Missions Vision - To keep our congregation knowledgeable as to God’s work through our many missions activities:
Brenda is a Missionary working thru Orphans Unlimited in Balama, Mozambique. She works providing food, medical care and housing to orphans of Africa. She meets the children and widow’s physical needs in order to share the gospel with them. We have partnered with her for nearly three years and have provided her with funds to build the Mangp Methodist Church and for water wells, clothing and food among other needs. We sent a committee member, Chris Nagowski to Balama to personally view the work at the mission station and to see the church we had built. We hope to send other teams to Balama. Brenda herself comes yearly to First Church to share with us what God is doing in Mozembique and she also writes a blog that anyone who wants updates can sign up to receive via email.
Our missionaries have been there for 4 years and are closely related to Butler as Kris Ann’s parents are John and Rebecca Oesterling (Crossfire Service). Their particular challenge is working in a fishing village that the population changes constantly with many different believers and non-believers. We help them with supplies necessary for the schooling of the children and the many needs of the fishermen. They are trained in the Suicide ASIST Training program as suicide is a huge problem in Alaska and they are often called to work and pray with persons and families dealing with this issue. God has been good to them as they work among the people with God’s direction.
David and Gerd LePoidevin and their children, Karina (16), Sylvia (14), and Thomas (12), serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship at the Nampula base in Mozambique, Africa. "We feel privileged to have been able to plant and manage the MAF Mozambique Program which now serves many dedicated missionaries and development organizations in northern Mozambique." Dave flies hundreds of hours each year transporting missionaries, relief and development staff. He says, "My real vision is to see this program grow into a vital resource for reaching the most remote peoples of northern Mozambique with the Good News of Jesus." MAF-Mozambique has also recently partnered with a local Christian operator as a capacity building partner.
Dave LePoidevin and Bill Gumpper became friends when they flew in neighboring countries for MAF. Through the recommendation of Bill Gumpper the First United Methodist Church of Butler started their support of Dave LePoidevin many years ago.
In February 2011, Dave LePoidevin personally shared his experiences in serving Christ with the congregation of the First United Methodist Church of Butler.
Dave currently is seeking support to fund the use of a car in Mozambique. Contributions can be made to the MAF with a note “For the LePoidevin vehicle project #4944.” These contributions can be sent to:
Mission Aviation Fellowship
PO Box 47
Nampa, ID 83653
Kenny Hiser
Kenny Hiser is a native of the Butler area and is a member of the Christ United Methodist Church of Butler. He is serving with the mission group, Servant’s to Asia’s Urban Poor. Servants to Asia’s Urban Poor is an international network of Christian communities living and working in the slums of Asia and the West, participating with the poor to bring hope and justice through Jesus Christ.
Kenny is serving Christ in the slum of Kolcutta, India.
EMILY BRITTAIN SCHOOL Partnership – Josh Taylor has been our liaison between First Church and Emily Brittain School by helping us to notice the needs of the teachers so we can help with art projects, bulletin boards, making copies and providing homework help at the beginning and end of each day. This also includes our RECESS program, shoes and socks or extra clothing for the School Nurse’s office for the kids who need it. First Church hopes to expand into Broad Street School starting with the 2011 Fall semester. A small group of the teachers formed before school and went through The Story. As a thank you we had a “Thank you for all you do” breakfast for the teachers.
PRISON RE-ENTRY Partnership – Susan Jeffries is the team leader who is able to work through Butler County red tape. The prisoners walk from the prison accompanied by a Correction Office every Wednesday night for 2 hours where the prisoners are taught with guest speakers, curriculum, small and large group time and of course with snacks. There have been special times that the prison has given permission for the prisoners to attend First Church functions. God is playing an awesome role in guiding the volunteers and prisoners to help them break the cycle of prison/drugs/alcohol/abuse. As a special thank you to the correction officers we provided them with a Thank You luncheon.
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community
Hot Metal is a bridge to Jesus Christ by participating in communion, welcoming all into community, listening and having compassion, growing in our faith and sharing Christ’s story with the community of the South Side, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the world.
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community is a church that was planted in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood in the fall of 2004. It uses a narrative style of worship that shares the story of God through drama and the arts, as well as traditional forms of worship.
Every week, following the service they share in a meal of tacos or soup or bagels…Through this meal, they seek to create authentic, intimate relationships with one another and with God. Communion, community and conversation are all vital elements of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community.
The Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community is located at 2700 Jane Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
The First United Methodist Church of Butler through the Mission Work Area has helped fund the physical renovation of the Hot Metal Church building.
They are a non-denominational Christian ministry on college and university campuses. They build witnessing communities of students and faculty who grow in love for God and learn to serve him in the world.
Today some 80,000 Mainland Chinese graduate students and scholars study or do research in the United States and Canada. Committed staff and volunteers share Christ’s love and truth with Chinese scholars and researchers at these universities. China Outreach Ministries seeks to equip at least 1000 transformed Chinese leaders annually, who will be trained and committed to return to China as indigenous ambassadors for the Gospel to their own people and culture.
OMS International (Japan) –
Dick and Judy Amos are missionaries to Japan. This Church has supported them for a number of years. During their recent trip this spring ( to Japan ) they visited the costal town of Ishinomaki , Dick evangelized here in the late 1950's; what they saw was almost beyond belief: Ishinomaki had been demolished by the ' tsunami '. The destruction and the stench was devasting.Dick and Judy were there
to help distribute much needed food and supples.
SPECIALTY OUTREACH SERVICES, INC. – Steve Six
They try to fulfill all of the needs presented to us on a daily basis, we need your help. By supporting SOS, you are sharing in the work that must be done, so that lives may be changed. We need your help as we recognize as a universal distress call of those in need. As an acronym of Specialty Outreach Services, it still echoes the cry of the lost and hurting people in need throughout Butler County and the surrounding area. You can help meet the needs through your prayers and financial support. It is SOS hope and prayer that you will respond by helping us to help others.
They were founded in 1925 and over the years the settlement has provided many services that all began with a school. Today the ministries include work camps in Kentucky and Tennessee, day care center, senior center, new mother support, agriculture opportunities and your ministries.
RED BIRD MISSION –
Red Bird Mission and Clinic have been providing ministries in the region of the Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern Kentucky since 1921. Today the need remains critical in this isolated, rural, distressed area. Chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing and rugged mountainous terrain provide obstacles to a fuller life for the residents of this area. RBM and Clinic strives to meet these needs through ministry in five areas: education, health and wellness, community outreach, economic opportunity, and community housing improvements. There are many volunteer opportunities for individuals as well as for groups.
ELIM FELLOWSHIP – China – Dean Baktay, Zelienople, PA
Ministry Description: Supporting campus ministries through facilitating worship, evangelistic concerts and motivational teaching. Dean also conducts worship seminars for church leaders in China and Singapore as well as providing resources such as Mandarin language teaching syllabi and professional music recordings.
Dean has a personal connection to our congregation through his involved in the Crossfire Service of the First United Methodist Church of Butler in the past.
LIGHTHOUSE – Dan Borchert, Executive Director
Since 1985 the Lighthouse has offered Transitional Housing programs, a Food Bank, a community meal, used furniture, appliances, and computer classes to serve those in need in our community. They maintain operations at five sites and servemore than 5000 people from northern Allegheny and Butler Counties annuallly. Their mission statement states that they exist to respond to hurting, needy people by sharing Christ's love while addressing their immediate needs with the resources provided by others in our community thereby giving them hope for the future while empowering them towards self-sufficiency. We have supported them for a number years for amounts up to $2000.
1302 East Cruikshank Rd
Butler PA 16002
724-898-4673
web site: thelighthouseonline.net
email: davemiller@thelighthouseonline.net