Witness and Evangelism

The Witness/Evangelism Committee seeks to welcome strangers and the un-churched to GUMC and lead ministries, which will aid in their becoming disciples for Christ through membership in GUMC. Through prayer and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Witness/Evangelism committee will use its gifts to embrace all who seek Christ, provide Christian nurture, encouragement, and guidance to those persons who desire to become a member of the fellowship of Christian believers and disciples through membership in GUMC. Responsibilities of the Witness & Evangelism Committee include:

1)    To be a witness of Christ’s love to the un-churched as well as those who share our faith.

2)    To discover ways to reach out to our community in Christian love and with a genuine welcoming spirit.

3)    To develop a congregational environment that is welcoming, encouraging, and inviting.

4)    To seek ways to involve the membership of Grace to be a part of the welcoming and assimilating of persons to become members equipped to serve as disciples of Christ.

5) To work with the ministers to determine plans and goals relating to church growth, which are consistent with Grace’s Mission/Vision Statement, thereby empowering our new members for worship, fellowship and service.

6) To discover and implement ministries focused on encouraging inactive members to return to active membership.

Narthex Greeters

Narthex greeters serve as a part of our hospitality team by giving a warm and sincere welcome to our members, and especially to our visitors. Greeters are eager and willing to inform visitors about our church, to assist in helping them find their way around the church, and to serve in any way needed. Contact Lee Koehler to volunteer. 

Parking Lot Ministry

Grace Church’s Parking Lot Ministry involves adult members and youth. “Visitor Parking” signs are in place on Sunday morning so that newcomers can park conveniently and be welcomed into Grace Church. Visitors are welcomed at their cars, helped with children, given directions, or assisted in finding classes. This is one way Grace Church welcomes others to our church.  

Doorstep Visitation

The Doorstep Visitation volunteers stop by the home of those who have worshiped at our church for the first time. This takes place on the Sunday afternoon of their church visit. A friendly “doorstep” greeting and thanks for the interest in Grace, along with a small gift is given on this short, but important contact.  You may get in touch with Brandi Howard to volunteer for this area of ministry.

Fellowship Friends

Our Fellowship Friend Program assists new members in becoming involved in the life of Grace. Grace members are assigned to new members to help in this process. Lou Ann Sink is the coordinator of this valuable program. Contact her if you would like to help new members feel a part of our Grace family. 

Igniting Ministry

This outreach program is the ongoing evangelism ministry of the United Methodist Church. Modern technology and the common language of television are being used to spread the good news of Christ to the world. This campaign’s slogan is “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors...The People of the United Methodist Church.” The focus of this ministry is to increase awareness and recognition of the United Methodist Church’s basic beliefs, to foster among non-members a positive feeling and willingness to visit a Methodist church and to renew a sense of commitment in United Methodists.  

Congregational Care

Volunteers visit our church members who are home bound, in assisted living centers, or reside in health care home. Volunteers visit from two to five members every other month. The purpose of this program is to let these members know that even through they are unable to attend services, they are still important to us. Please prayerfully consider serving as a volunteer visitor. Special skills are not required, just call Charlie Timmons at 278-2679 to share your smile!  

Prayer Ministry

Members of Grace Church’s Prayer Ministry seek to uphold to ministries, staff members, and lay members of our extended church family. Members of this ministry seek God’s miraculous intervention in the lives of hurting people, in the church, and community. Members pray for one hour daily over prayer requests received and updated weekly. Cards are then sent to the individuals on our prayer list each week as a reminder that God is with them.  

National Health Care Devotional Readers

Involvement in this ministry holds lots of opportunities to spread God’s word in a special way. As a devotional reader, you’ll be scheduled to lead off a time of worship with NHC residents approximately once every three months. If you have free time on the third and fourth Tuesday of the month at 2:15 pm, you’ll want to consider this special way to serve others!

Commission on Missions/Outreach 

The primary focus of the Commission on Missions/Outreach is the prayers and efforts directed toward fulfilling the vision statement of Grace United Methodist Church. We pray to become a family of faith, trusting in Christ, immersed in God’s Word, constantly in prayer; A community of joy, made new by the Holy Spirit worshiping and praising our Lord, giving ourselves and our gifts to God’s kingdom; Ambassadors of God’s love, embracing all who seek Christ, providing Christian nurture, offering the hope of Christ to the world.

The members of the Commission on Missions/Outreach pray to become a group of faith filled Missioners, who give themselves and their gifts to God’s kingdom in order to make disciples of Jesus Christ, who nurture the entire congregation in order that we all would become Missioners as lead by the Holy spirit, and who offer the hope of Christ to the world through tangible help. We rely on the Holy scriptures for our strength to accomplish this:

· Luke 24:49 God’s power sustains the church in mission.

· Matthew 28:18-20 By the authority of the God of justice, mercy, and peace, the risen Jesus sends the church into mission partnership with God.

· John 17: 17-18 God’s authority sends the church into mission. 

God’s revelation in Jesus Christ defines the church in mission. Mission is God’s mission and not simply our efforts to help God. Because God’s light shines in every corner of the earth, and because God’s mission extends to all creation, there are no places in the world where God is not present, only places where God in Christ is not yet known, acknowledged, served, or heeded. Thus, we at Grace, are in partnership in God’s mission which is global in focus and local in expression.  

Our Commission on Missions/Outreach meets the second Tuesday of every other month at 6:00 p.m.  All of God’s people are encouraged to participate.

Commission on Missions/Outreach Chair: Carolyn Dickson (279-9451)

Coordinator of Medical Mission Trips: Janis Collins (278-2495)

Coordinator of Construction Mission Trips: Bobby Oliver (613-1768)

Coordinator of Monthly Mission workdays: Ray Griffin (279-7301) 

Following is a list of mission projects of which Grace United Methodist Church is involved.

Join us as we uphold our church with our service as a

missionary of Jesus Christ!

Local Missions

Alston Wilkes Society

The Alston Wilkes Society is a statewide private, non-profit membership organization recognized nationally and internationally for assisting in rehabilitation of adult and juvenile offenders and former offenders, their families, veterans, homeless people, and emotionally disturbed youth and their families. This ministry is supported by local United Methodist churches, private donations, membership dues, contracts, grants, and the United Way.  In Aiken County, The Alston Wilkes Society provides services through a Regional Community Service Coordinator. Be in prayer for this ministry as Grace lends her support. Rev. Dr. James C. Adams is a Board Member.

Community Ministry of North Augusta

This organization is designed to help those in our community who are in need of assistance in many areas. Applicants are screened by an interviewer who determines ways that CMONA can help. This ministry is staffed and supported largely by local churches that provide volunteers. Grace’s mission budget contributes monthly to CMONA. You can be a tremendous help by volunteering at CMONA. Presently, Grace has two board members: Rev. Dr. James C. Adams and Suzanne Fletcher.

Community Ministry Thrift Store

The Thrift Store offers food and clothing to our community at a reduced price. All revenues generated go toward assisting CMONA clients. Volunteer duties include sorting clothes, processing applications, merchandising the store, and more. You are needed as a volunteer in this ministry. Contact Mildred Weeks at 279-4695 for more information.

Epworth Children’s Home

Epworth Children’s Home was established in 1895 by the South Carolina Annual Conference of the Methodist Church and chartered by the Act of the South Carolina General Assembly as Epworth Orphanage. Epworth provides child care, counseling, and related services to families and children, without regard to race, religion, national origin or ability to pay. Whether the function of group care is to provide short term shelter, long term care or residential treatment, education or training, the primary goal is always to work towards the child’s optimum involvement in family life, even in situations where total reunification is not possible. Contact Grace UMC office at 279-7525 for additional information.

Habitat for Humanity

Building habitat homes can make a long-term impact, both physically and spiritually, on the working poor. Grace’s mission budget contributes quarterly to the Habitat for Humanity North Augusta project. As well as contributing funds, Grace also physically participated in the building of six Habitat houses in North Augusta in recent years. There are many opportunities both for skilled and unskilled people to get involved, including construction of the house, financial donations, helping to provide meals for workers, and donating supplies. Let your faith BUILD! Contact Barry Whitney for more information at 278-2893.

Helping Fund

This Grace UMC established fund helps those in need that are unable to receive assistance from other established resources. This help includes families in crises, new ministries, contingence request, UMCOR, and other local and national emergencies. You can help by being sensitive to those in need and notifying Carolyn Dickson at 279-9451 or the church office at 279-7525.  

Killingsworth Home

Killingsworth, located in Columbia, S.C., is a care-giving community residence for women who are emerging from crisis situations. Within the eight bedroom home women recovering from alcohol and/or drug abuse, incarceration, mental and emotional problems, violence and assault, or family crisis situations can find shelter and support in a home that is staffed 24 hours a day with trained personnel. If you would like to be a supportive member, contact Barbara Adams at 279-7527. 

Mission Workdays

This program is supported by the Senior High youth as part of ROCK Stars (Reaching Out in Christian Kindness) on the 3rd Saturday each month or as scheduled by the coordinator. Volunteers are asked to meet in the church parking lot at 8:00 a.m. to go out into the community

assisting with local home repairs and/or yard work. Construction expertise is not required, just a willingness to be of help to someone who does not have the means to do the work themselves. All ages are encouraged to participate. (Please accompany your youth under age 16). Grace’s coordinator in this area is Ray Griffin and can be reached at 279-7301. The mission budget provides all supplies needed at no cost to the qualifying recipients. Please let Ray or the church office know of anyone in need of assistance. 

Prison Ministry

This worship service, led by members of Grace, takes place at Trenton Correctional Institute on assigned Sunday mornings from 8:00-9:00 a.m. The church van leaves the church parking lot at 7:00 a.m. Participants must notify the coordinator, Lou Wegner at 278-1190,  a week in advance if planning to attend. Plan to worship at Trenton Correctional Institute and receive a special blessing. 

Project Angel Tree

During the Advent season on Sundays, November 28 and December 5, our congregation will have the opportunity to provide Christmas gifts for the children of prison inmates. There are many ways you can become involved. One can make phone calls, shop for gifts, help individuals select the “angel” for which they would like to shop, and organize and deliver the gifts. This year, Grace has the goal of providing for 85 children with Christmas gifts. In addition, during the summer, Grace UMC is prepared to sponsor candidates to Camp Long Ridgeray. Contact Carolyn Dickson at 279-9451 for more information on ways you can help.

National and International Missions

Bolivia

Under the auspices and direction of UMVIM and Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en Bolivia, Grace sponsors a team of missioners on a yearly basis to administer physical and spiritual aid to the impoverished people of Bolivia. You can support this ministry by being a Missioner, by praying for the team, by participating in and supporting the fund raisers, or by contributing to requested supplies. Interested volunteers are invited to fill out an application form obtained from the church office. Contact Janis Collins at 278-2495 or Bobby Oliver at 613-1768 for more information.

Grace UMC also sponsors Dakin Cook, a United Methodist Missionary, serving in Bolivia. This support is budgeted on a quarterly basis. You can correspond with our missionary at: 

Dakin Cook     Casilla 13565 LaPaz, Bolivia 

His e-mail address is: dakin@ceibo.entelnet.bo 

Jose Luis Chambi Endowment Fund

Through an endowment fund, Grace currently funds the education for three Bolivian children attending a private Christian school in Caranavi, Bolivia. These children not only receive educational instruction, but moral and spiritual guidance as well. 

Haiti

Haiti’s Health Program is in need of financial support. Grace UMC, through an annual donation from the mission budget, is helping. Financial support is needed to continue the work of seven health clinics which provide the only health care for the communities they serve.  

Salkehatchie Summer Service Program

This program of the South Carolina Conference Board of Global Ministries, is a servant ministry at selected sites in South Carolina. Participants include high school (you must be at least 14) and college age youth, adult community leaders, and persons of different cultures who are engaged in upgrading housing and motivating cooperative efforts by helping people to help themselves, while providing participants with opportunities for personal growth and service. Involvement requires one week of your time. Contact the Youth Director for more information at 279-7525.