OUTREACH
The Outreach Committee is an active and integral part of the Advent community. The committee meets on the first Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Together we decide how best to serve God’s people in the world. We believe in supporting ministries through both financial donations and volunteer work.
Ministries we currently support with regular financial contributions include The Offins Children’s Center in Ghana, Global Teams Ministries in Malawi, and Crossroads Pregnancy Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. These ministries are supported through loose plate offerings during our holiday services and occasional donations directly through the Outreach account.
We currently volunteer three times a year at the Baldwin Soup Kitchen preparing and serving food for those in need. We volunteer three times a year at Gleaner’s Community Food Bank packing boxes for distribution.
Gloves & Love is an event for which Youth Group collects hats, gloves, socks, and food for the homeless. On a Saturday in January we head to Detroit and distribute lunches, coffee, hot chocolate, and warm clothing to the homeless. Along with these material goods we provide prayer and a listening ear.
Food and money are collected for Lighthouse of Oakland County to help with their annual Thanksgiving food drive, and every Christmas on a “giving tree” people hang Christmas presents for the less fortunate. The committee is always looking for new opportunities to help out in the community.
The Outreach Committee holds an annual bowl-a-thon to benefit the John Dingell Veteran’s Hospital and has held a drive to help send care packages to our troops overseas through Desert Angels. All money is made through fund-raising activities. Recent fund-raisers have included a rummage sale in 2009 and a Euchre party in 2010.
The Outreach Committee is taking on an additional focus to not only serve God’s people but to evangelize to the community as well. The first big effort in doing this was a picnic held in July, 2010, at Beaudette Park in Pontiac. Grilled hot dogs, chips, water and cookies were handed out to anyone who cared to stop by. Children’s games were set up and a great time was had by everyone. This community picnic is slated to become a yearly event.