Local

Dothan Rescue Mission

Covenant prepares and serves the dinner meal one week of every month at the Dothan Rescue Mission. Don’t let cooking for 50-60 people frighten you. We can give you lots of pointers. If cooking is not your thing, how about serving the meal at 5:30? Servers are encouraged to pray and visit with residents. The residents are so grateful for the wonderful meals our cooks prepare, it is true a blessing to serve. Please consider helping with this ministry. We are in need of more cooks. For more details, please contact Pat Miller at ampmassoc@aol.com. We also have a growing ministry of facilitating men’s and women’s bible studies at the mission. We currently have two bible studies at DRM. One of our men’s groups leads a study on the last Wednesday of each month (6:30p-7:30p) and several Covenant ladies do a study with the ladies at DRM every Thursday evening (6:30p-7:30p). This is a great opportunity to minister to people who are hurting and searching for a better way. Join one of these groups or we can reserve a night for your small group to come and share a message during the nightly “chapel time”. For more information, contact Barbi Nolan.

Donations of the following items are always needed at the shelter:
• Toiletry items
• Towels
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Twin sheet sets

Adopt-A-School 

Covenant participates in the Adopt-A-School program which is administered through the Dothan Education Foundation to provide volunteers and resources to Dothan City Schools. We have “adopted” Faine Elementary and Highland Elementary. At Faine, we provide back to school supplies for grades K-2 and at Highlands Elementary we sponsor a fall festival for the children. Our East campus is reaching out to Ashford Elementary School to find ways that we can be a supportive presence there. Here are some ways you can help:
• Breakfast or lunch on special occasions
• Snacks in the teacher’s lounge
• Prayer walk around the school grounds
• Reading to the children
• Tutoring
• Special events for the faculty

 

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a longtime ministry of CUMC. Volunteers deliver a noon meal to homebound residents Tuesday through Friday every week. Meals are picked up for delivery at 10:45 am each day and can be delivered within one hour. This ministry provides a unique opportunity to share the love of Christ. At the core of Meals on Wheels is a nutritious meal, companionship and a watchful eye on the health and safety of seniors and people with disabilities. All you have to do is be at Wesley Manor at 10:45am to pick up the meals and route information. The route takes just over an hour to complete. The rotation schedule requires service once per month on average.

Friends of Wesley Manor

The Friends of Wesley Manor do an amazing job of accomplishing their mission to spread happiness and good cheer to the residents and associates of the Wesley Manor Retirement Home. From monthly birthday parties for the residents to sitting and visiting with lonely individuals, there are many ways to serve at Wesley Manor.

Project Backpack

Join us every third Friday from 8-11 am as we stuff backpacks with easy-to-prepare food for children to take home on weekends when other resources are not available. Wiregrass Area Food Bank provides weekly backpacks free of charge to approximately 270 Head Start preschool children. . Wear closed-toed shoes and come ready to hustle. We usually finish by 10:30a or 11a.

His Helping Hand

You probably do not realize how many people from our community that come to Covenant in need of assistance. We do our best to assist our neighbors in need. Your contributions to CovMissions allows us to offer a helping hand in times of need.

Harbor Church

Harbor Church is called to serve the poor and needy residents of Dothan. They are always in need of non-perishable food items (particularly proteins like meat and beans); personal hygiene items and laundry soap. Your help is needed to continue and to grow this wonderful ministry. Meal preparation and serving is needed on Wednesday mornings (breakfast at 7am; approx 50 people) and on Wednesday night during Celebrate Recovery (dinner is served at 5:30pm; approx 50 people). Worship is at 6pm on Saturday nights and dinner is served at 7pm (approx 100 people). This is more than just plopping food on a plate. This is an opportunity to get to know hurting people in need of a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Each Saturday from 8-9 am volunteers serve breakfast and at 9 am participate in “Adopt-A-Block” which is a walking though the neighborhood around The Harbor Church to meet neighbors, assess their needs, invite them to church and pray with them. If you would like to learn more about this downtown Dothan ministry, please contact Barbi Nolan.

 

House of Ruth (a domestic violence shelter)

One way that we support the House of Ruth is by participating in their largest fundraiser—Christmas gift wrapping at the Wiregrass Commons Mall. watch for gift wrapping dates to be posted soon.

Wiregrass Hope Center

Wiregrass Hope Group is a resource for extending hope and healing to individuals and families by offering practical assistance, addressing emotional needs, and encouraging spiritual growth. Through faith-based and secular programs Wiregrass Hope Group seeks to positively impact families throughout the Wiregrass community. The following are just a few of the many ways that you can further the work of Wiregrass Hope Group through volunteering.
• Provide administrative assistance (help with newsletter and mail-outs).
• Serve as a mentor to pregnancy clients or be a dad mentor.
• Serve as a volunteer receptionist (answer phones, greet clients, help with filing and making copies).
• Distribute promotional items/ brochures to churches, schools, and businesses.
• Serve as a church/organization liaison.
• Help with special Fundraising Events.
• Volunteer as a Character and Relationship Program Presenter.
• Serve as a sorter and fluffer in the donation in-take area.
• Provide web-site design and editing.
• Take home laundry (wash baby clothes, maternity clothes, etc.)
• Baking cookies/casseroles for special events such as tours, meetings, etc.

Wired

WIRED is a week long summer camp for teens that combines service and worship. Hundreds of area teens participate in service projects throughout the community by day and worship together each night. This ministry is growing every year and adult chaperones are needed. Wired 2018 will take place on June 24-29.

 

Samaritan’s Clinic 

Samaritan’s Clinic is a free clinic that serves the homeless, people on wok release, and women from the House of Ruth each Thursday night from 4-7 pm. They are always in need of doctors, nurses and pharmaceutical volunteers as well as people to bring and serve brown bag type meals. Serving the meal at the clinic is a great opportunity to pray with and minister to people as they wait to be treated.

Local Missions Partnerships: 

CovMissions provides financial support to:

  • The Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention
  • Wiregrass Hope Center
  • House of Ruth
  • Love INC.
  • Wesley Manor Retirement Center
  • Harbor Church
  • Love In Action Ministries
  • Faine Elementary
  • Highlands Elementary
  • Samaritans Clinic
  • New Vision Church

 

Regional

Home Improvement Ministry (HIM Ministry) 

Our HIM team serves in construction and repair ministries throughout the region. Our team specializes in wheelchair ramps and necessary health-related improvements, especially for the elderly and home-bound. We have an active team with ongoing projects, and we offer Work Days for the whole church periodically. Our HIM team also oversees our church’s volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity. We always seek any willing servant for any of our projects. For more information, contact Jim Hicks.

September 2017

Habitat for Humanity 

Covenant partners with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for families in need. We provide financial support as well as volunteers. This ministry is overseen by our HIM team (above). In addition to volunteer labor and donated building supplies, you can support this ministry by volunteering to bring meals and refreshments to the workers. Contact Jim Hicks at hicksjegraceba.net for information on how you can serve.

 Disaster Response Teams

Our Early Response Team is trained and equipped to respond in the event of a disaster locally or nationally.   Our Coordinator, John Nolan, coordinates the efforts of our church.  Our ERT trailer is fully equipped with tools and supplies, we have teams ready to deploy when needed, and our church is prepared to assist in a variety of ways in case of natural disaster.  Everyone wishing to serve on our ERT team is required to have ERT training.  For more information, contact John Nolan call or text John at at 334-685-1559.

Taunton Family Children’s Home

We proudly support the Taunton Family Children’s Home in Wewahitchka, Florida.  Founder David Taunton’s motto is “changing a child from the inside out.”  And that is exactly what they strive to do!  Each child that comes to live at the home is welcomed with the love of Christ.  More than 300 children have called Taunton’s home since they took in their first child in 1978.

Red Bird Missionary Conference

The purpose of the partnership between the Red Bird Missionary and the Alabama-West Florida Conferences is to develop a healthy relationship that is transformative and inspirational.  The goal is to find ways that we can do mission “with” and not “for” our Red Bird Partners.  Covenant is currently working with Beverly United Methodist Church to assist them with getting their Celebrate Recovery program started.

More Regional Mission Partnerships

United Methodist Children’s Home: The UM Children’s Home makes a real difference in the lives of children. It has helped transform the lives of thousands of hurting children since 1890. Learn more at www.umch.net.

 

International

AFRICA GOSPEL CHUCH BABY CENTER (July 5-19, 2018)

Kenya struggles with an overwhelming epidemic of babies and children being orphaned or abandoned due to poverty, AIDS and other diseases. The AGC Baby Center provides a safe haven for these little ones. It is not an orphanage or a children’s home. Children ranging in age from birth to 4 years of age stay at the center only until they can be matched with adoptive partners.  Covenant teams on mission at the baby center go to love and nurture the children but our teams are working teams that lend a hand with whatever maintenance or improvements that are needed at the facility.  A safari experience is included at the end of the work week.  Please prayerfully consider joining our 2018 team.  The cost is $2,200 and includes airfare, lodging and meals (meals on travel days are not included).

BELIZE MISSION TRIP

Our mission trip to Belize is an amazing opportunity to participate in the distribution of Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.  Belize is divided into six districts.   Shoe boxes are distributed in different districts each year.  Distribution this year will be in two northern districts.  This is a physical mission trip that involves lots of lifting and bending.  The team will spend several days unpacking and sorting shoeboxes for distribution to churches in the district.  Then, the fun part, we get to help give shoe boxes to the children usually in several locations!!  After a hard week’s work, this team will enjoy some free time on one of the islands!  Sign up for this mission trip is now closed.

PANAMA MEDICAL MISSION TRIP (July 21-29, 2018)

The Ngobe are the poorest of the poor in Panama. Our teams bring medical and dental care that is otherwise unavailable in the region.  CovMissions funds the medications that the team brings to the clinic.  Medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are needed.  Visiting the Panama Canal is an option at the end of the week.  The cost is $1,500 per person and includes airfare, lodging and meals (meals on travel days are not included).

 

HAITI MEDICAL MISSION TRIP (June 23-30, 2018)

If you want to share your medical gifts and talents in a place of great need, our Haiti medical mission trip in 2018 is for you!  This medical team will be serving in a couple different locations during the week.  We are seeking doctors and nurses for this team but non-medical volunteers are also welcome.  If God is calling you to go to Haiti, we will find a place for you to serve.  The need is great.  Please join us! !  The cost is $1,500 per person and includes airfare, lodging and meals (meals on travel days are not included).

Haiti Water Project

Can you imagine walking for miles every day for water?  The trip to the well with an empty bucket is the easy part.  Carrying it back up the hill, in the heat and across the rocks is the tricky part.  this is what the people of Ivoire do every day.  We are excited that because of your generous giving to CovMissions, this is about to change.  CovMissions is funding the construction of a 20,000 gallon reservoir that will facilitate piping water to the church and many homes in the community as well as provide a reservoir for water during the dry season when the well often goes dry.

The work has been hard and slow.  Our Haiti team was able to both see the progress that has already been made and participate in construction.  Getting about 4 or 5 gallon buckets of sand (for cement) to the site requires a 3-hour round trip with a donkey.  This is usually done at about 3 am before the heat of the day sets in.  Large rocks for the foundation have been delivered by hand.  Most rocks have been carried from a rock pile that locals have been gathering from all over the mountain.  Our four-wheel drive vehicles were a tremendous help in speeding up this process.  Now that the foundation is nearly complete, the next step will be constructing the reservoir which will require lots of brick that will be made on site.  Much of the pipe has already been laid.

More International Mission Partnerships 

Covenant supports the international mission work of Rhett Thompson(Panama), Ivey Family(Peru), Drum Family (Spain), April Herschberger (Kenya), Dan Jacobs (Kenya), Jeff & Indra Palmer (New Zealand), Shalom Mission House(Belize)