MIDWEST MISSION DISTRIBUTION CENTER, PAWNEE ILLINOIS
Midwest Mission Distribution Center, Pawnee Illinois
Since opening for ministry in 2000, Midwest Mission has been showing God’s Love in practical ways through the distribution of education, health, micro-business, and disaster relief supplies meeting basic human needs around the world and around the corner. A “hands-on” mission experience is provided to those who serve at Midwest Mission which brings hope to those receiving supplies.
Midwest Mission distributes its kits, resources and supplies locally, nationally, and internationally to those in need during a time of crisis. All supplies are given free of charge regardless of gender, race or religion. They one of nine cooperating depots in the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Supply Network. Midwest Mission distributes UMCOR supplies in response to disasters within the United States. Midwest Mission also partners with Christians in Mission, Food for the Poor, Franciscan Mission Warehouse Project C.U.R.E Kansas City and US Southern Command to bring the hearts and hands of God’s people together to transform resources into humanitarian relief.
Midwest Mission has few staff, so the vast majority of their mission is carried out by missionaries. Midwest Mission needs and loves its missionaries. Anyone from the age of 11 and up are welcome to join their Mission!
They strive to accommodate a wide variety of ability levels, from sit down work to manual labor. While at Midwest Mission, missionaries will:
• Pack kits
• Sort items
• Sew
• Help with mailings
• Build desks
• Repair bicycles & sewing machines
• Help load/unload supplies
• Or whatever the current requested needs are at the time
Check out the Midwest Mission Distribution Center’s website for more information:
Love In The Name of Christ (Love INC)
Love Inc is a ministry in the Cedar Valley that pools the strengths of area churches to reach out to those in need in the community. Our church, FirstUMC of Cedar Falls, is one of many member churches. Love INC grows from the fact that many times, people in need will approach a church for assistance. Unfortunately, many churches are not equipped to meet the variety of needs that are presented. That's not a failure of the churches - at their core, they are faith organizations, not relief agencies.
But, the Christian imperative is to help. Some churches are better helping in certain ways than in others, so Love INC works like this: when someone approaches a member church for assistance, they are referred to the Love INC intake office. Love INC staff then conducts an interview to fully determine the need, and which church is best able to assist. This allows churches to specialize in their area of expertise: food, infant supplies, transportation, moving assistance, rent and utility assistance, home maintenance and yard work, and more.
Our church's contribution to the Love INC mix is Wee Care, a ministry of providing infant and toddler supplies to families who find it difficult to purchase them. Wee Care will provide a family with diapers, hygiene products and clothing.
As Love INC works to transform the lives of their clients, the lives of the volunteers are transformed, as well, as they take stock of the blessings in their lives and experience the joy of sharing God's love with others. Love INC is non-denominational. By working across denominational lines, Love INC volunteers experience a greater sense of belonging to the larger body of Christ.
The people of God, working together, reaching out to each other and transforming lives - that Love, in the name of Christ.
Wee Care
Wee Care is our church's contribution to the Love INC effort. We gather supplies that families may need to care for infants and toddlers: diapers, clothing, hygiene products, etc. and provide them to those families who are referred to us through the Love INC system. This is an on-going effort, managed by volunteers within our church who determine what products are needed to be collected, manage the storage, and then distribute the products as families make appointments for pickup.
Northeast Iowa Food Bank
Northeast Iowa Food Bank serves individuals and institutions in an 11 county area, working to restore food security to all. It is a large operation based in Waterloo, Iowa, that includes dry and cool warehouse space, a community food pantry and office areas. Trucks come and go every day to receive and deliver food where it is needed. Our church provides a work crew for the food bank on the first Tuesday of every month, for two hours in the evening. Our tasks vary with the particular need of the day: sorting, stocking, packing. You are welcome to join our Food Bank Work Crew. Watch the monthly and weekly announcements for meeting times, and simply show up. Learn More: www.neifb.org
Reaching In - Congregational CAre
We have many outreach programs, but we wouldn't be a Christian congregation if we didn't reach in to take care of each other, too. In addition to the bonds of friendship that form when we worship, learn and work together, we have ministries in place to reach into our congregation to help and support those dealing with difficulty in their lives.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers are specially trained Christian friends who will walk with you through your dark hours and difficult times. To learn about our Stephen Ministry program, visit the Stephen Ministry page of this website.
Grief Support
Activities are planned for those coping with the loss of a loved one. A quarterly newsletter lists a wide range of opportunities including: lunch at a restaurant, potlucks, tours, and a monthly group grief support session. Activities are also listed each month in the church newsletter and weekly Good News.
Grief Support Sessions
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is a lonely and difficult time, and we encourage you to not do it alone. You are welcome at any of our grief support sessions, you do not need to be a member of the church to join us. We are here to help you in this challenging time. Meet us the first Tuesday of every month from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the church parlor.
Parish Visitation
If you are unable to come to the church, our visitation team will come to you. Our pastors and our two parish visitors are out and about nearly every day, making short visits, prayers, words of encouragement and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. We'll visit your home, your hospital room or care center - wherever you need us. To request a visit from our visitation team, call the church office at 319-266-1713.
the Bonds of Friendship
Most of our classes, small groups, musical ensembles and work areas are places where great friendships are formed and so they function as support groups for the people involved. As we interact and become more comfortable opening our lives to each other, we allow others to begin caring and praying for us. Join a small group, study or committee. Get to know us. Let us get to know you, and we'll be there for you.