Our church has adopted Waynesville Middle School as a ministry partner. During the school year, our church works closely with the school administrators and the school social workers in partnership with them in order to help them meet various needs. We provide a breakfast for the faculty during their staff orientation day; we provide volunteers for testing and other classroom needs; and we provide school supplies and clothing. We continuously collect food items to be used in the school’s weekend food backpack program. Currently we collect enough food for 35 backpacks.
This team is currently led by Jon Boettcher. The team responds to disasters on a local and regional level. Most team members have been trained by NC Baptist Men (NCBM) is in disaster relief ministry. The purpose of NCBM’s Disaster Relief Ministry is to relieve human suffering caused by disasters by providing among other things: hot meals, debris removal, child care and family assistance. NCBM works with various disaster organizations in order to achieve this goal: American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, NC Emergency Management, and a variety of groups. If you have a passion to work with this team contact Jon at 803-464-7360 or email him at [email protected].
Women on Mission© is a WMU (Woman’s Missionary Union—SBC) ministry organization for women. WOM members have opportunities for continuing missions education and involvement through groups that focus on Bible study, prayer, mission action, and/or missions awareness. There are opportunities for witnessing and ministering in the community and around the world. FBC has three women’s groups:
Sharon Peddicord Group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 in a member’s home. For 2020 they are in partnership and fellowship with the women of Life Challenge of WNC –encouraging, praying for, and meetings needs as possible. Life Challenge provides women who have life controlling issues the opportunity and environment to become emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, and spiritually ALIVE! Life Challenge teaches life skills and biblical principles that serve as a solid foundation on which women can build their future. Among other ministries and missions endeavors, the Peddicord Group has worked in the past on a Habitat home and each December minister to senior adults through the Senior Resource Center and are seen ringing the bell loudly for the Salvation Army. Lisa Nelson leads this group.
Women’s Prayer Fellowship meets first Thursday of each month at FBC at 10 a.m. This group of women uses the prayer patterns section of the Missions Mosaic magazine to focus on a personal devotional topic each day with missionary birthdays listed for prayer. Members share in leading devotionals for monthly meetings and prayer needs are brought from the church family and from each woman present. Women missionaries on stateside assignment have been asked to share with the group in order to better understand how we can pray for a woman serving in international missions. Shirley Smith, a retired missionary, is presently facilitating the group.
Baptist Young Women meets the 4th Tuesday of each month in a home. Megan Hauser leads these women.
Our FBC women can be seen serving in our church, in our community and overseas on mission. When a need is expressed, our women are ready to give of themselves and their resources to meet those needs. The list could go on and on, but some of the ministries have included: serving meals at Pathways, Thanksgiving meal for Chestnut Park Adult Care home, lunch meals at Pigeon Center, support of FBC youth outreach, gifts to Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong Offerings, support for summer mission trips, book collections for the new dorm at Pathways, support of LifeWorks and Life Challenge women, filling Waynesville Middle School food pantry, gifts of personal hygiene items for women prisoners in NC, breakfast for teachers at WMS, goodies sent to a college student, and even providing funds to buy chickens for a school in Kenya! Come join women who love the Lord serving with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit!
Our Festivals Ministry Team leads our church in ministry projects during downtown festivals. In the past, volunteers in this ministry have worked distributing water and Bibles; providing free hot chocolate, water, and ice cream; as well as other types of outreach ministry.
Many of our members volunteer at the following local organizations. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these organizations, please contact the them directly:
American Red Cross – Donate blood and/or help organize a Blood Mobile.
(456-8141)
Good Samaritan Clinic – This medical strives to meet the needs of the uninsured in Haywood County.
(454-5287)
Gideons – The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through sharing personally and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. While the Gideons are known worldwide for their work with hotels, they predominantly share Scriptures in schools and colleges, prisons and jails, hospitals, and medical offices. The Gideons partner with churches anywhere, to reach the unreached everywhere. Contact Dennis Kendel at 734-2586.
Haywood County Habitat for Humanity – This ministry coordinates resources (such as volunteers) in order to build safe, decent, and affordable houses for eligible families in Haywood County. Volunteers are needed in various aspects of this effort, from actual building to fundraising.
(452-7960) Opportunities for volunteering also exist at the Haywood County Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
(246-9135)
Haywood County Bible Clubs – This after-school program is in all of the elementary schools and presents the Gospel to students through various activities. The clubs meet once a week and many opportunities to volunteer are available as it is hoped that the clubs can be expanded into the middle schools. Contact Charles or Barbara Baiera.
(627-2273)
Haywood Christian Ministry – This ministry serves the less fortunate in Haywood County by providing food, clothing, and financial assistance. Volunteers in this ministry serve predominately at the thrift store and help by sorting various donations of as food, clothing, household items, etc. Volunteers also help with completing intake forms, answering the phone, and assisting with other more clerical type of duties.
(456-4838)
Haywood Pathways – This community driven project is a collaboration of three Christian ministries to bring life change to the hurting of Haywood County. The goal is to provide food through a soup kitchen and shelter for the homeless and those getting out of jail, coupled with Christ-centered rehabilitation services that truly transforms lives. three different nonprofit groups in Haywood County; the Haywood Christian Emergency Homeless Shelter, Open Door Soup Kitchen, and Next Step halfway house. Volunteers are needed in a variety of ways.
(550-8030 or 246-6227)
Haywood Regional Hospital – Haywood Regional Medical Center provides safe and compassionate healthcare for the people of Haywood County and surrounding counties. Through our outpatient facilities, health & fitness center, urgent care centers, hospice facility and multi-specialty physician clinics, Haywood Regional Medical Center ensures the health and wellness of our community. Many volunteer opportunities exist at the hospital such as gift shop worker, patient information worker, and Hospice volunteer.
(456-7311)
K.A.R.E. (Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, Inc.) – This organization’s goal is to end child abuse and neglect through advocacy, education, and support. Volunteers are needed in the School Program to teach personal safety to students in the elementary schools. Help is also needed in the area of house maintenance and yard maintenance.
(456-8995)
Lifeworks (Christian Women’s and Men’s Job Corps) – Lifeworks provides a Christian context in which women and men in need of employment are equipped for life and employment and also a missions context in which women help women and men help men. This organization has a variety of volunteer needs.
(564-3519 or 734-5604)
Open Door Soup Kitchen – Volunteers are needed at the thrift store and to prepare and serve meals to the homeless.
(452-3846)
R.E.A.C.H. of Haywood County – This organization provides services to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
(456-7898)
Within Reach Resale Store – Various volunteer opportunities such as sorting through the donation of items, cleaning items, and pricing, etc.
(454-5998)
The Salvation Army – We have all heard the ringing of The Salvation Army bells during the Christmas season. It serves as a reminder for the great needs that so many people face during this time of the year and the work that the Salvation Army does to comfort those who find themselves in difficult situations. While that is an important part of their identity and need for volunteers, The Salvation Army is so much more than bell-ringers!
Volunteers are needed in a variety of other programs,
(456-7111)
including a Thrift Store.
(452-9728).
