Missions
As we seek to be a people taking part in the mission of God, we desire all members of our church to be actively extending God’s word by sharing our gifts, serving in mission, and drawing others to the love of God.
Our Commitment to Missions
As Christians, we are called to follow the example of Jesus by helping people in need. Jesus was concerned about people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual ones, and commanded his followers to be concerned about them, too.
If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?? (James 2:15-16)
Serving at Church
There are many opportunities for service at Aldersgate. Besides those listed here, many of the Sunday school classes and other groups are also active in service missions.
There are a variety of ways to help on Sunday mornings at Aldersgate. We always need ushers, communion servers, communion stewards (those who prep the communion between services), liturgists (who lead the Call to Worship and Invocation), plus behind the scenes help such as sound, media, and video techs. For more information or to sign up, please call the church office. Training will be provided.
If you like working with elementary-age children, then maybe you would enjoy volunteering to help with Cross Training—our elementary Sunday school program. You can volunteer for 6 weeks as a Coach (teacher) or Personal Trainer (helper). Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board outside Cynthia Rios’ office. Contact Cynthia if you have more questions.
The church office, as well as the Caregivers, would like to be able to respond to those who are hospitalized, have a new birth, experience an illness or death in the family, or just need prayers. If you find yourself in any of those situations, please let us know that we can be of assistance to you.
We need volunteers to greet folks and to staff the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings. Contact the church office for more information. There will be training on what to do.
These groups composed of volunteer church members and staff are necessities in the United Methodist Church. They include administrative board, finance, lay leaders, membership, memorial, nominations and leadership development, staff pastor parish relations, stewardship, and trustees. To learn more, or if interested in serving on one of these committees, please contact the church office.
Healthy Congregations sponsors exercise and good nutrition classes. Check out the series “Cooking with Christ” on our Facebook page and YouTube channels.
Missions in the Community
There is a collection area in the sanctuary lobby near the Saint Francis of Assisi window for various items, including the monthly mission collection item, as well as non-perishable canned goods and hygiene items for Community Food Ministry. There is also a collection box in the hallway to the office area for ink cartridges.
Look for the monthly mission collection item on our Calendar page.
Family promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence. Learn more at the Family Promise website.
AUMC is a “Support Congregation” for Family Promise, meaning that when Hope Mennonite Church hosts families, AUMC helps with meals, visiting with clients, playing with kids, and clean up. Volunteers are needed for various positions once per quarter. Contact Pastor Esther to volunteer or for more information.
Aldersgate participates in Laundry Love once a month on the fourth Tuesday at Spring Clean Laundry on Ridge RD. We provide laundry soap, dryer sheets, and money to operate the machines from 6-8 p.m. for those who come and need help. Contact Pastor Esther if you would like to be put on the list of volunteers.
Every Tuesday, Youth for Christ (YFC) provides a Bible study and classes for the young parents in their program at YFC Wichita (727 S. Washington Ave., Wichita KS 67211). Aldersgate has committed to providing a meal these nights on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Visit their website for more information.
Families or groups interested in providing a meal need to provide a main dish, side dish, and dessert for about 20 people. It is helpful if you can also stay to serve the group.
Contact Pastor Esther for more information.
Open Door has need of regular volunteers or substitutes from 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. on a weekly basis. They could use file room workers, front desk receptionists, intake workers, and grocery sackers. Phone at 265-9371 or email administration@umopendoor.org.
There is information about other volunteer opportunities at UM Open Door on their website.
New Covenant strives to BE the church and make a difference in the Delano community. For details about this and to see how you can help, please contact Pastor Esther.
Current Support
- Providing various ministry support throughout the week.
- Assisting with the Cupboard Co-op and keeping it stocked.
The MLC of Wichita accepts donations of medical equipment to supplement the needs of people without insurance coverage. To donate, or if you know someone who needs equipment, check their website: https://www.medicalloancloset.us/.
- Aldersgate recycles glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, and aluminum cans. We also collect pop tops for the Ronald McDonald house, box tops for the McCurdy School in New Mexico, and clothes for The Klothes Closet.
- The Shawl Sisters create prayer shawls, hats and scarfs for the homeless, and red hats for newborns for the American Heart Association.
- The Bee-Attitudes Quilters use their gifts to create items for those in need.
Check out the Mission bulletin board to find out more about missions, and please share with us how you are in mission by printing and filling out this form, then turning it in to the church office.
Missions Abroad
Aldersgate regularly organizes international mission trips. Previous trips have taken place in Russia, Ireland, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Haiti, and El Paso Texas (on the Mexican border). Our Dec. 2018-Jan. 2019 mission trip was building a greenhouse at the Angel House Orphanage in Tarime, Tanzania, Africa.
Aldersgate participates in international mission trips regularly. A group is heading back to Angel House on July 31, 2023. Updates about this trip can be seen at https://posthope.org/aldersgate.
In addition to Angel House, previous trips have been to the Bahamas, Russia, Ireland, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and Haiti. The church has also supported Medical Mission trips to the Dominican Republic. Contact Pastor Esther or a member of the Missions Committee if you are interested in participating.
Every year in January, Dr. J.P. Smith leads a group of people, mostly from Wichita, to Monte Plata, Dominican Republic. Aldersgate’s Missions Team supports medical and non-medical people from our congregation to participate in this important and fulfilling work. For more information see www.mmi.org, or contact Pastor Esther.
- Uplift one another in prayer on a regular basis;
- Work together for the educational support of young people in the Mutare and Mutasa-Nyanga districts;
- Help people in our conferences learn about, and from, one another, including our history and culture, our blessings and challenges, and our faith and life;
- Report each year to our respective Annual Conferences through existing channels, as seen fit by each conference; and
- Cooperate in developing and implementing scholarship applications for post-secondary students from the Mutare and Mutasa-Nyanga districts.
