Volunteers in Mission (VIM)
The Volunteers in Mission (VIM) team is a group of adults who travel once a year, in the fall, for a week to do mission work. If you would like to find out more information about the next adult mission project, contact Donna Frick dfrick47@new.rr.com.
Mission Ministry Team
Join the team that focuses on supporting those in need in our communities, across our local, national, and global demographic. Join others to prepare a meal at the Emergency Shelter, organize a food collection for the food pantry, or share your skills with Habitat for Humanity, and more. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, please contact Chris Hartman cdmhart@sbcglobal.net.
Evangelism & Outreach Ministry Team
Join this newer team as we reach out to the people of our neighborhood. This group will only meet a few times a year, and will do 2-4 walks/ giveaways a year. We have given away hot chocolate at the Christmas Parade and have given food out at Oktoberfest. If you are interested, contact Pastor Hae –Jeong HJYoon@appfumc.org.
Connectional Missions
Through The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) we are in mission with God’s people here in Wisconsin, in the United States and around the globe. We have sent boxes of supplies to Russia and Sierra Leone, raised funds to help eradicate malaria as part of Imagine No Malaria, shared in relief efforts for victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. Through the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) we provide on-going support to Gwen Gibson, a missionary who serves as an educational specialist with The United Methodist Mission in Senegal, Africa.
Hands-On Ministry
Are you looking for ways to live out your faith by serving those in need in our local community? Does your employer offer time-off to participate in volunteer activities? Each month First Church will provide opportunities for anyone to participate in hands-on volunteering opportunities throughout our local community.
Adult Mission Trip
Volunteers in Mission (VIM) usually travel in the fall for a week of mission work. In 2018 the VIM team went to UMC Pine Lake Camp in Wisconsin where we worked on the camp grounds, and buildings. If you would like to find out more information about the next adult mission project, please contact the church office.
Concern and Action Ministry Team
The Concern & Action Ministry Team puts faith into action through programs to address social and cultural challenges, including: poverty, discrimination, mental illness and environmental stewardship. Through local mission work and education, we strive to incorporate John Wesley’s three simple rules, including 1. Do no harm, 2. Do good, 3. Stay in love with God. Our ministry team is focused on spreading God’s love in our community and congregation while demonstrating Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors to all people. As the Concern and Action Ministry Team of First Church Appleton, we want to let you know we are working even harder on ideas for our church to increase our awareness and racial literacy in the wake of the social unrest, injustice, and horrifying murder of George Floyd and other people of color throughout history by those in power. We know as a church committed to loving people unconditionally as Jesus did, helping them reach their greatest Christian potential and feel safe surrounded by community, this has had a devastating effect. We might feel helpless, disgusted, enraged, determined. We want you to know our committee is working hard to allow us to gain something from this and to be a part of the solution. We want to communicate and acknowledge that we understand the government and system does not allow equal access to all. We recognize as a church and those of us not of color, we need to listen more to learn and talk less. We recognize, there are things we cannot understand due to inherent privilege. We know privilege is not something we asked for, nor does it mean our lives are not hard, but it does mean, each of us not of color have not had our lives made harder by our race. We strive to become “anti-racist,” not just “not racist.” So, we are prepared in order to increase our racial literacy and do better, we ask ourselves and we will be asking you to engage in some uncomfortable conversations, including… How can we recognize our own privilege, even if it’s hard? How can we initiate conversations honestly about race? How can I learn about and begin moving away from my implicit biases? We will be announcing opportunities for these conversations from the team for discussion, self-reflection, awareness building and putting ideas into practice. Watch for these announcements and challenge yourself to engage in the discomfort of learning!
Affordable Housing Ministry Team
The Affordable Housing Ministry Team seeks ways to bring awareness to the problem of lack of affordable housing for the most vulnerable including the homeless and those needing to secure housing on limited incomes. At present, approximately 4000 affordable housing units are needed in the Fox Cities area. Secure housing helps children feel safe, doing better in school. It helps stabilize job situations, keeping people employed, in better physical and mental health. Lack of secure affordable housing affects us all. From awareness, our hope is to bring appropriate actions to help. As a faith community, what is God asking us to do?
