Missions Ministry
There are a variety of ways we support missions in our community and around the world. If you'd like more information about participation, send a message to Debra Alba or call the church.
Here are some of the ministries we participate in and support:
Denominational Apportionments
Part of our weekly giving goes to pay for the many programs at the regional and national levels of the United Methodist Church, including outreach, sending missionaries throughout the world, ministerial development and education and programs which support our local efforts. This congregation makes a commitment to pay our Apportionments at the 100% level.
United Methodist Children's Home - www.umchohio.org
The United Methodist Children's Home is a ministry we support in a variety of ways at Scioto Ridge. Please follow this link for more information about the Children's Home.
Tools of Hope and Blanket Program
This program, sponsored by Church World Service, is held annually in January, to purchase blankets, tents, bedding and other emergency supplies in the wake of natural disasters and human calamities. Hoes, trowels, a well and pump for a village, fishing nets and a small-enterprise loan are also Tools of Hope.
CROP is an annual walk, held in October, to raise money to support long-term developments in more than 80 countries; assist in disasters and famines; help meet the special needs of refugees; share more than $3,000,000 annually to support local hunger fighting efforts across the US.
Habitat for Humanity brings families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent and affordable housing. The Hilliard Partnership, in conjunction with the Greater Columbus Habitat, has built and continues to build houses with the goal of eliminating poverty housing. Homeowners contribute "sweat equity" and house payments are recycled to build additional houses.
Festival of Sharing
A West Ohio United Methodist Festival, held annually in September or October with displays of the various hunger ministries and parish and community projects. They sell various items to support these ministries.
The United Methodist Columbus South District Free Store, located on Parsons Avenue, Columbus, provides clothing and other items to people in need in the Columbus area. The Free Store relies on donations and volunteers from local United Methodist congregations. The Free Store also sponsors a back-to-school supplies and clothing program and a Christmas shop with toys and clothing.
Scioto Ridge has a partnership with this newly formed church, locatedin the same building as the Free Store. Every Sunday, volunteers coordinated by Scioto Ridge prepare breakfast items, take them to the Church for All People, and serve breakfast.
Friends of the Homeless
A local organization committed to leadership in providing innovative, quality programs, services and housing for the homeless. Scioto Ridge volunteers prepare and serve meals at Friends of the Homeless shelter in downtown Columbus on the second Saturday of every month.
Thanksgiving Baskets
Each year our congregation assembles Thanksgiving Baskets, with the assistance of the Hilliard Welfare Council, and they are distributed by Scioto Ridge to needy families.
Volunteers in Mission
Volunteers in Mission (VIM) work teams are groups of people from local churches, districts or conference-endorsed teams, who share their time, talents and money for various projects around the world. The volunteers pay their own travel and material expenses so they can participate in the missions. The experience is one of sharing with others. Currently, Scioto Ridge participates in an annual Medical Mission to Mexico and a work camp at Henderson Settlement in Kentucky and at Jackson Area Ministries in Southern Ohio.
Other Mission Programs
At various times during the year, we ask the congregation to bring in various items (diapers, food, personal care items, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, mittens, etc.) that are distributed through the Free Store, the Hilliard Welfare Food Pantry, and other ministries and agencies.
As six year old boys, Jok Dau and Bol Aweng, two Lost Boys of Sudan, fled their village in 1987 when it was attacked, bombed and burned by government troops. While walking 1,500 miles to Ethiopia and then to Kenya, they survived attacks by government troops, starvation, illness and attacks by wild animals. Of the 35,000 Lost Boys that fled Southern Sudan, they were among the 16,000 who safely arrived in Kenya. They spent fourteen years in refugee camps until they were approved for resettlement in the United States by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They arrived in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001, worked at low wage jobs while earning Associate Degrees in Computer technology. They moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend The Ohio State University. They became US citizens in 2007 and graduated from OSU with degrees in Political Science and Fine Arts.
Our Mission is to provide additional health education and promotion and medical services to the people of Piol village in Southern Sudan with a focus on maternal and child health. Please visit our web site to learn more.
The WSFS is located on Sullivant Avenue and provides clothing and other items to the needy on the West Side of Columbus. The WSFC relies on donations and volunteers to make the store function. The 3rd Saturday of every month, Scioto Ridge preares and serves lunch to shoppers and others that stop by.
