“Life is not about what you gather, it is what you scatter that tells what kind of life is lived.” Helen Walton
Through missions and outreach, CSMC individually and collectively seeks to honor God by the scattering of His love to a hurt and dying world. We strive to be a giving church to those in times of intense need and crisis in our community. We are all members of the same body. When one of us hurts, it is up to the rest of us to support each other in times of need.
We praise and thank God for the opportunities He has given us recently ...
October 8, 2023 – 5 kids from the Blaze Ministry (5th/6th graders) delivered toilet paper donations to the Ronald McDonald House. The kids participated in a “deep cleaning” of the indoor playroom there. The Ronald McDonald House provides low cost or free lodging to families with children receiving treatment in the children’s hospital at UMMC or another area hospital.
October 2023 – CSMC provided rental/utility assistance to a couple both laid off from their jobs. Both the husband and wife had new jobs lined up in the next month. This assistance was provided through the gracious giving to the pastor’s discretionary fund (PDF).
October – November 2023 – On 10/29/2023, members of the church family signed a letter of encouragement to patients receiving treatment for cancer. Each signature was signed in the color representing the cancer that had affected each church members’ life. A picture of our congregation and a picture of those in our congregation who were cancer survivors was included in the letter. 72 soft velvet neck pillows along with the letter and pictures were delivered to Hederman Cancer Center patients.
December 2023 – The Women’s Circle group adopted a family of 5 for Christmas. The father was receiving treatment for cancer. Funds were donated for food, utilities, and Christmas gifts for 3 young children.
December 3, 2023 – The Miracles from the Baddour Center led worship at CSMC. The Baddour Center is a home for those with special needs requiring supported, supervised living. Each Miracle received two bags of Christmas goodies and a potluck lunch. The Miracles were a blessing, and their testimony, music, and presence was a wonderful Christmas gift to our congregation.
December 24, 2023 – The Christmas Eve Offering was designated for cancer patients in the community with significant financial needs due to a cancer diagnosis.
March 4-7th, 2024 – Several members of our church family provided lunches for the Nomads. The Nomads are a group of mostly retirees that travel the country giving of their time and talents to complete building or repair projects needed at Methodist campgrounds. The Nomads completed several significant construction projects at Camp Wesley Pines.
March 2024 – Donation given to sponsor a child at Methodist Children’s Home for a Spring Break trip to Dallas. The child enjoyed an experience at Six Flags, Alley Cats Entertainment, Medieval Times, Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors NBA game, meals, lodging and a charter bus.
March – April 2024 – Several bags of towels, washcloths, and sheet sets were donated to Grace House in the Jackson area. This organization provides housing to those living with HIV, mental illness, chemical dependency, and extremely impoverished. They have housed around 1,200 individuals in the last year. The towels, washcloths, and sheets were a gift to each person receiving housing.
March 2024 – An elderly woman recently discharged from the hospital returned to her home where some of her furniture had been stolen. She was sleeping in a recliner. A full-size bed, mattress, and bed linens were delivered to her home allowing her to rest and recuperate.
April 2024 – A family lost their home to fire in our community. Assistance was given through the pastor’s discretionary fund to assist the father with gas allowing him to commute to work from the family’s distant temporary living arrangement.
April 27, 2024 – Camp Wesley Pines had not passed a safety inspection for a climbing tower that provided a rock-climbing element and part of the zip line activity. A group from CSMC worked to build a set of moveable stairs allowing safe access to these activities so the activity could be used for the summer camp months.
June 2024 – In appreciation for their service, 115 Members of the military that were serving at Camp Kamassa on various construction projects were provided meals to enjoy at the street dance kicking off the Tomato Festival.
July 1, 2024 – Members of our church family provided breakfast for Camp Kamassa’s inaugural “Radically Against Dystrophy” (RAD) camp. The kids enjoyed a fantastic life-changing week at camp celebrating their abilities while experiencing activities provided for them.
July 7 -11th – 26 volunteers provided a Vacation Bible School worship and discipleship camp called “Hometown Nazareth”. 50 children from our community enjoyed the Bible studies and fun activities.
July 2024 – Over 150 cans/boxes of food items were donated to the SOS Food Pantry. These items were collected by the K3 – 6th participants at Vacation Bible School.
July 2024 – Donation given to Samaritan’s Purse for $76.25 through the efforts of the children participating in VBS activities. The money was used to bring clean water to a community/village.
June – July 2024 – 407 pairs of men’s pants were collected for the Grace Place Ministry for homeless and those experiencing food insecurity in the Jackson area. Grace Place provides a daily Bible study for those who want to participate and a morning meal 4 days a week for around 60 – 80 participants. A clothing closet is available to the participants in the ministry.
July 18, 2024 – CSMC hosted a youth group from Texas who was traveling on their way back home from the SIFAT (Science in Faith and Technology) camp in Alabama. They needed a place to stay overnight and slept at the church. Members of our church family provided the kids with a nacho bar for supper.
Thanks to each of the 23 adults, teenagers, and children who served the SOS Food Pantry throughout the year on the second Monday of each month. Your assistance packing food boxes and delivering them to the cars of those who are elderly and disabled is a testimony to your own faith and love for Christ put into action.
Over the past year our church has ministered to the homeless, orphans, those living with cancer, elderly, persons with disabilities, children in the hospital, those who have lost their jobs, retired Christians serving the Lord in camp ministry, working poor, single mothers, mentally ill, chemically dependent, those displaced by fire, members of the military, children in our community, those who are food insecure, those needing assistance with rent/utilities, a youth group needing a place to stay, elementary students, and college kids.
Luke 14:12-14 in the Message translation says this, “The he (Jesus) turned to the host. ‘The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kinds of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, those from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned! —at the resurrection of God’s people.”
All of humanity has been invited to God’s table. May we be wonderful hosts to those we encounter along life’s journey.