The first Tuesday of each month we meet at the church at 6:00 PM to drive to the Union Gospel Mission – Christ Recovery Center to put on a birthday party for about 40 fellows in the CRC Program.  Cakes are baked by members of our congregation and brought to the church to go with us.  We also provide a Dairy Queen Ice cream cake.  Initially we have a time of sharing something inspirational with the fellows and then we honor the birthday boys and give them cards.  Next comes the goodies and a visiting time with them.

    

Anyone is welcome to go with us and we would love to have you give it a try.  It is so rewarding to see the fellows change as they spend time in recovery.  The clients come from all walks of life and backgrounds. They come from good jobs to no jobs – well educated to early drop-outs.  Often the clients are physically very ill due to their chemical dependence.  As a result of the CRC Program and the medical attention, they make amazing recoveries.  The men are also able to continue their education, get computer skills, and also a GED.

    

The birthday parties also maintain an ongoing link to Little Church of Hope activities that are held every six months at our church.  We hope we will see you at the Birthday Parties.  Call Shirley Christianson at 651-436-3032 for more information.

 

Little Church of Hope is an outreach program started at SCVUMC in 1990 for men in need of support at a critical time in their lives. Twice each year, we welcome all the men from the Christ Recovery Center (CRC) of the Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul to our church for a full day of unconditional love.

    

The LCOH program attempts to resurrect each man’s faith in God and themselves to deal with the forces of alienation, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, powerlessness, isolation, pessimism, and the loss of self-esteem. When Christ enters their lives – they are on the road to recovery and a new life. CHRIST IS THE ANSWER!

    

At each LCOH, 30-35 members are needed to staff the kitchen, music, discussion, prayer to help make LCOH a success. For more information please contact Pam Ellingson by calling the church office (651) 436-8691.

    

Chris and Lisa McNair, our missionaries in South Minneapolis, build Christian community among unchurched families through a ministry of outreach and discipleship.  A house church, crisis ministry/counseling, tutoring/mentoring, summer camps and recreational events are primary activities.

    

SCVUMC Mission team has a partnership with Transport for Christ in supporting our local chapel located at exit 4, off I-94 in Hudson.  We help support Chaplain Tim Sackett in his ministry to the trucking community.  Transport for Christ is an international organization with a mission of leading truck drivers as well as the trucking community to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.  Mobile chapels across North America and Russia take the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the truckers where they work and spend a large part of their lives, truck stops and the road.  Open every day of the week, the chapels offer truckers a place where they can find fellowship, encouragement, a listening ear, prayer in time of need, and at all times the message of redemption in Jesus Christ.