local missions
We are committed to being a force for positive change in our community. Our local outreach ministry is focused on loving and sharing Christ with our neighbors, building partnerships with local organizations and communities and providing training and resourcing to help improve the lives of our neighbors. There are many ways to get involved and be the “hands and feet” of Jesus. Our programs are facilitated, lead, and financially supported by the members of McEachern UMC. Most of these ministries take place on our campus or in our immediate community.
To learn more contact ourmissions@mceachernumc.org.
Local Mission Opportunities
ESOL
English as a Second Language (ESL) registration will take place on Wednesday, August 9 from 9-Noon on the third floor in McEachern’s Christian Life Center (CLC). Everyone is welcome and classes are free. Books cost $30. Classes will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Citizenship Education Course
Citizenship Classes Beginning classes will take place on Saturdays from 2-4 in the McEachern UMC Christian Life Center (CLC). Requirements: Wear a mask; you must have a Green Card; you must speak and understand basic English; bring a pen and paper. Manuals cost $35.
Community Outreach Team
The Community Outreach Team serves people in the Powder Springs area who are in need of financial assistance. The Outreach Team works closely with the school social workers to offer assistance to families going through crisis. The Outreach Team will consider financial assistance for families in crisis after an application is completed and the client has an appointment with the outreach team. In addition to financial assistance, the outreach team offers resume editing, connections to other agencies, referrals to counselors, and most importantly-an open heart and prayer! During the holidays, the team shares the love of Christ by distributing Thanksgiving food boxes and Christmas gifts for families in need. For more information, contact the Local Outreach office: 770-943-3008.
Food Pantry – Feed The Sheep
The McEachern UMC Food Pantry is a team of volunteers dedicated to assisting those in financial need with food assistance to supplement their food budgets. This service is provided by the generosity of the members of McEachern UMC and supporters in the Powder Springs community. We also help in directing our clients to other types of public assistance as well as praying with each family. Families must call the church office and leave their contact information to schedule an appointment. We believe in demonstrating the love of Jesus toward our brothers and sister in need, treating everyone with dignity and respect modeling our work on Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” If you have any questions regarding our food pantry, please call the church office at (770) 943-3008.
Car Care Ministry
The McEachern Car Care Ministry is an outreach program designed to help people with limited financial resources with their vehicular needs. There are two major aspects of this ministry:
- Minor to mid-level repairs of vehicles (oil and filter changes, bulb replacement, check engine lights, etc.)
- Repair/refurbishment of donated vehicles, which are provided to people in need
We ask for patrons to pay for the cost of their parts as they are able; labor is always free. We serve anyone in our church family and local community that cannot afford repairs. We meet to work on cars at the barn on Old Villa Rica Road each month on the second Thursday at 5:30pm and fourth Saturday at 8:00am. Appointments are required and can be arranged by contacting the church office at 770-943-3008.
Other Ways You Can Help
- Join our volunteer staff of mechanics, parts runners, helpers and “lounge angels”
- Donate basic supplies for CCM, such as motor oil, brake fluid, shop rags, etc.
- Bring breakfast food for workers and patrons
- Donations to McEachern UMC and designated to the Car Care Ministry
- Prayer
McEachern Tower Of Power Amateur Radio Club Ministry
“Communicating Christ Through Relationship In Action”
Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. – Isaiah 40:9-11 NASB
What is the Short Wave Radio Ministry?
A short-wave radio club which will be used to:
- Share Scripture and prayers to area radio operators who check in each week;
- Provide emergency communication in the event of a disaster here or in other places;
- Be the catalyst for getting together a full disaster relief group trained to go out to help others at their locations in the event of a disaster;
- Engage scouts and other groups to offer instruction and badges to youth;
- Engage the HAM radio operator community with a point of entry to serve through church;
- Use in STEM programs with local schools and community groups;
- Reach and build relationship with older & isolated people;
- Call and prepare people to be a help in a time of crisis here or around the world;
- A discipleship small group of operators sharing scripture, prayer and life weekly.
Short & Long-Term Benefits To The Mission of McEachern UMC:
- Vehicle for McEachern UMC to take Christ to the world and to connect the world to Christ.
- Tool to call and equip people of all ages to be the church of Christ providing relationship, aid and education.
- Fights isolation. Builds community. Fosters new local and global relationships for Christ.
- Extends the reach of relationship for Christ around the globe. Communicating Christ through relationship in action.
Boy Scouts of America Troop 405
Troop 405, under the chartered organization of the church, has been providing a quality scouting program since our original charter was signed on October 31, 1953! The scouts of Troop 405 spend many hours camping, learning new skills, and serving the community. In these busy times, this boy-led troop strives to camp monthly, work on merit badges, and seek service projects in the area. Please visit our website for more information.
Contact info: troop405powdersprings@gmail.com
Compton Elementary School – Kids Hope
Kids Hope USA mentoring offers churches and schools a proven, award-winning model to meet the emotional, social and academic needs of children. The McEachern UMC mentoring program at Compton Elementary School creates one-on-one mentoring relationship between adult church members, willing to give a little time and a lot of love, and at-risk elementary school-children in their community who desperately need loving, caring adults in their lives. The mentoring hour involves relationship building conversation, academics, and fun games with the child. For many of these children, the mentor is the only stable and consistent adult in their life that recognizes and celebrates their achievements.
The commitment to mentor is only one hour per week during the school year, but the effectiveness of that hour extends throughout the rest of the school week. McEachern UMC is entering their third year of mentoring at Compton Elementary and the results have been exponentially positive. In addition to mentoring, McEachern UMC also provides volunteers for various functions throughout the school year including Christmas Family Dinner, First Day of School Greeting, and School Cleanup Day.
Partner Ministries
While we are able to facilitate and support many great ministries here at McEachern UMC we recognize that the needs are greater than our capacity to serve. In order to maximize our effectiveness and to promote the shalom of God we have partnered with several specialized ministries. This financial and volunteer support allows these ministries to focus on specialized areas of service that we would not be able to do ourselves.
Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service
Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service – NOMADS provide volunteer labor for United Methodist organizations. NOMADS demonstrate God’s love through our work and by listening to the people with whom we work. We do new construction, remodeling, and repairs for churches, children’s homes, camps, colleges, outreach missions and disaster rebuilding. Team members do maintenance, cleaning, painting, electrical, drywall, sewing, flooring. With God’s help, NOMADS pretty much do it all.
Murphy-Harpst
Murphy-Harpst provides programs for round-the-clock therapeutic care that enables children to heal and recover so that they can re-engage with society and lead productive lives. For nearly a century, Murphy-Harpst has successfully treated thousands of children by building the environment necessary to reverse the cycle of a lifetime of cruelty and neglect. A ministry of the United Methodist Church, Murphy-Harpst relies on goodwill and contributions. However, the need is great and the cost is large. For more information please contact ourmissions@mceachernumc.org.
SIFAT
SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology), a nonprofit Christian organization, provides training in community development in hard places in our world. Christian leaders learn self-help skills for physical, spiritual , social, and economic needs. SIFAT raises awareness of needs and global issues, providing opportunities for people to get involved personally, both to learn from and to serve alongside those with scarce resources. Since its founding in 1979, SIFAT has trained church and community leaders from more than 80 countries. We have helped thousands of North Americans leave their comfort zone, cross into other cultures and social strata and become one in Christ. For more information please email ourmissions@mceachernumc.org.
7 Bridges to Recovery
Learn more at 7bridgestorecovery.org.
Kairos Prison Ministry
Kairos Prison Ministry International is Christian faith based ministries that address the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, youth, and their families. By sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Kairos hopes to change hearts, transform lives, and impact the world. Incarcerated participants who are released re-enter the outside world with a God-centered perspective and focus on becoming productive citizens.
Women’s contact: janetpwalsh@att.net
Men’s contact: mickelson@gmail.com
United Methodist Men
Our mission is for men to have an onGROWing relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not a membership organization so all men are welcome! From BBQ fundraisers to Bible study to the Best Breakfast in West Cobb, there are many ways to get involved! Please email umm@mceachernumc.org to be added to our distribution list or ask any questions. Thanks!
Mountain Top Boys Home
Mountain Top Boys Home cares for young boys referred by the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice, who through no fault of their own become residents of our agency. Their daily life here is an organized family style guided by professional staff and house parents who counsel and mentor each boy. They often arrive neglected, immature, challenged, and have special physical, social, and emotional needs. Upon completion of Mountain Top’s individualized program, they become young men who are ready to take a faith-based and responsible citizenship role in life. We believe by pouring positive encouragement, direction, and resources into a young boy’s life now, we will create a safer, more successful society for the future.
MUST Ministries
A powerful, volunteer-driven organization, MUST Ministries addresses the basic needs of individuals, families and children with facilities in the Cobb and Cherokee counties and in numerous other counties. Programs include providing food, temporary housing, clothing, employment services, and more. MUST brings people of many faiths together to respond to God’s challenge to minister to others with compassion and love, without judgment of the beliefs, background or circumstances of those who serve or are being served. Our Mission is serving our neighbors in need – transforming lives and communities in response to Christ’s call.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat For Humanity’s Vision is “A world where everyone has a decent place to live”. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
You can find out more at https://nwmetroatlantahabitat.org/
Since 2018 McEachern UMC has been part of the Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition (CICH) with involvement championed by UMM. Each year, through fundraising and volunteerism, we help build a new house in our local community that will benefit a family for years to come.
Our Local Missionaries
Everywhere we walk is a mission field and the Mission Ministry at McEachern is proud to support local missionaries that are conducting important work in our region and nation. Each of these missionaries has been selected because their work mirrors the values of McEachern UMC and reflects our commitment to evangelism and developmental ministry.
Dr. Jim Ellison
Dr. Jim Ellison serves as Executive Director of Restoration ATL. Jim has over 25 years of experience serving congregations in the Atlanta area including serving as senior pastor of the historic downtown Atlanta First United Methodist Church. Restoration ATL was created to help redefine local missions in the city. The mission of RATL is to create urban ministry environments that foster God’s restoration, building the Kingdom within and through His children. Our goal is to bring individuals from all walks of life together for a unique and interactive mission experience, where both physical and spiritual restoration are received by all.
Rev. Tom Atkins
Tom Atkins is a General Evangelist for the North Georgia Conference of the UMC. He represents a new generation of evangelists by seeking to bring the timeless truths and experiences of the Gospel to our contemporary culture. My purpose in accepting the Lord’s call to service as an evangelist is to preach and teach a clear and concise Gospel, so that those who hear will respond positively to the call of Christ.
Dan Crain
Dan Crain is the One Race Movement’s New Director of Mobilization and Groups. Dan is married to the love of his life, Adrienne Crain for fifteen years and has four children. He has a BS of Biblical Studies from Liberty University, MA of Intercultural Ministries from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and over fifteen years of living out the reconciling work of Christ across racial, cultural, and socio-economic barriers. He resides in Historical South Atlanta in the south part of Atlanta. He is a lead trainer with Dignity Serves, has developed his own training on emotional health in the work of reconciliation and justice called, Loving Freely, and speaks and consults on a regular basis sharing God’s heart of racial unity within the church. He has spoken and consulted for churches and groups such as, Impact 360, (the non-profit arm for Chick-Fila), Cumberland Community Church, Renovation Church, One Race Movement’s 400 Conference, McEachern United Methodist Church, North Fulton Charities, and many others.