: : : : West Point First United Methodist Church Outreach : : : : :

West Point First United Methodist Church seeks to bring the love of Christ to all our neighbors. And who is our neighbor? The person we sit next to during Morning worship; the down and out who live around the block; those living in poverty in America and abroad; our friends in other denominations across our community; the unchurched; the unloved and unlovely. We feel God's call to share our time, our talent and our treasure.

Business By the Book :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Business By the Book, a lunch hour gathering, is held the first Tuesday of every other month from September-May. Designed for the business community, but open to all, the group gathers at 12 noon for a free buffet lunch, provided by different corporate sponsors, followed by an inspirational message presented by area business men and women.

West Point Food Closet ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Located in the bottom of the old West Point High School gym, The West Point Food Closet is an outreach ministry for residents of West Point and Lanett. Several local churches, including West Point FUMC, collect staple goods and raise money to stock the shelves. Additionally, members of each of the churches volunteer to work at the closet, which is open two mornings a week. Emergency help is also available.

Meals on Wheels ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Meals on Wheels program began in 1978 and since that time, a free hot lunch has been served five days a week to needy, home-bound people who either live alone or have no family support system. A local restaurant prepares the food and church members deliver the meals.

Soup Kitchen ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Every Thursday, from 12:00-12:30 p.m., a soup kitchen is operated out of the kitchen. This is a hearty, free meal available to anyone who is hungry. Adults and children alike gather to enjoy good food and each other’s fellowship. The kitchen is manned by teams of lay people from our own congregation and other churches in the area.

Local Mission Projects ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From time to time as the Mission Committee identifies needs, church members work together to repair, paint, build and/or generally clean up property and houses for local elderly citizens.

Habitat For Humanity ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Point First United Methodist is an active participant in Troup/Chambers Counties Habitat For Humanity building projects.

Foreign Mission Projects ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Mission Committee works with the Board of Global Ministries in seeking foreign mission projects in which members can take part. Central America and the Caribbean have been the focal points for these work/Bible projects. Currently, the church sends a mission team annually to Honduras to do construction work, to provide medical help and to lead a Vacation Bible School.

Youth Summer Missions::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Youth annually participate in either the Mountain T.O.P. experience, an outreach program in Appalachia or travel to a Caribbean nation to work in poverty stricken areas. The church is in mission with them by helping them to raise the necessary funds to go on the trip.

Foreign Missionary ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
First United Methodist supports a missionary in Panama as well as giving financial support to members who desire to do short term mission work.

Chattahooche Fuller Center Project ::::::::::::::::::
West Point FUMC is an active participant in CFCP homebuilding and renovation projects in the Valley area.

West Point Elementary Clothes Closet :::::::::::::::
Donations of new or good, clean used clothing are made by individual church members and groups within the church to support the Clothes Closet’s efforts to help underprivileged children at the elementary school. Additionally, the church celebrates Undie Sunday every August just before the new school year begins. Members bring new underwear, tee shirts and socks for the Clothes Closet.

Angel Tree Prison Ministry ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Each year at Christmas, the church receives names of local children who have a parent in prison. church members give money, shop for, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to these children in the name of their imprisoned parent. Additionally, the church provides food and other necessities for the family.

Christmas Caroling ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Sunday afternoon before Christmas is set aside for the church family to go Christmas Caroling to shut-ins within the church and wider community.

Faithweavers ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Faithweavers, a Bible exploration time for grades 1-5, meets on Wednesdays at 5:15 during the regular school year. A variety of engaging and memorable age-appropriate activities is employed.

Community Thanksgiving Meal :::::::::::::::::::::::
Each year on Thanksgiving Day, West Point FUMC participates in a community-wide Thanksgiving meal outreach. Free lunches are available for anyone who wants one. Recipients may eat at Bethlehem Baptist Church in West Point or get take-outs.

Prayer Chain ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Along with the Prayer Concerns posted on our web site, the church has a Prayer Chain, consisting of approximately 30 volunteers. Whenever a prayer need arises, the Prayer Chain director is notified and the call goes out.

Prayer Pager Ministry ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Anyone going through a difficult time who would like to have the collective prayers of the congregation is able to carry a pager free of charge. Once activated, the toll-free telephone number of the pager is distributed to the church family, notifying everyone that someone has asked for prayers. According to preference, the person's name and specific prayer request can be given out, or the person can remain anonymous. Any time a prayer is lifted up, the person praying dials the pager number, setting off a tone or vibration. The person carrying the pager won't know who prayed for him/her, only that someone has lifted them up to God.

Tape Ministry ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Each week, the Morning Worship Service is recorded and copies are made to be delivered to our shut-ins along with a copy of the Sunday bulletin and pertinent annoucements.

Heartline Ministry ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Whenever a funeral or memorial service is held at West Point First for members or former members, a meal is prepared and served for the family and out of town friends and relatives. Four different teams of volunteers alternate to provide this comfort for the families.

Flower Ministry :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Flower arrangements placed in the Sanctuary for Morning Worship that are not used for another purpose later, are taken apart, put in vases, and carried to shut-ins or to those sick in the hospital or at home.

C.I.A. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
C.I.A.--Christians in Action--is a ministry for senior adult church members who no longer drive or who don't have access to an automobile. Those who need transportation call the church office and volunteers are notified.