Our Outreach Ministry
Listed below are the community ministries which St. Andrew supports with volunteers and financial resources. Ministries listed in red type have available links.
Boys and Girls Club
Boys and Girls Clubs of East Texas provides, boys and girls aged 6 to 18, a safe place to learn and grow; on-going relationships with caring, adult professionals; life-enhancing programs and character development experiences, and hope and opportunity. There are many volunteer opportunities to work with young people through the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Church of South India
In 2004, the congregation of St. Andrew began a partnership in ministry with St. Thomas Church C.S.I. of Sultan Battery through the covenant established between Grace Presbytery and the North Kerala Diocese. Each year, our churches have exchanged pastors and church members in an effort to nurture the common life of the congregation.
About St. Thomas C.S.I.
The CSI St. Thomas Church - a hill station church 3500 ft. from sea level - began in 1956 with 10 families settles in Wayanad district, the mountainous place of Kerala. They were all from several parts of Travencore, the Southern part of Kerala. After organizing and meeting in houses and temporary facilities the church was shifted to the present premise, which was bought several years ago by the C.M.S. Missionaries from England.
Gradually many new families were added to the parish that migrated from several parts of Travencore. As the church was small it couldn't accommodate all the members for worship. So in 1998 God blessed the Congregation to build a new church which is the present worshipping place.
Now there are more than 120 families with the strength of 450 plus members. Programs include Women's Fellowship, Youth Fellowship, Cottage Prayer, Sunday school, and Choir.
St. Thomas supports and runs the Child Development Center (CDC). The CDC is comprised of 262 children of all faiths that come together mainly after school for after school care and activities - and to receive a sound evening meal.
Community Garden at St. Andrew
The mission of the garden is to promote meaningful stewardship of God's Creation, to support local mission agencies with fresh food for those in need, to enjoy the fellowship of working toward a common goal, and to further the general mission of St. Andrew by nurturing church, neighborhood, and community relationships.
If you want to see God's work in action, then you must see the Community Garden at St. Andrew. Walk the aisles and you can almost see the plants growing. We often take for granted the miracle of the process from seed to stomach, because we shop rather than grow our food. The love and care of the gardeners represents the faith of a mustard seed and transforms the garden into a representation of the loaf that fed 5000. God gives in abundance.
East Texas Literacy Council
East Texas Literacy Council (ETLC) trains volunteers to tutor individuals to learn to read. Twice a year tutor training is offered by ETLC using the St. Andrew facilities.
Habitat for Humanity
This international program offers decent and affordable housing to low-income families by allowing the family and community volunteers to partner together in the building of the home. St. Andrew participates in Habitat for Humanity by building houses in our community each year, serving on committees, supporting fund raising efforts, and other non-construction needs.
Longview Child Development Center
Longview Child Development Center is committed to providing affordable, quality childcare to income-eligible families in our community. Volunteer opportunities include reading books, playing special games or teaching life skills to the children, serving on the board and providing support and assistance to the teachers and office staff."
Longview Community Ministries
Longview Community Ministries, Inc. (LCM) serves as an organization to enable Longview congregations and groups to work together more effectively in the community through cooperative acts of service to assist persons in need, regardless of race, religion or creed.
Longview Community Ministries was formed to bring together local congregations, business and civic groups, and generous individuals, to help those in need in our community. All of our programs are administered by three part-time employees and are dependent on hundreds of volunteers, people just like you, who are willing to give of their time, talents or financial support to help those in need.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Front Desk
- answer phone, register families
- Caseworker
- Interview and assist families
- Meals on Wheels
- Drivers and substitute drivers needed (St. Andrew delivers the second Tuesday of each month)
- Brown Bag
- Once a year on the third Saturday of July deliver groceries to families eligible for the food boxes but are physically unable to go to LCM
- Food Box
- Assemble food boxes for families
- Coats for Kids
- Task Force Committee and Fall distribution
- Learning Lab
- Teachers and facilitators classes
In times of crisis, Longview Community Ministries can provide food to hungry families, emergency shelter assistance and help meet special needs. If you would be willing to give a few hours weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, please call the LCM offices at 903.753.3561.
Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network
Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network, or LIHN, is an area-wide, church-based ministry that supports families without housing as they search for jobs, undergo job training, and obtain permanent housing. LIHN's goal is to provide a safe environment in which families without homes can stay together while they receive the assistance they need to get on their feet.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Set-up/Take-down
- Sunday afternoon church classrooms are set up with beds, etc. for the guests and set back up as classrooms the following Sunday morning
- Grocery Shopping
- Shop for groceries needed for the week for the guests
- Van Driver
- Drive guests to (4:45 p.m.) and from church (6:00 a.m.) using the LIHN 15 passenger van
- Dinner Preparation
- Prepare a supper meal for the guests and evening hosts having it to the church by 5:30 p.m.
- Evening Hosts
- Stay at the church from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. with the guests
- Overnight Hosts
- Stay overnight at the church with the guests from 7:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m.
- Laundry
- Take the used linens to the laundry and pick it up when finished
- Day Facility
- LIHN staff support, answer the phone, office duties
Presbyterian Children's Homes & Services
Since its beginnings in 1903 as an orphanage in Dallas, Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services has been providing residential care and other services to children and families with no place else to turn. Training for prospective foster families is held at St. Andrew through out the year.
Red Cross Volunteer Center
In case of a future disaster, such as we saw in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, St. Andrew serves as a Red Cross Volunteer Center. We will offer a centralized location for volunteers to register to assist in providing services to victims of disaster.
