What is outreach?
Outreach is the process of connecting with people in the community to get to know them and to show them how wonderful Jesus is. We want to know and love people, meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in the name of Jesus. We hope to help people connect with Jesus and His church through the Gospel we share and the love we show.
How do we do this?
We do this directly with individuals and indirectly through ministries that serve the community. As a church, we plan opportunities to connect the church to the world. We call these opportunities missional, meaning that we are sent out into the community. We also plan opportunities to connect the world to the church. We call these opportunities attractional, meaning that we invite others to our church campus for an event that is of interest to them. Jesus prays for the unity of the church so that the world may believe in Him and know His love, and we hope that when people see the love we have for one another they will be drawn to Him.
What are some of these outreach opportunities?
Disaster Response Ministry:
https://pcamna.org/ministry/mna-disaster-response/
Pinewoods Church Disaster Response Ministry is committed to excellence in preparing for and responding to man-made or natural disasters in a First Responder capacity. We provide physical, spiritual, and financial assistance to support PCA churches and their surrounding communities in times of disaster. The primary focus is to glorify God and share the hope of the Gospel with others who are suffering from the direct results of being in a disaster.
Pinewoods Disaster Response Ministry current capabilities include: a fully equipped first-responder trailer, bulk donation storage and distribution network, mass feeding program, volunteer and community sheltering, and a fully trained and experienced volunteer base. The ministry will be available to respond year-round and operate as a supporting role for Mission to North America.
Safe Harbor Pregnancy Medical Center:
https://www.safeharborpmc.org/
1. Sew Baby Blankets
2. Serve as a Mentor with the Positive Parenting Program
3. House Projects for New Households
To sign up to volunteer with Safe Harbor, please do so HERE
Waterfront Rescue Mission :
https://waterfrontmission.org/
1. Every third Thursday, we meet at Waterfront Mission at 5:15 pm to serve dinner to the men there and spend time with them at their tables. This is a great opportunity to get to know one another and the people there. They are so grateful for our coming to serve them and be with them. The address is 348 West Herman Ave., Pensacola, FL 32505. When you arrive at the Mission, you can either go through the gate and park in the back, or you can park in the lot on Herman Ave. Then you'll go to the front entrance, let them know you're with Pinewoods, and check in on the iPad. You will be escorted through the cafeteria into the kitchen. The age limit to serve is 13 years old, and please wear a hat. The mission has asked us to register with them as volunteers. This helps them with grant applications. For those who do not yet have Volunteer Hub accounts, here is the link where you can Create a Volunteer Hub Account. Additionally, here is the landing page for where we register for Pinewood's scheduled service times: Waterfront Mission Pinewoods Church Registration.
2. Food Donations: Staple Items from Sam’s Club, Drop Food Off Some churches actually prepare meals. Ring the buzzer at the gate, and then pull up under the awning.
3. Volunteer as a group at one of the Thrift Stores, WaterfrontThrift.org/shop
4. “Adopt” one of the men currently in Transitional Houses (Addiction Recovery Program) for ministering and mentoring (must be a man or a couple).
5. Monetary donations at www.waterfrontmission.org
If you would like to participate in any of items 2 through 4, please email rcarpenter@waterfrontmission.org or call 850-542-4526.
To learn more about how you can serve with us, or if you have an idea of another way to serve, please email Pastor David Balzer at david@pinewoodschurch.org or text him at 423-963-9174.