The Iowa United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Committee is introducing a new, innovative program that will connect willing hands with church projects. “Building Connections” will allow local churches, who have priority needs but lack the people power to address the issues to seek help, from ready and willing volunteers.
Many of our small Iowa United Methodist Churches, with their work projects, would be linked up with volunteers who are capable and willing to offer their skills. Together the local church people and volunteers would plan the logistics of addressing the issues.
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For example, there is a small church in Southwest Iowa with an aging congregation and an average worship attendance of eighteen that is in desperate need of renovation. The outside of the building needed to be repainted, carpet replaced, kitchen remodeled, the sanctuary wallpaper removed, and walls repaired and repainted. A number of other construction issues needed to be addressed as well. Although some funds were available to complete these projects, no help was available to keep the building from further deterioration. Consequently, the workload fell mainly on two or three individuals to address whatever issues they could. This is an example of how a local church could get their project completed with the help of volunteers! |
UMVIM Building Connections can help link a local church needs with volunteers who can address them.
The plan is to send an “Application for Local Church Work Project Assistance” to all Iowa United Methodist Churches for review, consultation and completion. The form would be returned to a UMVIM member by a certain date. From these forms, a catalog of church projects will be listed on the website. In turn, volunteer groups will find a project that fits their skill level and time frame.
Volunteers will then complete an application form, have a brief orientation session and set off to work on the agreed time schedule.
This plan will start in mid spring, 2023 after the church project list is prepared and volunteers recruited. Watch for more information as it becomes available!
I Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”
This is the mantra of “Building Connections.”