As a “Matthew 25 Church”, and seeking to live Christ’s servant model of discipleship, we have been involved with ..
FIVE CENTS A MEAL
Folks in the church are invited to set aside 5 cents for each breakfast, lunch, and dinner that they have throughout the month. These sums from suppers are then brought to church on the last Sunday of the month. As part of the Presbytery of the James (we are one of 100 congregations), these combined gifts are used to help fill local food banks, provide BACKPACK FOOD programs when school is not in session, and fund advocacy programs – like BREAD FOR THE WORLD and VIRGINIA HUNGER SOLUTIONS – to help end hunger.
HEALING PRAYER
We offer 45 minute prayer appointments to those in the community, as well as those in the church. These are confidential meetings, they are not counseling sessions, and there is no charge.
With two of our prayer ministers, individuals have the opportunity to respond to the question: “What would you like Jesus to do for you today?” This may be for physical, emotional, spiritual healing, or for deliverance. The truth is that the help comes not from ourselves, but only from God and as God so chooses. It’s a time to be listened to, loved, and prayed for.
This is a quiet ministry. We both follow and teach the model that we have learned from the CHRISTIAN HEALING MINISTRIES School of Healing Prayer in Jacksonville, Florida.
HOPE CENTER
Although our active participation is currently on hold because of COVID, we continue to help support, and look forward to once again providing and serving lunches as a team at the HOPE CENTER (200 Commerce Street, Petersburg).
MADELINE’S HOUSE – Breaking news.
This is from the SOUTH SIDE CENTER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION which we helped support.
“Madeline’s House was our domestic violence program. It was named after Madeline Gearheart Mitchell, who was killed by her abusive husband in 1998. When Madeline and her children needed safe haven, there was no shelter available. Since Madeline’s House was founded in her honor in 1999, we have worked to ensure vital services were available to victims. The shelter unfortunately had to close in November 2022.“
The Small Group led, SANDWICH PEOPLE MINISTRY – Doing the six things that Jesus taught in Matthew 25:34-36.
With the gift of two chickens and a goat, we are able to help provide a family with a steady supply of eggs, milk and protein. This project was done with WORLD VISION.
A healthy dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day, which is easier to direst than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats also produce valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.
Chickens are equally easy to raise and can naturally multiply to impact generations of children. Chicks require little money, space, or food to thrive and grow – making them an ideal business venture for a single mom or vulnerable family.
These are just some of the ways our Covenant family helps the people in our communities. (Recently we had the serendipitous privilege of delivering 400 bags of, beyond what was ordered, OR-IDA Tater Tots, provided yo us by a very kind Ohioan truck driver who just happened to call the church, to our neighbors.) If you know of an immediate need or have a longer project in mind, please do not hesitate to contact us with your suggestion. (804) 732-8240