Missions, Service & Benevolence Mission: To encourage members to respond to the good news of the Gospel by moving beyond themselves in service to others. From serving children here in the Midlands to mission trips in the United States and beyond, the Missions, Service and Benevolence Ministry offers many opportunities for Eastminster’s congregation to serve others
Accomplishments in 2020: • Managed and disbursed over $500,000 to local, global, and PCUSA missions • Mentored 60 children through Bradley Elementary Lunch Buddy program and provided weekly filled backpacks with weekend food for 22 children at Bradley • Donated 2,625 pounds of peanut butter and other foods to Harvest Hope • Continued serving meals and provided fellowship at Transitions each Third Thursday for dinner and catered/served dinner for 244 on Christmas Day • Collected and distributed “Cookies for First Responders” to numerous locations in honor of 9/11 • Prepared and served lunch at the Washington Street Soup Cellar on the first Tuesday of January • Continued our support of Family Promise of the Midlands • Sent over 250 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child • Mentored 26 C.H.A.M.P.S. (Communities Helping Assisting Motivating Promising Students) students by providing opportunities to learn and grow through education, college prep, service learning, character development, and fellowship during a summer camp and one a month follow-up activities • Welcomed missionary Dr. Douglas Lungu with MBF who visited EPC in February • Supported a workday with the Eastminster Interns in Walterboro, SC to assist in storm cleanup • Donated $5,000 to each Mission organization we were planning a trip with for this year • Donated $25,000 to MBF for use in their fundraising efforts to change the direction of their ministry • Donated $5,000 to support Capernaum (part of Young Life’s ministry) • Donated $30,000 to The Cooperative Ministry in an effort to support those locally that are facing the challenges of the COVID slowdown • Supported 3 CHAMPS scholarships for former students attending college • Purchased and built a Living Waters water system to be used for education and promotion • Supported a Potato drop in November that disbursed 34,000 pounds of potatoes to local food relief organizations • Purchased 4 outdoor tables for Bradley Elementary as part of our ongoing partnership • Donated over $9,500 to Women’s shelter • Donated $3,400 to Camp Cole to support 4 scholarships for children that are experiencing homelessness to be able to take part in a summer camp experience in 2021 • Partnered again with First Calvary Baptist to provide 41 gift baskets, toys, and gift cards for the families of St. Lawrence Place • Partnered with PEP to provide 7 Zoo memberships and gifts cards for women at Samaritan’s Well and provided 3 families at Family Promise with gifts and gift cards • Financially supported Foundation Church, a new church development in the Dutch Fork area • Contributed financially to a medical mission trip to Sudan/South Sudan for the purpose of distributing Talking Bibles and medicines • Donated $15,000 to Salvation Army for a back-to-school initiative • Collected and disbursed donations to the Mall to Manger Project which gives church members the opportunity to make honor gifts for friends and relatives during the Christmas season • Contributed to Live Oak Counseling Center’s Care Fund Eastminster Annual Review - Page 38
