People In Need

by Rev. Pavielle Jenkins, missions & community engagement

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me."

Throughout scripture, we see the call to care for the poor and disadvantaged in our society, and Jesus especially exhibits this throughout his ministry. Neighbors in need reach out to FUMCR almost daily to seek assistance. These requests are varied and include asking for help with paying rent and utilities, car repairs and payments, medicine, food, gas, clothing, and more.

With each request is a story – a single parent who took off from work without pay to stay home with a sick child and now cannot cover the bills for the month, an elderly person on a fixed income who is unable to pay for their new medication, a mother trying to rebuild her life after leaving an abusive relationship who needs help fixing a serious car issue. Often, neighbors are referred to organizations in our community that provide the resources they are seeking. However, there are times when neighbors do not qualify, need assistance that others are unable to offer, or are in an emergency situation that requires immediate help. This is where the

(Matthew 25:34-36)

church steps in to not only be a compassionate and loving presence, but also to meet their needs as we are able using the People in Need Fund.

We have received and addressed approximately 120 requests and given out almost $12,000 since January of this year. This is almost double the number of requests we had at this time last year and aligns with significant increases in individuals seeking help compared to previous years that Network of Community Ministries is experiencing.

The People in Need Fund is fully supported by donations and is running very low. If you would like to contribute to this fund, you may do so online at www.fumcr.com/givenow and select “other” then “PIN fund,” or you may mail a check to the church with “PIN fund” in the memo line. Thank you for your generosity - whether you have contributed in the past or will give in the future. Your support helps to show God’s love and care for the least of these in our community.