Urbana UMC is a mission-minded church. We take seriously God’s command to reach out with love to those who are facing difficult times. We are developing a ready response team for local, regional, and international needs.

We demonstrate with our actions, not just our words. We are the hands and feet of God’s love meeting the needs of human suffering. UUMC defines missions and the Christian community as the visible, earthly expression of the kingdom of God’s love to those in need. Check out a just a couple of mission ministries ongoing at Urbana UMC…

The WhereHouse

This outreach is one of the most exciting emerging visions in the life of UUMC. The core value of the WhereHouse is when Jesus said, “When you’ve done it unto the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it unto me.”

The expressions of God’s love include:

• Provide food and clothing
• Financial counseling and seminars
• Furniture and appliances
• School supplies
• Parenting classes
• Temporary housing
• Tutoring
• Home repair through Hammer Down Ministries
• Credit repair workshops
• Car repair
• Much more!!

Each month our church collects food items to meet needs. Keep a look out for the WhereHouse bins located in various places around the church.

For more of what’s happening through The WhereHouse, click here for WhereHouse new updates.

Choosing Wisely Before You Divorce

Choosing Wisely Before You Divorce is a nondenominational, faith and reality based tool that helps Champaign County couples who are considering a separation or divorce. Pastors, marriage counselors, and professionals on DVD’s inform couples of the many effects of divorce.

Private meetings with the facilitator, Lynn Adell Mirtes (937-653-5324), are held in the lower level of the Urbana United Methodist Church on the corner of North Main & Church Streets in Urbana, Ohio. Workbooks for each spouse cost $12. Each of the 5 sessions is about 90 minutes or the workbook can be sold separately if couples aren’t viewing the DVD’s.

Choosing Wisely Before You Divorce was developed by Church Initiative. For More information, call Urbana United Methodist Church (937) 653-3741 or, Marriage Resource Center in Springfield (937) 324-3604.

If you know a couple who might be open to seeking God’s help with their marriage problems, please take them a brochure located on the table outside the main office in the church, or purchase a workbook to give them.

Kairos Prison Ministry

Kairos is a Christian ministry designed for use in men’s and women’s correctional institutions. The purpose is to help build and nurture strong Christian communities among the residents in the institutions. The Kairos experience is a 3 day event involving 30-42 inmates and 40-60 lay and clergy persons.

If you feel God calling you to prison ministry, there are several ways you could be involved:

• Sign up for the PRAYER VIGIL. Pray at home, at church, or at work for one hour during the weekend. Sign up sheets and prayer resources are available on the table by the parlor.
• Commit to BAKE COOKIES. 10,000 dozen cookies are needed for every Kairos weekend. Directions for baking and packing them are at the Welcome Center outside the Sanctuary and on the landing outside of The CORE. Cookies can be brought to the church. There is a drop-off box outside of the parlor.
• Make a FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION. Any amount is appreciated and tax deductible. It costs approximately $125 per participating inmate per weekend. Checks can be made payable to “Kairos Prison Ministry of Ohio”. Please give to Sandy Wood or mail to: Kairos Prison Ministry of Ohio, PO Box 14490, Columbus, OH 43214.
• Consider being a TEAM MEMBER for a future Kairos weekend. See Sue Markley, Suzie Phillips, or Sandy Wood for applications.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world thorugh gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good New of God’s love. Along with shoe box gifts, millions of children are given Gospel booklets in their own language.

How can you help?

• Bring in empty shoe boxes by November 1st to be wrapped in Christmas paper.
• Fill a box with toothpaste, toothbrush, washcloth, soap, comb or brush, crayons, pencils or pens, writing pad or coloring book, socks and toys. (Boxes are distinguished between boys and girls and also by age: 3-6 yrs old, 6-12 yrs old, and 13-18 yrs old.)
• Bring in separate items and we will fill the boxes for you
• Donate money to ship the boxes or buy supplies. It costs $5 to ship each box.

Contact Londa Schwierking at 484-6859 for more information. This mission is sponsored by the 5th & 6th grade sunday school class.