MINISTRIES

Each month we focus on a particular cause or mission to support. 

January Mission – The Division of Indian Work, located in South Minneapolis.

This organization has been serving the urban American Indian community in Minneapolis since 1952.  They were affiliated with the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC), for 65 years before becoming independent in 2018. Today they are an American Indian led organization serving the Urban American Indian community. Services are provided free-of-charge to over 3,000 people annually.

The strength of the Division of Indian Work’s (DIW) Mission is that programming focuses on culturally based education, traditional healing approaches, and youth leadership development.  

Offering a wide range of programs, staff work to foster healthy families; end family violence and address hunger issues, all with a focus on culture. 

Food Shelf: Horizons Unlimited, accepts donations to purchase food for a culturally sensitive food shelf, which serves a population in great need and that need continues to grow.  Families feel comfortable and understood there.  To tell people we don’t have food is horrible.  

DIW staff use a curriculum called “The Family Spirit,” developed by American Indians for American Indian families.  The Family Spirit Program lines up well with DIW's mission to empower American Indian families through culturally based education.

The use of individual and group culturally sensitive communication has been shown to reduce instances of abuse and neglect as well as addressing behavioral and mental health issues for parents and their children. Children who participate in the program have been shown to have greater social and emotional development, which ultimately lead to greater success rates throughout their lifespan.

By strengthening American Indian Family Circles, the Division of Family Work provides support through home visits, support group meetings, anger management groups, supportive housing and family violence prevention services to teens, adult American Indian mothers, fathers, and expectant parents. 

Please consider supporting this worthy cause through a monetary gift.  Donations can be made by selecting the “Give Online” button on the FUMC website and then selecting “missions.” Or mail your donation to FUMC, 680 Mississippi St., Fridley, MN 55432.  Write “January Mission” on the check’s memo line.  Thank you for your generous support of the Division of Indian Work serving the South Minneapolis American Indian Community.

Love in Christ, Your Mission Commission

Family Table is a free meal for those in need in the surrounding community.  It is held on the 4th Saturday of the month from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM for Drive-Thru pick up in parking lot through the winter months.  For the beginning of 2022 we will be offering drive-thru meals on Jan. 22, Feb. 26, March 26, and April 23.

Rainbow School and Daycare is a church owned ministry.  It was specifically created to be open to all children and respects persons of all faiths and those with no religious faith.  Provides DayCare to the public from infant through Pre-K.  Rainbow's phone number is 763-571-7521.

United Methodist Women is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. 

United Methodist Women at FUMC consists of a Board, three Circles and Members at Large. 

Naomi Friendship Circle meets the second Friday of the month at the Church at 1:00 PM.  They do things like make sandwiches for Dignity Center, cards for Shut-ins and other small projects.

Ruth Circle meets at the church the third Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM.  They follow a study book.

Tabitha Circle does Service projects like Feed My Starving Children, making blankets for the homeless, collecting Cake Mixes and Frosting Mixes for Food Shelves and other worthwhile projects.  

We also have a Fall Gathering and Salad Luncheon in the Spring which are our major fundraisers for our mission projects. 

CONTACT: Dawn Bushnell
Phone: 763-755-0845
Email: dawnieI@aol.com

Drivers are always needed.   We drive one week per month during the lunch hour.  To volunteer contact  Janet Fossum @763-780-5694.

We serve at Feed My Starving Children. When we serve there we pack meals for children all over the world. This is a way you can make a difference for hungry kids. There are sitting jobs as well as standing jobs.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work includes programs and projects in disaster response, health, sustainable agriculture, food security, relief supplies, and more.

We will be supporting a new missionary, Rev. J. Park.

Rev. J. Park is a United Methodist missionary serving as the Country Director of the Southeast Asia Mission Initiative, based in Ho Chi Minh City.  Rev. Park felt a call to ministry early in his life and has served as a pastor for 20 years, including starting multiple church plants.  His family came to the Christian faith through Methodist missionaries in Korea which inspired many of his family members to become pastors and missionaries.  His wife, T. Park, is also a missionary.  They are excited and happy to serve in Southeast Asia and hope to spread the Christian message in that part of the world.   The Minnesota Conference has a partnership with the Parks, and we can look forward to hearing more about them in the future.