Salkehatchie

Outreach Ministries

Child Care Center

The child care center for ages three months through four years operates Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Volunteers from Central assist the staff.

Director:  Lisa Thompson 582-7245

Tape Ministry

Sunday morning worship services are taped and delivered to any shut-in who makes this request.

Communion for Nursing Home Residents

Clergy and members of the evangelism committee take communion to nursing home residents and shut-ins who request this service.

United Methodist Women

Abigail Circle

The Abigail Circle, a group of young mothers and professional women, meets the third Monday evening of the month at various restaurants.  Members of the other circles provide child care.

Joanna Circle

The Joanna Circle meets the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in different restaurants for dinner. This varied age group supports conference missions and promotes local projects.

Lydia Circle

The Lydia Circle, predominately professionals, meets quarterly.  This circle meets on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in homes of members.   It supports conference missions and programs. 

Mary Martha Circle

The Mary Martha Circle meets in members' homes on the second Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m.  Its diversified programs alternate with service projects, and it supports conference missions such as the Bethlehem Center.

Miriam Ruth Circle

The Miriam Ruth Circle, Central's oldest active circle, meets the second Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the church.  It supports the UMW conference missions, Bethlehem Center, and other local projects.

Central's United Methodist Women meet three times a year:  Call to Prayer and Self-Denial in the spring, a Mother-Daughter Banquet in the spring, and a Christmas Banquet in December.  The UMW also participates in the S.C. School of Missions as well as retreats in the spring and fall.  

UMW: Fashion Show

Aftercare

The Bethlehem Center of Spartanburg
Begun in 1930, the Women's Mission Society of Bethel Methodist Church of Spartanburg, in conjunction with local black leaders, established the first Bethlehem Community Center in South Carolina. The Center serves the needs of the Highland Community and other parts of Spartanburg County. The Center aims to strengthen families physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, educationally, and intellectually.

Under the direction of Ms. Paula Wiggs, the Center has programs for children, youth, and adults. Programs for children include after school assistance in homework and computer skills, basketball, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, and free art, music, and dance lessons. Bethlehem Center offers GED classes, Bible Study, sewing, and crafts for the adults. In addition, the Outreach officer helps with the emergency needs of individuals. The Spartanburg County Health Department occupies part of the Center for use as a well-baby clinic.

The Bethlehem Center is supported by the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, the United Way of the Piedmont, and the South Carolina Annual Conference as well as other local charitable and governmental organizations. However, local United Methodist Church members are ultimately responsible for the success and future of the Center. Central supports the Bethlehem Center with finances and with contributions of needed supplies. Circles collect Campbell soup labels for the Center.

Citizen Scholar Program
The Citizen Scholar Program is a Spartanburg County Foundation program. It is designed to assist Spartanburg County students with academic potential who would not normally attend college. Students must have financial need, parental support, and a desire to attend college. The seven-year program provides each student a relationship with a supportive adult, enrichment activities, and classes to help prepare for college. Students are identified for the program at the end of fifth grade. Scholars who successfully complete the program have a $10,500 scholarship for college.

Almost seven years ago, Jim Barrett, who was then Executive Director of the Spartanburg County Foundation, asked Central to provide mentors for the new program. Keith Parris coordinated the organization of the program and the first two groups of students. The first students are now seniors. All of the original mentors were from Central. Since then three other Central members have accepted the seven-year commitment to mentor students.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and aspires to make decent, affordable housing a matter of conscience and action. By having people from all walks of life work together in equal partnership, Habitat builds new relationships and a sense of community as well as homes for low-income families.

Through volunteer labor, management expertise, and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds homes with the help of the homeowners. Habitat homes are simple, affordable homes constructed with volunteer labor and sold to qualified low-income families at cost and with a 20-year zero-interest mortgage. Each selected family puts in 400 hours of "sweat equity" which helps to build its home or another Habitat project. Monthly mortgage payments are deposited into a revolving "Fund for Humanity" which supports the construction of more houses.

Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg is in its thirteenth year of operation. The Ernest Rice Habitat Center in Una houses the affiliate's offices and volunteer facilities. An initial neighborhood of 17 homes was developed in the Duncan Park area. Currently a 45 home neighborhood in Una is being developed. Of the 48 completed Habitat houses, Central United Methodist Church has sponsored two. This year Central members are volunteering and helping other group-sponsored Habitat houses.

Saint Luke's Free Medical Clinic
St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic is open two evenings a week for those individuals and/or families with a low income. Staffed by volunteers, this local clinic is located on North Dean Street. Central gives financial support to this ministry.

Salkehatchie
Salkehatiche Summer Service is a pioneering servant ministry at thirty-four sites in South Carolina High school and college age youth, adult community leaders, and persons of different cultures work together to upgrade substandard housing. The program promotes community cooperative efforts and provides participants with opportunities for personal growth and service. Each camp participant must be fourteen years old by the beginning of camp and must pay $160.00 for the Saturday-to-Saturday week. Volunteers donate supplies, money, and skills. Each summer the group from Central goes to the Lake City Camp. Additionally, Central donates supplies and money to this effort.

Spihn                                                                                                                    Central is among thirteen host churches and six support churches forming the Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network.

T.O.T.A.L. Ministries
T.O.T.A.L. Ministries, an acronym for Telling Others They Are Loved, was founded in 1984 by twelve local churches. This local ministry sees an average of 290 Spartanburg County clients a month; it helps with such needs as rent or house payments, food, clothing, prescription drugs, utilities, burned-out houses, and other miscellaneous needs.

Working closely with other local charitable organizations and churches, T.O.T.A.L. Ministries gives about $600.00 of assistance per day plus donated food, clothing, furniture, and appliances. It is open five days a week, three hours a day. Except for one paid employee, the director, all other help is volunteered. Central members have served on the Board of T.O.T.A.L. Ministries, and volunteers continue to work there.

UMCOR
UMCOR(United Methodist Committee on Relief) is supported by the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. This mission addresses natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes and mass catastrophes. It is one of the first non-government agencies to arrive on the scene of a disaster and one of the last to leave the scene. UMCOR is currently involved in the New York and Washington catastrophes. Central has been actively collecting money for flood buckets of cleaning supplies.