Missions & Outreach

Open Doors Shelter Ministry Team
The fourth Thursday of each month we help to serve lunch to the homeless in Norwalk. We meet at Open Doors Shelter in Norwalk from 12:00-2:20pm for food prep. There is an additional opportunity for 2 volunteers to hand out meals from 2:30-4:00pm. Another way to serve is with occasional food drives for the Open Doors Pantry. 
To participate, contact Susie Swindell, susies1@optonline.net.

Pacific House Shelter Ministry Team
Once a month shop, cook, or serve, or all three for the homeless men of Stamford with one of our longest term partners. Food drop offs on designated days are at 4:30pm. Travel to Stamford from the church kitchen at 4:45pm and return by 7:30pm. 
To get involved, contact Andy Parkin, andyparkin7@gmail.com.

Meals on Wheels of New Canaan Ministry Team
Meals on Wheels of New Canaan is dedicated to providing nutritious meals to residents of New Canaan whose physical, emotional, mental, medical, or social condition makes it difficult to provide these meals for themselves. Church volunteers deliver meals on weekdays starting at 10:45am. 
To participate, contact Ann Gervase, anngervase1@gmail.com.

Inspirica
Inspirica is one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in Connecticut. Their mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by helping people achieve and maintain permanent housing and stability in their lives. The church partners on many projects with Inspirica, including the Annual Sneaker Tree, providing new school sneakers for their after-school program and holiday gift program. Volunteer opportunities are varied and available. 
For more information, contact Marianna Kilbride, marianna@godsacre.org.

Maasai Ministry Team
Created as a response to the awful events of 9/11 in an effort to replace evil with good, the Maasai Ministry has partnered with Simba Maasai Outreach Organization (SIMOO) in Kenya to substantially improve the lives of Maasai residents in East African villages. The team facilitates the education scholarship program, and the yearly spring Maasai fundraising project which takes place in May and June. Projects are recommended by Maasai tribal elders as the greatest community need each year.
For more information contact, Lindsay Tucker, lindsaytucker08@gmail.com.

Adult Mission Trips
Each year since 2003, a group of adults from our congregation have embarked on mission trips to a variety of locations including: Exuma, Bahamas; Mobile, Alabama; the Rift Valley, Kenya; San Antonio, Texas; Chacraseca, Nicaragua, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The trips, typically held over one week in the spring, include various construction, renovation, cultural and relational projects. The love of God and one another is apparent on each trip, as our friendships grow stronger through service to others. 
For more information, please contact Marianna Kilbride, marianna@godsacre.org.

World Vision Honduras
Fifty-one congregants are supporting children in Colomoncagua, Honduras, a small and poor community. Sponsors have the opportunity to communicate with their child through email or post and receive periodic updates on the community. Their support enhances many areas of community life from infrastructure to education. It is hoped we will be able to visit the community in the future.
For more information contact Marianna Kilbride, marianna@godsacre.com

The Missions and Social Action Committee
The Missions and Social Action Committee (“MSA”) is responsible for disbursing the annual budget dedicated to supporting our missions. Participants liaise with partners to make recommendations to the committee. MSA is comprised of 9 members, elected to a 3-year term by the congregation. Meetings are held monthly. The members of the Missions and Social Action Committee are Kathleen Abbot, Starling Cousley, Maria Hemmings, Janis Hennessey, Martial Pabon, Sindi Rusiecki, Lindsay Tucker, Brian Werner (Chair), Karen Wilson.

MSA Core Partners 

• Americares – Natural Disaster and Emergency Medical Funding,
• Worldwide Daystar University – Empowering Christian Servant Leaders, Nairobi, Kenya
• Filling in the Blanks – Addressing Childhood Hunger, Fairfield County
• Inspirica – Addressing Homelessness, Stamford
• Maasai Project – Addressing Poverty and Education, Kenya
• Meals-On-Wheels – In Home Food Provision for Elderly/Infirm, New Canaan
• Open Doors – Addressing Homelessness, Norwalk
• Pacific House – Addressing Men’s Homelessness, Stamford
• Pivot Ministries – Christian Men’s Addiction Recovery Program, Bridgeport

For more information contact committee chair, Brian Werner, bwerner27@hotmail.com.,