Risk Taking Mission and Service

Our heart and vision is to intentionally develop and extend the outward focus of our church to city, the nation and the nations of the world.

True community transformation requires moving beyond peaceful coexistence into a deeper Holy Spirit inspired unity of understanding and partnering with other churches/streams at local, national and international levels. To SERVE the CHURCH and to add value to its community – spiritually, ethically, relationally and socially.

Risk-taking pushes us out of our comfort zone, stretching us beyond service to people we already know, exposing us to people, situations, and needs that we would never ordinarily encounter apart from our deliberate intention to serve Christ.   Congregations who practice Risk-taking Mission and Service offer endless opportunities for people to make a difference in lives of others through service projects, volunteer opportunities, and mission initiatives.
 

Risk Taking Mission

Juarez Mexico - Operacion HOGAR
Since 2005 the LPUMC VIM team has made annual trips to Juarez Mexico. Working with Operacion HOGAR we have been able to move families from pallet to cinder block homes.

Mozambique Initiative
The Mozambique Initiative is a Missouri Conference ministry that partners churches, groups and individuals of the UMC in Missouri with congregations and districts of The United Methodist Church in Mozambique.

Service

Shalom House (formerly Metro Ministry)
LPUMC prepares a meal on the third Saturday of each month for twenty-five women living in Shalom House's Emergency Shelter. Shalom House is located at 1040 S. Taylor Avenue in the Central West End.

Shalom House offers innovative programs to empower women who are homeless and mentally ill to seek treatment and acquire the skills needed to become self-sufficient. The UMC is a partner with Shalom House.

The Bridge - At Centenary UMC
The Bridge is an outreach ministry of the United Methodist Church located in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The Bridge opened its doors in December 2005 and in its first year of service served over 50,000 noon time meals to homeless and food insecure persons.

Although The Bridge offers meals, The Bridge is not a “soup kitchen”, The Bridge is access to human social services. The Bridge staff provide a welcoming environment where people can come in and rest and get out of the elements. The Bridge offers sanctuary. The Bridge offers many services including providing a permanent mailing address, voice mail boxes (in partnership with the Human Development Corporation), and birth certificates and identification, all services that lower barriers to shelter and employment.

On the first Monday of each month a group of LPUMC volunteers make a 2 hour commitment from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Volunteers help serve and clean up the meal. Optimal group size is 8-10 persons. Minimum group size is 6 persons.

Reading Mentors - Hodgen Elementary School
A lack of reading skills severely handicaps a cild throughout his/her life.  For one half hour a week volunteers from LPUMC mentor students at Hodgen Elementary School.  There are always more children than mentors.

McKinley Peace Garden
We have created a garden at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy.  The garden includes vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees.  It is a place for students to learn and hang out.  There is always a project in progress at the McKinley Peace Garden .

Habitat for Humanity
LPUMC annually provides teams to assist other United Methodist Churches in building homes, working with Habitat for Humanity.