This year, First United Methodist Church, located at 12 North Diamond Street, is posing a question that might get people thinking: “Could you cut your Christmas shopping in half and give the rest as a sacrifice to Christ?”
The church’s goal is to raise $10,000 to donate to Harmony House in Mansfield this Christmas season. Harmony House is a non-profit organization that offers a variety of services to the homeless.
Calculating a definitive number on homeless persons in the country is unyielding at best. However, according to Pastor Kent Joy, “People come to our doors almost every day. The need to help these people is very real in this community.”
First United Methodist’s council recognized the need and decided to donate the full amount they hope to raise to Harmony House. The church plans on providing Harmony House with educational supplies, cooking supplies and recipes. They also hope to create an alliance with the non-profit organization.
Operations Manager Vicki Kane from Harmony House said, “We are supported by the community so much; without, it we would not be here. We are so appreciative. I think most of the money will go to operating funds for our clients.”
According to Pastor Joy, there is not an underlying evangelistic strategy or agenda.
“We see our church as the resurrected body of Christ. We really just want to build relationships with the community and hopefully that will foster a relationship with Christ,” stated Joy.
Every year, the First United Methodist church at large runs a Christmas campaign called the “Christmas Miracle Offering.”
In previous years, First United Methodist on Diamond raised funds for a number of different organizations in the community. This particular campaign started in 2005 after Pastor Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio learned of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Since 2005, his church invested over $5.6 million into sustainable relief projects in Darfur through an initiative called The Sudan Project.
Pastor Joy shares the same zeal for downtown Mansfield.
“I want to keep doing these hands-on things. Last year we served over 16,000 meals through our free Supper on The Square program.”But my vision also involves reaching children through education, which, as a whole, the system is failing and struggling. But the system is not to blame, it begins at home. I don’t want people to just survive. I want to reach the kids at a young age to instill core values and good work ethic,” said Joy.
Pastor Joy pointed out that First United Methodist on Diamond has an education wing that sits 70 percent empty most of the time. He would love to educate children by utilizing this open space. However, that would take cooperation within the community. “I want to disarm the competitive attitude,” he said.
To learn more about the Christmas Miracle Offering and how to donate, visit First United Methodist on 12 North Diamond Street in downtown Mansfield. They will be hosting two community events in the near future: Longest Night Service on December 21 at 7 p.m. and two Christmas Eve Candlelight Services starting at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Visit their website or call 419-522-8623 for more information.
“We are supported by the community so much; without, it we would not be here. We are so appreciative. I think most of the money will go to operating funds for our clients,” said Vicki Kane of Harmony House.
