy and compassion. If you would like to be more involved in the mission and outreach ministries of our church, please contact Claire Dobbs, 662-234-5278.
Bahamas Methodist Habitat Mission Trip
January 12-19, 2013
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey eveyrthing I have commanded you."
--Matthew 28:19-20a
Bahamas Methodist Habitat is a disaster relief and emergency home repair outreach ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the United Methodist Church, through which volunteers serve together to repair and build homes for low-income families in the Bahamas. Their goal is to imporve the living conditions and lifestyle for families in need in the Bahamas, while offering transforming experiences for volunteers and homeowners alike by sharing and receiving the love of Christ.
Fourteen OUUMC members will make this trip in January. Please keep our mission team in your prayers as they prepare for and go on the trip.
Mission Trip Wish List: Please help support our team by donating from this list. Thank you!
***
Listed here are ministries our church currently supports:
Interfaith Compassion Ministries: ICM is a collaborative effort among local churches to provide assistance with basic needs such as rent, utilities and prescription drugs in to people in Lafayette County who face crisis situations. Lena Wiley serves as the director of ICM and works closely with members of OU to provide for those in need of financial help.
The Pantry: The Pantry is Oxford's food distribution agency serving the needy. It is run entirely by volunteers. The Pantry helped almost 8,000 clients last year, including more than 40 homebound whose food is delivered. Clients under the age of 65 are served on Wednesday; clients aged 65 or older come on Thursday.
Empty Bowls: Empty Bowls is a fundraiser for The Pantry. Each February, potters donate handmade bowls which are filled by soups from many local restaurants.
Leap Frog: The Leap Frog Program is a non-profit after-school tutoring and enrichment program for first and second graders in the Oxford City and Lafayette County schools in Mississippi. We offer one-on-one tutoring four days a week to participating students. Leap Frog is able to offer these services free of charge to the students through the use of dedicated volunteers, public contributions and support from our local United Way.
To learn more about the program, visit www.theleapfrogprogram.org.
Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian ministry founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Habitat builds with people in need regardless of race or religion and welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds.
Oxford-Lafayette Habitat has built 12 houses in Lafayette County, six of which were sponsored by O-U. O-U member Mary Sexton Loria serves as the current president.
For more information, visit www.olemiss.edu/orgs/habitat/ol_default.html.
Medical Ministries Clinic: Marlene Bishop heads The Medical Ministries Clinic, located off Highway 7 South. The clinic serves the working poor who have no health insurance and meet certain income guidelines. On Tuesday evenings, clients are served by licensed doctors, nurses, a pharmacist, medical technologists and other health care professionals who volunteer without pay. Services include primary care for adults with chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure or diabetes, limited laboratory testing ordered by OMMC doctors, prescription medicines (no controlled drugs), heath education counseling and basic x-rays. The clinic is open Monday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. for screening, referrals, pharmacy services, monitoring, and patient education.
For the past several years, OUUMC has tithed and contributed 10% of the building fund to the Oxford Medical Ministries Clinic, over $23,500.
For more information, visit www.oxfordmmc.org.
Camp Lake Stephens: Camp Lake Stephens has been a part of the ministry of the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for over 60 years. Located just east of Oxford off Highway 334, the camp hosts over 1,500 kids each summer and offers a better understanding of what a Christian community is. The camp provides a safe and exciting time away from home for kids all across the state. CLS has been an integral part of growing up for many children and adults in this church for many years.
For more information, visit www.camplakestephens.com.
Living Waters for the World: Living Waters for the World work provides clean drinking water for people in areas of the world where it is not readily and inexpensively available. With clean water, health of populations improves dramatically. O-U has a Living Waters team trained to assess water needs and establish covenant relationships with international partners, provide health and education for use of clean water, and help partners to install and maintain sustainable water systems. We have set up systems in Iturbide, Campeche, Mexico, and Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. A third site will be established soon.
Boy Scouts: For 53 years, OUUMC has been the sponsor church for Cub Scout Pack 4. It is considered one of the top four packs north of Highway 82 based on quality and membership. There are currently 60 boys in the pack being taught lessons in citizenship, character, and responsibility by their dedicated pack leaders. The group meets the third Monday of each month during the school year in our Activities Center.
Angel Tree: The O-U Angel Tree provides Christmas gifts for many needy children—children who otherwise might not receive much—in our community. Our local Salvation Army provides us the names and information for these children. This information—age, clothing sizes, and desires—is printed on angels and hung on a tree outside the Activities Center. Many O-U members volunteer each year to take an angel or several or even a amily of angels and purchase clothing and/or toys for these children. Often cards from our children's Sunday School classes are included with these gifts.
Boys and Girls Club: the Boys and Girls Club in Oxford is a safe place that provides a positive and productive outlet for children of our community when they have free time and might otherwise be in the streets. They do so by offering tutoring and homework help, recreational activities, and programs on health and life skills, character development and leadership, and fitness. An average of 125 kids attend the local club every day. The staff is dedicated to helping these children reach their full potential by offering them a sense of belonging, usefulness, and competence and providing positive role models.