Churches and Jesse’s House

 

 The Children’s Home is excited to welcome Ebenezer UMC and North Decatur UMC as our first two Site Churches for the summer of 2012! To learn more about how your church can partner with Jesse’s House, keep reading!

 

As the Body of Christ, the Church is called to be in ministry in its community and beyond. Jesse’s House is an opportunity for churches to do just that. Churches who are part of the ministry of Jesse’s House help children experience the wholeness of God’s love, and young adults grow as current and future leaders in the world.

 

There are two main ways for churches to be part of the ministry of Jesse’s House: as a Partner Church or a Site Church.

 

Partner Church

Jesse’s House provides Partner Churches an avenue for ministry with children, youth and young adults at a Jesse’s House site during our summer day camp. Churches have the opportunity to provide for changed lives and Kingdom growth.

 

Jesse’s House depends on Partner Churches to make the ministry happen. Partner Churches commit volunteer, financial and spiritual resources. This partner support is vital to the young adult interns and the children and youth they serve.

 

Partner Churches are asked to make a commitment to either:

  • Contribute $2,500 to Jesse’s House at UMCH to cover an intern’s stipend and help with housing costs

Or to do two of the following:

  • Provide volunteers (with background check) to read with the children for one or two weeks (Monday through Thursday) of the summer program.
  • Provide a week of meals (breakfast and dinner) for the 21 young adult interns (Sunday dinner through Friday breakfast)
  • Provide a week of healthy snacks for the children (morning and afternoon).
  • Provide program supplies (10 packs of construction paper, 10 pairs of children’s scissors, 10 Bibles, 10 packs of crayons, 10 packs of markers, 5 rolls scotch tape, 5 rolls masking tape, 3 staplers).

 

Click here to download the Partner Church Commitment.

 

For more information on being a Partner Church, contact Alison Wright.

 

 Site Church

Jesse’s House provides Site Churches a bridge into their surrounding communities, beginning with the children. Being a Site Church is a good fit for a church who looks out its window and sees children they want to minister to. Churches who are looking for new ways to love their neighbors will find that embracing Jesse’s House as a ministry of their church can lead to renewed energy and rejuvenated ministry.

 

The beginning of a new Jesse’s House site is the relationship between the potential Site Church and Jesse’s House as a ministry of the United Methodist Children’s Home. This relationship is one of covenant and joint ministry. Each part in the relationship makes multiple commitments and takes on multiple responsibilities. Click here for a printable fact sheet about Site Churches.

 

Churches must apply each year by December 15 to host a Jesse’s House site.

 

Click here to download the Site Church application.

 

For more information on being a Site Church, contact Alison Wright.

 

 Additional Ways to Help

Churches who are not able to commit as a Partner Church or Site Church can be a part of the ministry by picking one volunteer area. Some possibilities:

 

  • JH Woodstock UMC art supplies donationProvide ten reading volunteers (with background checks) for one week of the summer at a Jesse’s House site.
  • Hold a book drive to gather children’s book for our summer reading time. We have a Wish List on Amazon to help you know what to purchase.
  • Donate art supplies such as construction paper, markers, scissors, etc.
  • Teach an enrichment class such as art, language, cooking and music (open to volunteers’ gifts and calling).

For more information on volunteering with Jesse’s House, contact Sarah Paxton.