| Appalachia Service Project
Adult Teams and Adult/Youth Teams travel to the Appalachian Mountains several times each year to help construct and repair homes in one of the poorest areas of the United States of America.
Christmas Baskets
Each year hundreds of food baskets are purchased and delivered to families who otherwise would not have a Christmas meal.
Christian Outreach Center
In cooperation with other churches in the downtown area, First United Methodist provides financial and volunteer support for this ministry that provides emergency assistance to people traveling through our area, and to the homeless.
Food Bank of Greater Baton Rouge
In addition to monetary support, members of the First Church family often work at the Food Bank, sorting food or helping out in the garden.
Giving Tree
Hundreds of children have a great Christmas each year because members of First United Methodist take a snowflake with the name of a child from the "Giving Tree" and purchase Christmas gifts for them.
Habitat for Humanity
Each year financial support and labor are provided to build homes in the Baton Rouge area.
Holy Grill
Through this ministry of the Federation of Churches and Synagogues, members of the First Methodist family help buy, cook and serve meals in North Baton Rouge.
Kairos Prison Ministry
Church members are active in providing the love of Christ to residents at both Angola Penitentiary for men and the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women at St. Gabriel. Retreats are held several times a year for residents who have not attended a Kairos weekend. Reunions and prayer-and-share groups meet on a weekly basis.
Nursing Home and Retirement Home Bible Study and Worship Services
Remembering that not all people can come to a church building for study, worship and fellowship, our pastoral staff provides bible studies weekly at several nursing or retirement homes, and conducts a worship service on two Sundays and one Tuesday at different retirement and nursing homes.
Overseas Missionary Support
Each year First United Methodist provides monetary and prayer support for a number of missionaries working overseas. This year, six missionaries are being supported by First United Methodist Church.
Project Noah
The hurricanes of September 2005 devasted the Gulf Coast and left thousands
of people homeless. From roofing to foundations and everything in between,
homes and lives must now be rebuilt. Project NOAH (New Orleans Area Hope) is a new ministry, designed by First UMC Baton
Rouge, and sponsored by several churches in the south Louisiana
Area. Project NOAH is an opportunity
for teens aged fourteen and older to participate in the repair and
restoration of homes of the people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. (For more information, click on www.projectnoah.net.)
School Partnerships and Reading Buddies
Believing that all children need a good education for a bright future, First United Methodist Church has adopted Bernard Terrace and Magnolia Woods Elementary schools. Church members go into the schools on a weekly basis to help youngsters learn to read through the Volunteers in Public School program, "Everybody Reads". In addition, church members provide help with special projects, and also help financially by collecting coupons and labels, and using community partner cards when purchasing groceries.
Twelve-Step Programs
First United Methodist Church opens its doors to several twelve-step programs.
United Methodist HOPE Missions
Located in North Baton Rouge, this center provides much-needed assistance to people living in the area. It also helps families make the transition from homelessness through training and mentoring so that they learn how to interview and hold a job, manage money, and care for themselves and their family members. In addition to financial support, First United Methodist Church holds a food drive on the second Sunday of each month to collect foods to be distributed by HOPE Ministries.
Volunteers in Mission Medical/Construction Teams to Mexico
Medical volunteers travel to Reynosa, Mexico where they work at temporary clinic locations providing maintenance or Level One medical assistance in the five neighborhoods surrounding the city, and refer people for treatment at the main clinic which is a ministry of the Mexican Methodist Church. Construction team members help in the construction of churches, parsonages and homes in the city.
Volunteers in Mission Construction Teams to Alaska
Construction volunteers travel to Alaska to work in building United Methodist churches, youth centers and parsonages in an area that has few churches.
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