PRISON MINISTRY

BIBLE STUDY/BOOK STUDY LEADERS
Teams of volunteers go to the prison to conduct Bible Study or conduct book studies on leadership from a Biblical perspective. Volunteers meet with small groups of offenders in the SECC auditorium and conference rooms.

GLS/GLN
La Croix Church assists in simulcasting the Global Leadership Summit at SECC. Between sessions, volunteers assist in leading breakout groups surrounding the talks at the GLS. La Croix also provides volunteer technical support at SECC to allow the broadcast to be viewed. At least twice a year, follow-up events are provided by the Global Leadership Network. These broadcasts also allow the opportunity for breakout groups led by La Croix volunteers.

STORYLINK
Volunteers assist offenders in reading and recording stories which are then given to the offenders’ children. This allows a bridge between the offender and his family and promotes a continued family connection.

For more information, contact John Wade.

OPTIONS FOR WOMEN, HELP FOR FAMILIES

CHILDCARE
Provide childcare during parenting classes to allow parents the opportunity to concentrate on material presented.

CLASS TEACHER
Teach classes on basic infant and child care.

MAINTENANCE
Complete minor repairs and office maintenance

OFFICE HELP
Assist with routine office jobs such as filing and answering the phone.

For more information, contact Michelle Scherer or email director@optionsforwomencape.com.

FAITHWORKS

FaithWorks is primarily a carpentry ministry to assist the elderly or community members who are in need of small scale carpentry/construction projects. Team members who are interested in or have skills in painting, installing weather stripping, constructing wheelchair ramps or other like projects are encouraged to participate.

For more information, contact Vern Styer 573-987-6529.

DISASTER RELIEF TEAM

The Disaster Relief Team is connected to and deployed by the United Methodist Church in response to natural disasters occurring within the United States and surrounding countries. This team typically comes in to assist with large scale clean up of areas and also assist with some roofing and rebuilding as time allows. Knowledge of operation of chain saws and construction vehicles are an asset.

For more information, contact Wayne Shockley.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EASTERN MISSOURI

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to build trusting and enduring relationships that encourage and support young people.

For a few hours, a couple times a month, you can give a Little the invaluable gift of your friendship. By simply changing their perspective of what the world can offer, you can literally start changing their life. Play a board game. Make fun crafts. Hit the playground together. Just as your options are unlimited, so is your Little’s potential.

For more information, contact  Ashley Seiler at (573) 339-0184 or check their website.

CAREPORTAL

CarePortal is an online church engagement tool that connects the State of Missouri (Children’s Division) to the Church. When a need is identified by Children’s Division, a request for help is submitted. The Church is informed of the need and given the opportunity to answer the call.

Interested small groups would identify a point person to receive emails from CarePortal that would detail a given need (clothing, bedding, etc) for a child or family. Your group would then provide for the need and develop a relationship with the recipient family.

For more info, contact Shelly Gerard.

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY JAIL MINISTRY

Spend an hour providing a short Bible study and devotional time to men/women incarcerated in Mississippi County Jail.

Tuesday 7:00-8:00 PM

For more info, Text Karen Bangert at (573) 587-9862.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS MINISTRY

This mission serves juvenile males assigned to the Girardot Center to provide a worship service. La Croix provides services every Saturday for a month at a time two times a year.

Help share a bible study or message to a group of young men at the Girardot Center. There is a background check required. Documents to get this started can be obtained at the church from Ruth Ann Orr, Missions Director.

Saturdays 4:00-5:00 PM (2 non-consecutive months throughout the year)

For more info, Text Karen Bangert at (573) 587-9862.

CHRISTIAN BOXING/LIFE SKILLS ACADEMY

The Christian Boxing Academy is a partner organization that provides supervised physical activity, welding training, small engine repair training, and minor care repair/restoration opportunities.

YOUTH MINISTRY
TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENINGS

Supervise young men as they warm-up, condition, and learn to box. This is an opportunity for older youth and college-aged and older men to work with youth. During this time, volunteers can witness to the power of Christ in their lives and help keep participants accountable. The Boxing Club uses an incentive program to promote delayed gratification towards a goal.

PARKINSON’S DISEASE MINISTRY
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9-11 a.m.
Work 1:1 with men diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, getting them to work on therapy goals using traditional boxing training methods. Trained therapists are there to offer suggestions for each man. Gatherings open with prayer and then close with prayer for any specific needs of the group.

CENTER IMPROVEMENT VOLUNTEERS
Help renovate the bathroom and kitchen areas to provide adequate water and electrical that would meet building code and allow full use of both areas.

Contact Danny Rees for additional information.

FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES (FCA)

FCA challenges coaches and athletes at all levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.

FCA needs volunteers to lead student and coach bible studies, serve as team captains or character coaches, to establish chapel service at local sports tournaments, serve at the FCA summer camp, join in prayer over schools and participate in the annual Fields of Faith event.

Contact Mike Litz for information on ways to serve.

FISH VOLUNTEERS OF CAPE GIRARDEAU

FISH serves the Cape Girardeau area by providing food to families in need. With help from churches like First Presbyterian, civic organizations and dedicated individuals, FISH helps 3300-3600 people a year. It relies heavily on word of mouth, rather than organized solicitation for the food that it distributes. For more info, call (573)-334-0207.

The FISH Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to work a designated shift once a month. Three to four volunteers are needed per shift. Shifts are on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 9 am to 12 pm. For more information, contact Ruth Ann Orr at (573) 339-0302 or rorr@lacroixchurch.org.

FOSTER, ADOPT, CONNECT

Foster, Adopt, Connect (formerly Hope for One More) provides emergency shelter for foster children in Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties. The children receive nurturing care, a meal, clothing, a warm bed and a full medical, dental and psychological screening while arrangements for an appropriate foster home can be made.

Volunteers can become members of the Caring Adult Network, volunteer at the Hope Chest, events and activities, host Foster Parent Link Meetings, child care through respite nights and Parents Day Out, provide meals and service projects.

For more information, contact Chrissy Mayberry.

CENTRAL ACADEMY

HOSPITALITY (INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS)
Provide individual faculty and staff members with uplifting messages and inexpensive treats to help build positive morale.

HOSPITALITY (SCHOOL-WIDE)
Provide the faculty and staff of Central Academy with hospitality through food at the beginning of school, conferences, and Teacher Appreciation Week.

If you would like to get involved, contact Sharon Shelton.

KELLY SCHOOLS

La Croix partners with Kelly Schools (Scott County R IV school district) to build relationships and positively impact an under-resourced area of our community.

For more information, contact Brock Thornsbrough.

QUILTING MINISTRY

The Quilting Ministry is an outreach opportunity of La Croix Church. They meet on the second Wednesday of every month in Room 110 at our Cape Campus from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to work on quilt design and piecing. Lunchtime and fellowship are a valued part of this ministry.

Finished quilts are distributed to various individuals or groups in need due to a catastrophic event such as a fire, an event resulting in homelessness, a child entering the foster care system in need of bedding, or an individual who may have been displaced due to abuse and is seeking shelter at the Safe House. Quilts have also been donated to youths who have been referred to the Girardot Center, a facility for juveniles requiring intensive counseling/intervention. We are also making baby quilts for the Building Blocks outreach program and Teen Challenge.

If you are interested in participating, contact Teresa, Care Coordinator, at (573) 339-0302 x149 or truppel@lacroixchurch.org.

ONE CITY

One City is a faith-based organization committed to understanding the struggles of our neighbors and how we, as a community, can work toward transformation and holistically restoring our community. One City provides community gatherings and development opportunities, job training and employment, as well as child enrichment opportunities.

WORK LIFE ALLY
Work Life is designed for people who are unemployed or underemployed. The program inspires, guides, and equips participants as they prepare to find and keep meaningful employment. Throughout each course,  participants work with an ally (mentor) who walks alongside them throughout the program.  The allies are volunteers from our community who attend classes and serve as an additional support system to the class participants. They also serve as a connection after class is complete and may use their current connections and resources to help the participant identify potential jobs in the community.

WORK-LIFE HOSPITALITY
Refreshments in pastries, juices, cookies, etc., are needed for the allies and the participants during the days the group meets for instruction. You may sign up at https://signup.com/go/PoKPNNH.

Contact info@onecityunite.org for more info.

REVELATION WELLNESS

Revelation Wellness is a non-profit ministry dedicated to educating and inspiring people to live healthy and whole lives through Christ so we can love others well. As an actionable component of Revelation Wellness, RevFit classes provide a new way in the fitness world for people to meet together in community and grow in love for God and one another. As we move our bodies with thoughts on God’s Word, He is free to renew our minds to think differently about our bodies and health and “work out” trouble spots in our hearts that may keep us apart from Him. We move from a place of freedom and “get to” not from a place of striving for physique or “have to” as a punishment for what we ate the day before. With renewed minds, empowered spirits, and healthy bodies we can be mobilized, in God’s timing — fit to do the good works He has prepared for us.

For more info, contact Jill.
.

ROOM FOR ONE MORE CHILD

Room for One More Child is passionate about helping orphan children find homes by lowering the cost of adoption through adoption grant assistance and by helping the orphans that may never be adopted by providing food, shelter and access to medical care and education.

ADOPTION STRATEGY VOLUNTEER
Work with families who are interested in walking through the adoption process. Room for One More works through adoption grants. However, preparing for home studies and being approved as a family who could adopt can be daunting. Room for One More helps facilitate the process of encouraging more families to consider adoption.

For more information, contact Shari Stroup or visit their website.

SAFE HOUSE OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

The Safe House of Southeast Missouri is a local partner that is not-for-profit organization agency that provides safe shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline services, intensive case management, counseling, court advocacy, referral services, and education programs. The Safe House was established in 1991, providing safe shelter and a crisis hotline as a source of immediate help for victims of domestic violence and abuse.

MEAL VOLUNTEER
Prepare meals shared by all residents of the shelter, allowing them to build a sense of community through the gift of hospitality.

MENTOR
Be a positive role model for people in the program, guiding parenting, helping navigate relationships and teaching typical life skills (like meal planning or budgeting). A mentor would help guide a person who would be transitioning out of the Safe House into housing of their own.

ROOM SPONSOR
Individuals or small groups may adopt a room at the shelter to decorate with curtains, bed linens, covers, pillows, etc. Upon leaving the shelter, families will be gifted the bedding. Adopting a room would be an ongoing project with turn-over expected about every 90-120 days.

THRIFT STORE AND OUTREACH OFFICE VOLUNTEER
Volunteers at the thrift store and outreach office handle typical retail or clerical duties that will free employees of the Safe House to do more specialized work with the women and their families.

For more info, contact Jessica M. Hill at director@semosafehouse.org.

THE AMEN CENTER

The Amen Center is a Christian-based, inter-denominational crisis and restoration center located in Delta, MO that assists families and individuals in recovering from a setback, crisis or tragedy that would require a place of refuge for a transitional period. For more info, Text Karen Bangert at (573) 587-9862.

YOUNG LIFE

Young Life doesn’t start with a program. It starts with adults who are concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don’t happen overnight they take time, patience, trust and consistency.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
This team is a “behind the scenes” ministry that would help with leadership and accountability of the direct service teams of YoungLife. Three-year commitment to weekly meetings and possible leadership of certain areas of ministry connected to SEMO YoungLife.

PRAYER WARRIOR
Commit to receiving updates and requests for prayer from students going through a pivotal transitional point in their lives.

VOLUNTEER LEADER
Provide mentoring and leadership to students. Position requires a two-year commitment to 10-12 hours a week with kids and the leadership team after completing a nine-week training.

For more info, contact semoyounglife@gmail.com.