Unique Ministry Grant Applications

UMFLa 2020 Unique Ministry Grant Application Overview Requested $ Attachments

Church/Ministry Name

Title

What is your unique ministry idea

Asbury UMC Lafayette

Pastoral Care Staff

Panic to Peace online tools

$1,000

Panic to Peace online modules

Asbury UMC Lafayette

Children's Director

yard signs for members

$3,000

Share the Love

Aurora UMC

Pastor

Craft Program

$5,000

Aurora Creativity Connects

Aurora UMC

Interim director of preschool

Laptops for teachers to do zoom

$4,580

Aurora Preschool

Bethel UMC

pastor

Kids bible study in a box

$5,000

passport to the bible boxes

Broadmoor UMC

Lead Pastor

Red Stick Pop UP church, equip/food

$5,000

Red Stick Pop Up Church

Camphor Memorial

Board chair

$5,000

Camphor Connects during Covid

ESM UMC

Administrative Council Chairman

Laptops to be checked out by members

$5,000

ESM Laptop for Seniors

FUMC, BR

Church member of Spirited Stitchers

Covid Masks

$5,000

First UMC, Baton Rouge

FUMC, DeRidder

Pastor

yard banners & flags

$5,000

First DeRidder Flags & Banners

Gretna UMC

Pastor

Part time help to do ESL

$3,785

Gretna English as 2nd Language

Henning Memorial UMC

Church Administrator

Food & Bedding for indigent

$5,000

Henning Love Matters

Hineston Fellowship UMC

pastor

Online college guidance counseling

$5,000

Hineston Graduates Program

Memorial UMC

Pastor

Drive In Church

$770

Drive UP Church

Mer Rouge UMC

Pastor

Drive In Church

$950

Mer Rouge Drive up Church

Noel UMC

Director

teach art to kids online

$3,500

Noel Online Arts Program

St. John's UMC

Associate Pastor

outdoor wooden cross labyrinth

$5,000

St. John, Baton Rouge

St. Luke's UMC

Lay Pastor for Recovery Ministry

Music Ministry online

$3,800

Low Key Music Ministry

St. Luke's UMC

Lay Pastor for Recovery Ministry

12 step recovery program

$2,500

AMOR at St. Lukes

SELU Wesley

Pastors

Foodbank - food & equip

$15,000

Wesley Hammond Ponchatoula co-op

5/4/2020

Asbury UMC, Lafayette

Presented by Rev. Susan Ferguson and Becca Bowers, Deacon Candidate, in partnership with Moore Wellness, and Asbury UMC, Lafayette Offering Wholeness of Mind, Body and Spirit via online video From Panic to Peace: A Journey to Wholeness for Churches and Individuals A seven-module course is being customized especially for pastors to bring hope and healing to their staff, lay leadership and wider congregations. This same video resource can be utilized for pastor’s own self-care and healing from the trauma of ministering to people at this critical time.

It is our deep hope that pastors will use this resource to lead community in a new and dynamic way. Additional suggestions on ways to use the resources will be included.

Each module has multiple components, videos and text, from which to choose. The components include meditation techniques, children’s activities, self-applied massage, simple movements for any level, art activities, prayer and journaling, coping skills, and communication aids for spiritual health.

Short videos will be created and available in a package on teachable.com and grouped together on the themes of the seven modules.

Equipment provided to Asbury Lafayette will be used to video the series.

Hiring a video editor at $20 per hour would free staff for ministry creation. The $1000 will primarily be used for the video editor, the web design for the platform and the planning going forward.

We are grateful to the Louisiana United Methodist Foundation; the staff, the board members, and those who have contributed their resources and time in past years to lead us to moments such as this. We may be separate in body, but we will never be apart in spirit as long as we hold with us the light of Christ.

Requested amount: $1000

Asbury UMC Lafayette, Children’s Ministry Share the Love: Neighborhood Yard Sign Campaign Asbury Lafayette is a United Methodist Church focused on growing, living and sharing, with all, the Love of Christ. Our church sits at the heart of the Brentwood neighborhood in Lafayette and we strive to be a positive influence in our neighborhood. Our desire is to share the love of Christ with hopeful messages on yard signs in our neighborhood.

In the midst of the chaos and stress in our world right now, we recognize the need for positive messages of love. We want to share glimpses of God’s love and hope with our Lafayette neighbors as they are out for a walk, run or bike ride. To meet this need, our goal is to brighten our neighborhood with yard signs, designed to look like our Asbury stained-glass windows. Each sign will include a message of love for our community, “Love Shines Through,” “Love Never Fails,” and “Share the Love.”

To engage our Asbury family in the project, our adults, youth and children will be part of the design team by choosing our colors. Individuals will color and email in a colored picture of their design. Asbury staff will determine our top 4 color designs for each love sign. Then our Asbury members, friends and community will vote on their favorites on Facebook. When our final designs have been chosen, we will make those into yard signs and distribute them to Asbury members and neighbors to place in their yards.

Timeline: • Yard Signs designs completed by May 1 • Color Submissions due by May 8th • Staff Voting May 9-11th • Facebook Voting May 12-14th • Yard Signs finished and distributed to yards by May 29th Cost of project: $3000 450 one-sided signs with wire stands, $6.60 each • 150 “Love Shines Through” signs • 150 “Love Never Fails” signs • 150 “Share the Love” signs Requested amount: $3000

Aurora United Methodist Church “Creativity Connects” Ministry We propose: That we can connect with God and connect with one another, experiencing the rejuvenating and regenerating Presence of God, in unique ways when we tap into our creativity.

Therefore: We wish to begin a Creative Arts Ministry as soon as possible, to help our quarantined community connect with one another and with God, while we are in separate spaces. We will continue this ministry even after the quarantine is lifted, for homebound members to feel connected with God and our church family, particularly our children. We will employ this ministry with our preschool children, our scouting programs, our recovery groups, seniors, and our summer camps.

Our Process: 1) We will create a crafting space in our current Friendship Classroom, which is adjacent to our gym, and has exterior doors, which make it easily accessible to the public. This room will serve a dual purpose of storage and a space where creative ministries can take place after the stay-at-home order is lifted.

2) During the stay-at-home order, we will assemble crafting kits that can be picked up and/or delivered to people in their homes. Each kit will include instructions and materials to be used for a crafting project. The project can be painting, chalk art, sewing, knitting, and any number of creative projects.

3) We will need the following materials to outfit the room to store the crafting materials: Shelving: 6 @ $120 ea. = $720+tax; 6 @ $85 ea. = $510+tax Storage bins: assorted $800 Tables – adult and child-sized: 4 6’ tables @ $50 ea = $200+tax Stackable Chairs – 24 adult and 18 child-sized: 24 @ $500 & 18 @ $510 Assorted Supplies, as available, such as: Paints, Paint brushes, Chalk, Painters, Tape, Paint palettes, Glue, Glue Sticks, Glitter, markers, crayons, yarn, cloth, thread, canvases, tabletop easels, aprons, hot glue guns, various tools, clay & tools, paper bags, etc.: $1000 Cricut machine & materials: $500.00 4) The connection with church members occurs when we document and share our crafting projects with one another. They will be themed, related to our worship themes, and general in nature.

5) We will also utilize Zoom to have crafting times together.

Surface Pro 6 or comparable laptop: $1000

Aurora United Methodist Church “Creativity Connects” Ministry We propose: That we can connect with God and connect with one another, experiencing the rejuvenating and regenerating Presence of God, in unique ways when we tap into our creativity.

Therefore: We wish to begin a Creative Arts Ministry as soon as possible, to help our quarantined community connect with one another and with God, while we are in separate spaces. We will continue this ministry even after the quarantine is lifted, for homebound members to feel connected with God and our church family, particularly our children. We will employ this ministry with our preschool children, our scouting programs, our recovery groups, seniors, and our summer camps.

Our Process: 1) We will create a crafting space in our current Friendship Classroom, which is adjacent to our gym, and has exterior doors, which make it easily accessible to the public. This room will serve a dual purpose of storage and a space where creative ministries can take place after the stay-at-home order is lifted.

2) During the stay-at-home order, we will assemble crafting kits that can be picked up and/or delivered to people in their homes. Each kit will include instructions and materials to be used for a crafting project. The project can be painting, chalk art, sewing, knitting, and any number of creative projects.

3) We will need the following materials to outfit the room to store the crafting materials: Shelving: 6 @ $120 ea. = $720+tax; 6 @ $85 ea. = $510+tax Storage bins: assorted $800 Tables – adult and child-sized: 4 6’ tables @ $50 ea = $200+tax Stackable Chairs – 24 adult and 18 child-sized: 24 @ $500 & 18 @ $510 Assorted Supplies, as available, such as: Paints, Paint brushes, Chalk, Painters, Tape, Paint palettes, Glue, Glue Sticks, Glitter, markers, crayons, yarn, cloth, thread, canvases, tabletop easels, aprons, hot glue guns, various tools, clay & tools, paper bags, etc.: $1000 Cricut machine & materials: $500.00 4) The connection with church members occurs when we document and share our crafting projects with one another. They will be themed, related to our worship themes, and general in nature.

5) We will also utilize Zoom to have crafting times together.

Surface Pro 6 or comparable laptop: $1000

Bethel UMC, Logansport Passport to the Bible Boxes Project: Provide regular mailings for family which contain age-appropriate spiritual formation activities for children and information/instruction for the parents. The boxes would contain the following age-level appropriate materials: 1. Bible story book 2. children’s activity page 3. craft supplies 4. daily devotional for families to do together 5. newsletter for parents that provides spiritual formation information Boxes will be designed for four age-levels: Birth-3, Preschool – K, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-6.

During quarantine and summer, boxes will be sent bi-monthly. Once children resume school/Sunday School, boxes will be sent monthly. Children will be invited to share their completed activities/crafts with the pastor in person or during weekly Zoom meetings and will receive that week “Passport Stamp” for their work. Boxes will be mailed or delivered to doorsteps.

Rationale and Goals The combined Logansport - Bethel Charge has a growing ministry to children in our area. We have 37 children on our active role (children we see more than once a month), with an additional 9 children we see less regularly. About half of these children/youth attend without parents, and their families are not involved in a faith community.

The Quarantine has only made obvious the truth that Sunday mornings cannot be children’s only time of spiritual formation. We must resource and support parents and other adults in the children’s life to nurture them spiritually. That is the chief goal of these boxes. Our boxes will: 1. Give children and their parents activities and ways to talk about who God is and what God is doing in their lives now.

2. Open up a pattern and expectation of communication between parents, pastor, and Sunday School teachers in regard to their child's spiritual formation. Parent information will include surveys to help direct the content of future boxes, and the passport stamps set an expectation for the children to complete and share their projects.

3. Reinforce the relationship between the children/families and the church. During this time of quarantine, our children are bored and feel isolated, and these boxes will help them feel connected and give them activities and supplies.

4. Provide creative outlets for children to express themselves and respond to biblical stories. We serve an impoverished community that felt the economic effects of the quarantine almost immediately. Many families do not have income to spend on craft supplies or activities right now. The pastor is doing weekly Zoom meeting with the children, but 1/3 do not have consistent internet access.

Bethel UMC, Logansport – Page 2 Estimated Expenses. We are requesting $5,000.00 to cover initial expenses as we raise money for a ministry that will grow, adapt and continue into the foreseeable future. We estimate the average cost per box being $10. Based on this, at our current size, the estimated cost for summer boxes is $2760, and the remaining amount would continue to provide boxes through November.

We will offset the expense of the boxes by offering our congregations the opportunity to sponsor a box, and are pursuing avenues for additional financial support to make this an ongoing part of our outreach and ministry to children in Logansport.

Thank you for your consideration.

Requested amount: $5000

Broadmoor United Methodist Church – Baton Rouge Rev. Kennon Pickett, Associate Pastor 10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70815 kpickett@broadmoormethodist.org 214.415.9960 direct cell Unique Idea: We would like to plant sustainable gathering worship communities in a dinner-church format throughout the neighborhoods surrounding Broadmoor UMC by using what we have learned from our drive-thru conversion at Redstick Together in the Broadmoor Plaza shopping center on Florida Boulevard.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to affect a disproportionate amount of black citizens.

Broadmoor also has many elderly citizens, transients, and those experiencing homelessness, hunger and loneliness. While our Southeast Ministries food pantry helps low-income families, there is a very great need for prepared food distribution in our community, especially for these move vulnerable people groups. People experiencing homelessness have no place to store groceries. Elderly people often cannot easily prepare food on their own. And our ethnically diverse population does not often have access to affordable, hot food.

We fed over 3500 people in March and April. We have applied for a grant through UMCOR to supply ingredients to scale our drive-through model, honoring social distancing, and launch in additional sites to service more neighborhoods. We expect to feed 10,000 people in 90 days.

We are hoping that the United Methodist Foundation will match a private donor’s $5000 gift so that we can get the equipment we need to set up drive-thru locations with the intention of converting them to gathering dinner church communities once the Pandemic threat is over.

We will claim effectiveness when we have fed 10,000 people in 90 days, made deep personal connections with the citizens of our community, and established an ongoing relationship, in each location, that gathers for worship and hot meals on a weekly basis.

The $5,000 we are requesting from the UM Foundation is for social media marketing, print advertising, and equipment that enables us to pop-up in neighborhoods without having the limitations of time and costs of securing and preparing a brick and mortar locations. We need trailers, collapsible banquet tables and chairs, canopies for shade, insulated food transport carriers, serving and togo supplies, and mobile cleaning carts. This will equip us to test neighborhoods and develop relationships prior to identifying a permanent location for a sustainable, worshipping dinner church.

Camphor United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge Idea: CAMPHOR CONNECTS During COVID-19 Our current health crisis has facilitated Camphor’s increased use of technology. To maintain our connection to our congregation, we needed to quickly establish robust electronic connections.

These connections have been essential to maintaining our spiritual growth and personal connections, during a time where we are encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing.

Below are our methods for creating and maintaining connections during the COVID-19 Lockdown: 1. Big Picture: Outreach Focused Attraction and retention of Gen X, Gen Y and Zoomers during this health crisis by providing videoed church services. We plan to install video technology to record our worship services from the church sanctuary. The goal is to foster, maintain and strengthen our spiritual connections by providing a visual broadcast experience from our house of God, Camphor Memorial UMC, where many find peace and comfort.

The current demographics of our church places the average age at 60. Whereas you occasionally hear a baby’s cry, or the pitter patter of feet, it is rare. We recently purchased traditional hymnals and bibles for our traditional membership. The youth and young adults asked, WHAT ABOUT US? We use technology daily that enables us to learn and conduct business. We enjoy the technology at our friends’ churches. Technology is everyone’s future pathway.

To answer the youth and young adults, we have created a Media/Technology Ministry that today, oversees our traditional broadcast needs in the sanctuary and fellowship hall. They have the skills and desire for modern technology and have pushed the leadership of the church to provide a more interactive worship experience. We know this install will facilitate our church outreach growth, meet more people where they are through technology, and provide greater accessibility to all all members.

Today’s COVID-19 crisis has truly punctuated the tremendous positive outcomes that technology has and can have on our lives. While our church meetings, prayer band and bible study groups have met through teleconferences, we upload audio recordings of our Sunday Services to You Tube, Facebook and our church website. All of these platforms have been audio only, an “Old School “ format.

We want to leverage audio technology to broadcast video recorded worship experiences to our congregation. Purchase and installation of the video technology would allow “Safe Distancing “ recording and broadcasting from the sanctuary vs You Tube, thus creating a semblance of familiarity while incorporating “New School“ technology. Leveraging video technology allows congregants to see the Pastor, program participants and our church home.

The goal, remaining together while being apart, through technology!!

Cost: $10,725.47

Camphor UMC, Baton Rouge – Page 2 Status: Installation May 2020 2. Calling Tree: Strengthening Current Membership Twelve volunteer members of the congregation have been identified as Callers.

They have been assigned a calling list with names. Callers will provide consistent one on one contact with members on their list. A welcomed voice being a conduit to share and receive information and prayer request. They have been provided a script to use during the phone calls.

The goal is to remain close while being apart.

Cost: Time spent building relationships.

Status: Implemented April 2020 3. Phone Distribution List The establishment of a electronic calling system via Cox using telephone numbers of members to communicate pre-recorded messages for the congregation.

The goal is to have multiple platforms of communications for different learners.

Cost: Service provided by Cox at no additional cost to existing plan Status: To be implement April 2020 4. Online Giving Online giving has been developed, tested and monies received via Anedot.

The goal is make giving easy, accessible, timely and continuous from a diverse body of givers: members, prospective members, friends and guest while increasing our ability to do ministry in our immediate and global community.

Cost: 3% of the amount given Status: Implemented April 2020 Total budget of 1-4 = $10,725.47 All of the above is to strengthen our mission at Camphor Memorial UMC, to make disciples of Jesus Christ through the transformation of the world.

Additional information can be supplied upon request.

Yours in Christ, Eunice M Lavigne Requested amount: $5000.00

Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial UMC, Bogalusa

We want to purchase several laptop computers that can be checked out to our church members who do not have access to the internet. We will provide them with flash drives of the precious sermon so that they can still participate in the ChurchServices even after the virus and/ or quarantine are over. They can have the flash drives mailed to them or a church member can drop them off at their home in their mailbox. We would also be able to provide the computer and flash drive to the local nursing home where our members are living. We would like to be able to buy the computers and flash drives as soon as possible and get these to our members. We would be able to include sermons from the previous month. Since we live and service members in the rural community, we feel that this would be a way of reaching out to our community. The flash drives would be available to anyone who would like to have the sermons. The drives can be returned to the church and neither one secured of the most recent sermon. We would have enough flash drives to fill our needs.

We believe that we can purchase at least 9 computers for $3600, 50 flash drives at $10.00 each for $500.00, and a video camera for $200.00, and a tripod for $50.00, and cases for the computers at $25.00 each for $225.00, an HDMI cable for 20.00, and a case for the camera at $50.00. The total would be $4695.00. We would be ready to implement this program as soon as we receive the grant.

Requested amount: $4695.00

HINESTONE Graduates Program

1. Focus on Graduates Our first initiative, would be a series of six Zoom presentations of our 56 graduating seniors.

Working with the guidance counselor, assistant principal, and senior teachers, we would plan six of these (Projected dates: May 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28). Each session would present 9-10 students highlighting their accomplishments and future plans. In addition to a real time session, we would record each session to the Zoom-on-Demand in the cloud for repeat or additional viewing. $1400 –- honorarium of $25 for each of the 56 students who participate $1200 –-honorarium of $600 to the guidance counselor and to the assistant principal for planning and participation $600 -- honorarium of $50 for two participating teachers each session 2. Preparation for College or First Fulltime Job We would hold two sessions for the graduates (Projected dates: May 18 and 25). The college session would feature presentations by three college instructors and a question and answer session with the students. The Job session would feature three employers from the range of those who employ non-degree workers. The format would be similar to that of the college prep session. $600 -- honorarium for three college instructors and three professionals 3. Celebration of Student Talent We would offer talented junior high and high school students an opportunity to showcase their talents in four areas: music, creative writing, theater, and art.

First, we would invite students to join a virtual choir that would rehearse over Zoom five times and then present a final concert that would be saved to Zoom-on-Demand. Secondly, we would hold contests in creative writing, music performance, theater, and art. Contestants would showcase their work during four designated Zoom sessions. A professional judge would award first, second, and third place winners in each category. Each session would be recorded for playback. $400 -- Director for the Virtual Choir $800 – Honoraria for judges and prizes Virtual Art Gallery Music Performance Theatre Performance Creative Writing Lay leadership and clergy will take responsibility for facilitating the program, and the church will contribute the cost of publicity through direct mail and local and social media.

Requested amount: $5000

From: To: Subject: Date:

Tracie Wharton Kelly Johannessen FW: Form Submission - Unique Ministry Grant Application Monday, May 04, 2020 4:23:05 PM

From: Squarespace [mailto:no-reply@squarespace.info] Sent: 04/15/2020 2:08 PM To: Tracie Wharton <traciew@umf.org> Subject: Form Submission - Unique Ministry Grant Application

Full Name: Margaret Tyler Church or Ministry Name: First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Your position/role in this church or ministry: Church member; organizer/coordinator of Spirited Stitchers Address: 1646 Country Club Drive City: Baton Rouge State: Louisiana Zip Code: 70808-1217 Email: CTyler009@gmail.com Phone: (225) 315-8512 What is your unique ministry idea?: Through the volunteer efforts of FUMC members, we sew face masks to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus - we call ourselves the "Spirited Stitchers". We have over 75 seamstresses from the FUMC membership, their friends, and many others. One seamstress who has been a member of our church for ten years stated that this is the first time she has met and interacted with fellow church members outside the church walls.

Initially, about $2,500 worth of cotton and flannel fabric and elastic which remained after I closed my home business was used to make mask kits - each kit has material for 36 face masks. Each mask has a cotton "face" side and a flannel "patient" side with elastic strips to hold over the ears. Once we exhausted our initial supply, we purchased cotton and flannel fabric and spools of elastic to continue producing mask kits for our seamstresses.

Two and four yard bolts of fabric were layered, alternating cotton and flannel, then cut into 9 inch pattern strips - 72 layers of fabric make 36 masks. Each mask kit contains fabric and 16 yards of elastic.

We organize and coordinate our FUMC seamstresses making our masks while maintaining "social distances" - bags of kits for 36 mask are placed on our front porch and retrieved and when finished the masks are then placed on our front porch.

Initially working with a physician in our church, we donated masks to the Baton Rouge General Hospital on Bluebonnet and other health care providers located at that facility. Mask

donations have been made to the Baton Rouge General Hospital Midcity, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Ochsner of New Orleans, Woman's Hospital of Baton Rouge, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and several health care providers and small clinics in Baton Rouge and around the country. Donations have been made to nursing homes, the Louisiana War Veteran's Home in Jackson, various nonprofit entities, and other essential businesses.

While we have received some small donations to assist in defraying our costs, this grant will allow us to purchase additional fabric and elastic to continue our mission.

Requested amount: $5000 (Sent via UMF of LA)

FUMC DeRidder FUMC would like to do an outreach/evangelism event. This would incorporate two different tools for outreach.

We would like to implement them both by the end of May in time for Pentecost and summer.

The first would involve purchasing 8' tall flag banners. There would be two flag banners posted on the two main highways of our property. One example is a red banner with a dove that say, "May God's Spirit fill you with Healing, Peace and Hope. The church's Facebook page and website would be on the banner, along with our worship time so they can join us by Facebook Live or YouTube for services and other events.

The other flag and banner designs would be for the holidays and for the spring.

Cost: 2 flag banners with 3 designs: $149 (per flag) x 2 = $298 x 3 designs = $894 2 Poles $99 x 2 = $198 Total cost - $1092 The second part of this program would involve purchasing 100 garden flags and posts. Each post would come with three different garden flags for the post. Church members would be encourage to post this flag out by the road, near their mailbox, so the message could be easily read by walkers and drivers. Each message would be one of hope and encouragement. The flags would rotate out for Pentecost, the holidays and Easter (spring). The banner flags at the church and the garden flags at home would match up to help make the connection with the home and the church.

Each would also have the information about the church just like the banner flag.

Garden Flags: 225 double sided flags (set of three for each family) x 17.95 = $4038.75 75 flag poles x 9.95 = $746.25 Total Cost = $4,785 Total cost of both projects - 1,092 + 4,785 = $5,877 Our hope would be to get the Maximum $5,000 grant and we would take the rest from our evangelism budget.

The phone number listed above is my cellphone. This is the easiest way to find me during Covid19.

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Rev. Laraine Waughtal Requested amount: $5000

Gretna UMC

Gretna UMC, during social distancing, provides the only food bank on the West Bank. We also provide a codependent support group and offer English as a Second Language, in addition to other ministries and outreach - all of which have had to be canceled or revised during COVID-19 restrictions. As far as creativity, these ministries may not be unique - however, during this COVID-19 season and beyond, with the pastor and worship musicians being the only paid staff persons for a congregation needing to stay connected with our food pantry clients, our students, the community, and our church family, we would appreciate the consideration of the foundation to assist us in providing resources for the following (which would be unique for our congregation): 1. A part-time communications director/worship coordinator to assist the pastor with enhanced and continued on-line, social media worship as a continued outreach/ministry of the church.

2. A church Zoom Pro to include Zoo Phone account for the church with webinar features so those without the internet can call in to hear sermons, devotions, opportunities for outreach/ministry, and small group offerings. Many of our clients, students, and members are not able to connect with us because the internet is not available to them. Because of work schedules, some would not be available to call in at the exact hour the service/class is help. This feature would allow them to call at any time and not miss the opportunity that has been offered.

1. Staff Person: $12/hr x 12 hr per week = $3,456 (6 months) GUMC's strategy is to fully support this minstr/support staff person when grant funds are completed.

2. Zoom Pro Annual Cost: $149.90 + Zoom Phone Annual Cost: $180.00 = $329.90 Thank you, again, for your consideration, the encouragement and support the Foundation continues to offer the churches in the Louisiana Conference Requested amount: $3785.00

Henning UMC, Sulphur What is the greatest overall need in our community at this time? Food Insecurity.

Where do we have relationships already with those in need in our community? Six months ago we launched the Beds for Kids Ministry, hosting a local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a national network and process for engaging the needs of the community with the motto “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!” Through monthly bed builds, we have constructed and delivered over 60 beds from Westlake to Vinton, and have another 60 on the application list.

However, with the Governor’s Stay-at-home Proclamation and the need for distancing through COVID-19, all SHP bed builds have been placed on pause (locally as well as nationally). Our intent at the outset was to do more than provide a bed, life changing as that may be, but to find opportunity to build relationships with the families we served through this ministry.

The families served in the SHP ministry are economically disadvantaged and are hit the hardest by the current COVID-19 crisis. The mission of our church is to build relationships and nurture our community in service. Based on the scripture in Philippians 1:9-10 CEB, “This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ.” It is with this in mind, that we will launch our Unique Ministry, Love Matters, which adds an additional layer of support that is otherwise not available.

For Love Matters, Henning Memorial UMC will fully match the grant funds with an equal amount (or more) of our own funds to launch this unique ministry to deepen our relationships with our community and fill this critical and urgent need.

Goal: Reflect God’s love by providing assistance during the urgent and rising need for food caused by the current COVID-19 crisis by providing gift cards from locally grocery stores and restaurants for the families we have constructed and delivered beds and those in our community who are experiencing an urgent need of assistance.

In addition, we will coordinate with CARE Help of Sulphur to meet the urgent need of food for the community. CARE Help is a strategic network of local resources which provide immediate assistance to people in emergency situations (at the current time their need has grown 30% and is anticipating this need to grow even further due to the current crisis). .

Henning Memorial UMC will purchase gift cards from locally grocery stores (Misses, Market Basket, Kroger, Rouses, etc.) in amounts of $75 each and a local restaurants for $25 to be issued to the 40+ families who have received a SHP bed and for families who are on the SHP application waiting list. Families of larger size will receive more than one grocery gift card.

Cards will be purchased by SHP President Paul Warner in early May and will be distributed by church members to individual households through the following two weeks.

Henning Memorial UMC will coordinate with CARE Help of Sulphur to purchase necessary food to supply to families who need immediate assistance.

Henning UMC, Sulphur – Page 2 In summary, we believe Love Matters will accomplish several goals: Reach out to SHP recipient households to let them know we care about them in an ongoing way.

Provide much-needed relief at a time that funds and food are harder to come by.

Support local businesses.

Align with our church’s vision statement: Henning Memorial strives to create empowered disciples of Christ by Building relationships with all God’s children Nurturing our community in service to others, and Reflecting God’s love through our actions.

Requested amount: $5000

MEMORIAL BASTROP DRIVE UP CHURCH

We would like to host drive in worship once it is ok with the powers that be and the numbers of COVID 19 in Morehouse Parish begin to decline.

These are the items we believe we need to host drive in worship and record worship for online that we do not currently own: ROCKVILLE AUDIO RPG2X10 Portable Sound System $289.95 (currently on sale on Rockville's website) 3x 6X banner to advertise $60 on bannersonthecheap.com 50 ft outdoor extension cord $18.55 on Amazon $25 Facebook Ads iPhone tripod $26.95 on Rockville's website from americanmusical.com: Casio ARBENCH Padded Keyboard Bench $34.00 Yamaha NP12B Portable Digital Piano Black $199.99 Yamaha PA130 Adapter $14.95 Yamaha Attachable Keyboard Stand $29.95 Yamaha FC3A Sustain Pedal $42.95 CBI GA instrument Cable 15 ft $11.95 Requested amount: $770.00

Mer Rouge UMC Since the Covid Stay at Home order, we have been inviting people to come and pray in our courtyard....and I have been putting up prayer displays and uploading services and devotionals on our Facebook page using my own personal money and equipment. Over 1000 people have viewed our prayer displays online or come to pray in our courtyard. After the stay at home order is lifted, we would like to host socially distanced worship in our courtyard as the risks outdoors are much less than indoors. We would also like to continue posting it on Facebook. However, we do not have any working sound equipment at the church at all. As it has been we have had worship using a piano and the liturgist and I have no working microphone. While this has worked in our small sanctuary, it will not work outdoors. Therefore, we are requesting the equipment necessary to have outdoor worship.

Rockville RPG2X10 sound system $289.95 on the Rockville Audio Website Audio Cable for the keyboard $20 Keyboard kit---includes the keyboard, stand, bench and case/cover $212.90 at Americanmusical.com Mic Stand $24.95 at Rockville Audio's Web Site 20 Yard signs for the church and around town advertising outdoor worship and new worship time $300 at signsonthecheap.com iphone tripod $26.95 from Rockville audio website $25.00 in facebook advertising Another unique ministry we have been doing is chalking the sidewalks around town with uplifting messages. This is, however, very low cost for us.

Thank you for considering our request.

Requested amount: $950.00

Noel UMC, Shreveport

At Noel Community Arts Program, we seek to help people discover and develop their God-given gifts by making quality and affordable art and music opportunities accessible to people of all ages and economic backgrounds. We do this, typically, by offering private fine arts, music, and pottery lessons (with scholarships available), free outreach classes for nonprofit partners in the neighborhood, and periodic one-time classes. We were serving 300-400 individuals a week prior to COVID-19.

As is the case with so many, these efforts have had to take new forms during this time of quarantine. We are thankful to have been able to move most of our private lessons online through Zoom. However, many of our outreach partnerships have closed and therefore both our outreach teachers are losing work opportunities and our participants are missing their built-in creative outlets that so often help with emotional processingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;something whose importance that cannot be underestimated at this time.

We would like to apply today for funding to help us further digitize our opportunities to reach a greater number of people who are currently at home looking for chances to connect, learn a new skill, have an outlet, and/or engage their children. We are asking for $3,500 to pay teachers for creating video content of art and music classes as well as pay for an online platform (such as one we've found called "Teachable"). This would begin immediately and be offered for at least six months regardless of the governmental orders for sheltering in place. Half of these classes would be offered for free, and half would be offered at a low rate as to further sustain our efforts.

Below, you'll find the outlined budget.

-Pay 10 teachers to make two rounds of 4-lesson series at $40/hr: $3,200 -Six months of fees for an online platform: $300 Total: $3,500 Requested amount: $3500

From: To: Subject: Date:

Tracie Wharton Kelly Johannessen FW: Form Submission - Unique Ministry Grant Application Monday, May 04, 2020 4:22:40 PM

From: Squarespace [mailto:no-reply@squarespace.info] Sent: 04/19/2020 9:52 PM To: Tracie Wharton <traciew@umf.org> Subject: Form Submission - Unique Ministry Grant Application

Full Name: Deirdre Halliburton Church or Ministry Name: St. John's UMC Your position/role in this church or ministry: Associate Pastor Address: 230 Renee Drive City: Baton Rouge State: LA Zip Code: 70810 Email: Pastordeirdre@stjohnsbr.org Phone: (225) 235-5633 What is your unique ministry idea?: A outdoor walking labyrinth that honors those who died in Louisiana from COVI 19.

Have it ready for debut Easter 2021.

We at St. John's have placed crosses that represent the lives lost in Louisiana from the COVID 19 virus. It has had a huge impact with media and individuals from far and wide who have come to write the names of their loved ones on crosses and to share their stories in beautiful and powerful ways. We, as a church, are dreaming and visioning about how we can incorporate these crosses in a way that will continue to unite our community and state. I can see using the crosses as a part of the labyrinth and having a memorial plaque to commemorate those whos lives have been lost in this pandemic. WE have the property to accommodate such a labyrinth memorial.

Requested amount: $5000.00 (Sent via UMF of LA)

St. Luke’s UMC, Shreveport LOW KEY Music Ministry St Luke’s UMC Shreveport has a unique ministry of outreach and support to the local recovery community called Low Key. Low Key is a music-based service of recovery that offers the recovery community an opportunity to celebrate the gift of recovery without the formal structure or agenda of a typical recovery meeting. Attendance is open to anyone, whether in recovery or not. It is primarily a time for people to come together to express their gratitude to God and celebrate the spiritual blessing of recovery.

Music is indeed a universal language and provides common ground for all who share the experience of Low Key. We bring a variety of local professional musicians to play for this service. Each band or musician plays their own style of popular music from many different genres. Whatever the style, music is the primary expression of joy and thanks that is the spirit of Low Key. We have responded to stay-at-home orders and social distancing by providing Low Key as a live-stream event on social media. We have the opportunity to establish this online ministry as an ongoing part of Low Key. The first weeks of live-streaming have been seen by hundreds of people and many beyond our original ministry area. We know of at least one viewer from Ireland.

We are equipped with the basic technical elements necessary for this expansion of the ministry of Low Key – engineer, sound board, microphones, camera, and volunteers. However, our experience over these last few weeks has shown us the clear need for quality output in order for Low Key live-stream to maintain its success. As a music-driven ministry, it is necessary to maintain the best experience possible of the music without technical distractions. We currently need to add specific pieces of equipment so that the media output meets this standard.

Specifically, we are asking for a grant of $3,800 to purchase the following equipment: - studio-style microphones and mounts for multiple instruments – 3 @$170 - direct inputs (DI’s) to sound board – 2 @ $100, 1 acoustic preamp DI @$300 - cabling (XLR) for inputs – 4 @ $35 - wireless lavalier G5 band microphone headset/receiver (FCC req’d as of 7/13/20) – 2 @ $950 - wireless handheld G5 band microphone/receiver – 1 @ $280 Estimated total - $3,330.

The reformatted live-stream of Low Key will be implemented on May 15, 2020. This allows time for purchase, installation, and technical adjustments. Financial accounting will be documented and available in the form of purchase orders and receipts. The impact and accountability for the use of these funds will be observable in the weeks following implementation in a combination of anecdotal response from online participants and the statistics available from our media platform.

Requested amount: $3,800.00

St. Luke’s UMC, Shreveport AMOR at St. Luke’s

AMOR at St Luke’s is a ministry of recovery that provides support, resources, and Christian community to people who are in recovery in the Shreveport/Bossier City area. People in recovery programs have experienced especially challenging disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine requirements. This disruption is compounded for people in our faith community because they cannot address explicitly Christian concerns. Virtually all 12 Step recovery programs are intentionally generic in the description, practice, and role of faith and spirituality. This creates a great difficulty for confessing Christians who seek support, counsel, and encouragement as Christians who are also in recovery.

AMOR at St Luke’s wants to provide an opportunity for people to who are involved in 12 Step recovery to experience a deeper engagement of Christian discipleship in their life and work in a recovery program. Specifically, we want to invite together a community of confessing Christians in recovery as they deal with the spiritual and emotional challenges of these days.

This idea is certainly not new. There are many ways and places where life in recovery is shared with Christians as Christians. It is our mission to provide the resources and guidance to form small groups that look very Methodist/Wesleyan in mutual accountability and progressive spiritual formation. These groups will have the benefit of using the long wisdom of the Christian tradition and the particular practices of Christian prayer and worship. It is of central importance to provide a trusted group of fellow travelers in recovery where people can sort out the relationship of God, church, family, and faith in these days of such disruption and uncertainty.

We believe this ministry will be an opportunity for God to grow and strengthen the faith of those who participate. We also believe it will be a powerful witness to the Good News of God’s unfailing love in these days.

The main need that we have for beginning this mission is the acquisition of resources – books and materials – and finding an appropriate gathering place. We anticipate 2 groups of about 10 people each.

AA (Big Book) – AA literature $ 411 12&12 – AA literature $ 328 Breathing Under Water – Richard Rohr $ 300 Breathing Under Water Journal $ 300 Divine Therapy & Addiction – Thomas Keating. $ 280 Jesus Calling – Sarah Young $ 170 Subtotal $ 1,789 Room – 13 weeks @ $ 50 $ 650 TOTAL $ 2,439 Requested amount: $2,500.00

May 1st, 2020

Dear Tracie Thank you for speaking with Beth Lafargue this week and allowing us to tell you a little bit about our combined ministry idea between First - Hammond, First - Ponchatoula, and the Southeastern Wesley Foundation to care for and elevate those experiencing food, housing, and financial insecurity in Tangipahoa Parish.

The Southeastern Wesley is a “come-as-you are” space for everyone. We serve both the student community of Southeastern Louisiana University and the broader community of Hammond, Louisiana. Every week, the Southeastern Wesley interacts with 450 students and faculty through worship, small groups, Bible studies, and our Kairos Koffeehouse outreach. Our original signature program was serving free lunch every Wednesday to the faculty and student community.

At the conclusion of the Spring 2019 semester, we began to notice a considerable number of adults attending the Wednesday lunches who were experiencing some form of food, housing or financial insecurity. We made the decision to extend the lunches to include school holidays and semester breaks. The result was over 1,200 meals served over the summer to many families in-need in Hammond. This revelation caused us to research the larger population of Hammond and Tangipahoa Parish. We discovered that Tangipahoa Parish has a poverty rate of 21.9% with a median household income of $45,900 - which for comparison, St. Tammany has a poverty rate of 10.8% with a median household income of $66,500. Yet, in St. Tammany there are several agencies, including Christian organizations, offering emergency assistance with food for those in our community who are in need, and limited assistance for utilities, rent/mortgage, transportation, & medicines.

Ultimately, the goal is to assist people in need on their path back to self-sufficiency. Although Tangipahoa Parish has food banks and disaster assistance programs, there is no agency or ministry that seeks to come along side those experiencing food, housing, and financial insecurity to partner with them to restore them back to self-sufficiency. In fact, data shared by the Laurent Project in Hammond that has assisted thousands with furniture and household goods since 2014, reflects that there is now only (1) referring agency, down from (8) in past history. This further reflects the lack of assistance available in the area. After discussions with several churches in the area and organizations in the area, we found that the need is widely acknowledged by the community, but no clear plan on how to begin to address these needs.

We are pleased to present our first phase of our plan of action, the‘Center of Hope’, located in the heart of Hammond to begin to address these needs. Beginning first with the community that is currently being served by the Southeastern Wesley, we will be able to serve them more than just a hot meal, but partner with them to guide them on the path back to self-sufficiency. In the initial stages, we plan to continue expanding the food outreach to include an emergency food bank and registration for SNAP benefits. In addition, we will offer financial counseling that could lead to limited financial assistance including housing and utilities emergency assistance and gas vouchers.

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Finally, we will offer assistance with registration for unemployment benefits, registration for medicare health program, mental health referrals, school supplies, and prescription assistance. As our community grows, so will our services to be rolled out in additional phases including parent classes, expanded financial counseling, community garden, and thrift store.

Due to this partnership between First - Hammond, First - Ponchatoula, and the Southeastern Wesley Foundation, we already have two key resources available at no cost; volunteers to staff â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Center of Hopeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the Southeastern Wesley which will serve as our central intake location. In addition, we have an excellent and working relationship with Our Daily Bread food pantry and will act as a satellite campus for food distribution.

Finally, we have several other churches that are ready to partner with us to provide additional financial resources, thus expanding our capabilities as well as providing sustainability. Below is the budget on the resources we will need to purchase to effectively administer our initial first phase.

Laptop - $750 501c3 Set-up - $800 (3) iPads - $1,200 (3) Blue-tooth scanners - $100 Webpage - $200 Food Bank Manager, With Inventory and POS $900 Zoom $360 - (2 hosts) Pre-printed Key Tag Barcodes - $300 Supplies - $390 Totals - $5,000 Remaining balance of $10,000 to be used to meet needs Please let us know if you would like any additional information or have any questions. Thank you for your consideration of our request. We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the UMF to make this dream a reality.

Grace and Peace, Rev. Jessica Lowe - FUMC: Ponchatoula Rev. Drew Sutton - FUMC: Hammond Rev. Sam Hubbard - Southeastern Wesley

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