OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: Every year, Broad Street participates in Operation Christmas Child. For the past two years, our church alone has assembled over 200 shoe boxes for children around the world. This church also serves as a collection point for our community. In 2009, we collected and shipped 1728 shoe boxes, about 100 more than in 2008.
ONE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS: Begun in 1973 by Don Chapman, One Special Christmas continues today. Each year, volunteers donate handmade furniture and art work to be sold at an auction with all of the proceeds going to buy toys for children in need. Names of children are submitted by school teachers, churches, and agencies. Each child is asked what he/she wants for Christmas, and most of the time, that wish is granted. The mission of One Special Christmas is to give every child one Christmas in which they feel so special that they know of Christ's love.
MOORESVILLE SOUP KITCHEN: We are one block away from the Mooresville Soup Kitchen, and so, we are constantly engaging with them in mission. Often we are collecting canned goods to help stock their pantry as more and more people seek help and food. We volunteer there, and once or twice a year, we sponsor a Saturday Night at the Kitchen. This is a worship opportunity in which we provide the meal, the music, the lessons, and the fellowship.
CHRISTIAN MISSION: The Mission is an organization that helps those in need get the food they need, the clothes they need, the utilities they need. The Mission also helps with job training, life skills training, and other classes that may be needed. This is a wonderful resource in our community. And, as of early spring 2010, the Mission is just a few blocks down the road from us.
GENESIS ELDERCARE: The second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM, the John Roberts Sunday School class hosts a bingo night at the local retirement center in Mooresville. The class provides various prizes for the winners, but most of all, the class provides much needed fellowship and caring to those at Genesis. We are the ones who are blessed by this ministry. Anyone is welcome to join the class on their bingo nights.
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES: Broad Street hosts two to three blood drives a year for our church and for our community to help those in need.
COOKIES AND LEMONADE: Each Wednesday from 10 AM-12 PM during the months of April, May, June, and September, we give away FREE lemonade and homemade cookies at Bellingham Park. We have found this act is just a simple way for us to offer the radical hospitality of Christ to our neighbors.
POVERTY MEAL: In 2011, and partnering with Samaritan's International here in town, Broad Street UMC hosted our first annual poverty meal for the community. Reaching out also to other churches of various denominations, other agencies and groups, we invited their support and participation to raise awareness of hunger in other parts of the world, namely Nicaragua. After fasting for the midday meal, we came together that evening for a meal of rice and beans. We also each brought our own bowl and spoon to use and then donated them to be shipped to children who are fed at feeding centers all over the world. Guests were also asked to donate the money they saved on the skipped meal to be used to feed starving children.
LAUNDRY LOVE: The first Saturday of each month, a few volunteers visit the laundromat across the street and, in another sign of radical hospitality, offer to pay for the customers' laundry. Volunteers also help sort and fold the laundry and engage in conversation with our neighbors. It is an unexpected gesture to the customers but one that shows the grace of God
