Missions
EMC supports many missions and missionaries, locally and globally. It is part of our DNA as a church to support those in need, wherever they can be found. Listed below are the ongoing missions but we also support short term endeavors by various groups within the church.
Englewood Helping Hand
Englewood Helping Hand is a community supported social services agency that distributes food and assists with utilities to Englewood residents. It is located on EMC’s campus and we are one of several churches and groups that provide funds, food donations and volunteers. They are open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:00-1:00 for food distribution. To volunteer, call Lance Anderson at 941-474-5864.
Medical Lending Closet
Medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, transport chairs, bedside commodes, shower chairs, canes, and more are available to the community for free. The equipment comes and goes on an honor system. Call the church office or stop by during office hours to borrow or donate.
Kid’s Emergency Dental Solution (KEDS)
Kid’s Emergency Dental Solution is a dental ministry administrated by EMC helping children in need to obtain preventative and corrective dental services. It provides financial assistance to at risk children, ages 5-18, in the Englewood community. There is an application process and a monetary limit to receive service.
Shoes for Kids
EMC supports this local program with an annual shoe drive to supply area children new shoes. The shoes are given out to the schools who give the shoes to children in need. We collect shoes and cash donations in July of each year.
Disaster Response
Disaster Response Team
The recovery after a major hurricane or other disaster takes 5 years. Working through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) we send out small teams to help with the aftermath of a storm in other locations including clearing brush, rebuilding and repairing homes. These trips can be one day or several depending on the mission. Carpentry trade skills are not needed but can be useful. Men and women are welcome. A new leader is needed for this ministry. If interested, please contact the church office 941-474-5588.
Appalachia Service Project (ASP)
Repairing homes, transforming lives. ASP brings thousands of volunteers from around the country to rural central Appalachia to repair homes for low-income families. Since 1969, they’ve made homes, warmer, safer, and drier. EMC usually takes a group once or twice a year. If interested in this ministry, please contact Margie Kennedy margie.kennedy6@gmail.com 207-233-3200 or Martin Bencsik pinesandbox@sbcglobal.net 734-788-1065.
Prison Ministries
Kairos Inside
Kairos Inside Program brings positive and negative leaders of a prison together for a 3 1/2 day weekend based on a series of presentations, discussions, chapel meditations, and music led by a same gender team of volunteers. Every aspect of the weekend is rich in listening and loving from the weekend volunteers and a Christian community will start to form. Incarcerated participants who are released re-enter the outside world with a God centered perspective and a new desire to become productive citizens. EMC Kairos ministry augments the Kairos Inside Program with special prison visits that include the 3 1/2 day “retreats,” half day reunions. Matt: 25:40 To learn more or volunteer, please contact Joe Chirillo at joechirillo9@gmail.com or Reginald Santiago at 239-940-6667.
Kairos Outside
Kairos Outside is a ministry devoted to the family and friends left on the outside. It offers a comforting, non-judging retreat for women to support each other as they journey through the incarceration of a friend of relative. To volunteer at Charlotte County Correctional or other facilities, call Steve Kennedy at 941-809-2191.
Helping Our Returning Neighbors (HORN)
Helping Our Returning Neighbors works to create opportunities for previously incarcerated men to enter society through transitional housing, life skills and job training. The program begins while participants are still incarcerated. This 501(3c) ministry has been established for two years, raising funds and serving previously incarcerated men. It is growing in exciting ways. For more information, to donate, or volunteer, contact Steve Kennedy at 941-809-2191.
Global Missions
Rising Star – Kayongo’s Hope
A school for orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda, Africa, founded by Ryan Kaminski. Ryan was called to this mission as a young man out of high school. Through his vision and God’s blessings, Rising Star Junior School opened in 2012 to 295 children. The school and outreach to families has continued to grow. www.k-hope.org
Cuba
EMC works with the United Methodist Church in Cuba through the Florida Conference. When possible, we take regular trips to Cuba to visit and support our 3 sister churches that we have committed to support financially with monetary donations, spiritually with prayers, and by donations of items desperately needed in the area. 100% of all monies given goes directly to a sister church. Dan Christopherson, Cuba Coordinator www.christforcuba.com
Ecuador
Dr. Jane in San Lorenzo, Ecuador has built a medical practice for the impoverished. www.lambonline.org/clinic
Galcom International
Solar-powered audio Bibles in the native language of the receiver. galcom.org
InterAct Ministries
George Walker uses his many years of experience as a Bible translator and missionary to Papua New Guinea, to now serve as a trainer of new missionaries. interactministries.org
Kiersten Hutchinson
Kiersten Hutchinson serves at Karanda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe, Africa. Email: khutchinson@teamzim.co.zw team.org
Heifer International/Alternative Gifts
Heifer International supplies farm animals to families to enable them to start small businesses, providing wool, milk, eggs, and more. Animal donation can provide a hand up, increasing access to medicine, school, food and a sustainable livelihood. www.heifer.org
Operation Christmas Child
An annual program ran by Samaritan’s Purse, EMC collects hundreds of filled “shoeboxes” in November to go to children in need in the USA and around the world. Our Mission’s Committee runs our local Christmas drive for this global Christian outreach.
Florida United Methodist Children’s Home
Located in Enterprise, Florida, the Children’s Home strives to create wholeness in children and families through Jesus Christ. The children live in 14 individual homes with dedicated house parents. Some of them are orphaned, but most are there due to abuse or the breakdown of their family. Over 70% of their annual budget comes from supporting churches.