Mission of unity

To expand their ability to reach the community, five churches in the Valdese area have formed Valdese Unified Mission. Each one focuses on one area of mission outreach to help the less fortunate with food, clothing and financial and educational opportunities.
First United Methodist Church in Valdese's pastor, Dan Lyons, serves as a team leader for Valdese Unified Missions.
Plans began in October 2008 to further existing ministries such as the Waldensian food pantry and the Angel Food Yum meal on Monday nights.
"During a pastors' meeting it was mentioned that times are getting tough and we need to start coordinating how we can do things together and be good stewards of God's provision," Lyons said.
"We wanted to assist each other in doing the right things and we meet monthly to talk, plan and encourage one another."
First Presbyterian is offering a food pantry, United Methodist in Valdese is serving a hot meal on Monday, and First Baptist of Valdese started a clothing ministry.
"We want each church to identify what they are passionate about and run with it," Lyons said.
Cornerstone Baptist and First Christian Church of Valdese also are part of the Unified Missions. They are looking at different opportunities.
Cornerstone is hosting an English as a second language class in connection with Western Piedmont Community College and hosting food trucks and a yard sale. Lyons said that in some cases it's handing out vouchers to purchase yard sale items at a reduced rate.
"Being able to purchase items on their own makes them feel like they are contributing and gives them a little more confidence. It is giving a hand up, not a handout," he said.
Each church works independently yet cooperatively. When canned food or clothing are donated they are sent to the Waldensian food bank or Twice Blessed clothes closet.
"We want to be sure who we are helping, so all the churches purchased into a program called Charity Tracker," Lyons said. The program collects information such as name, address and telephone numbers and the need met.
"This allows us to be more efficient and it helps prevent fraud," he said.
Angel Food Yum is a ministry of First United Methodist Church. In addition to hosting the Monday night meal, it helps other churches prepare food for distribution to homebound people, folks recovering from illness and others who just can't get out in the Hildebran to Carbon City Road areas.
"We deliver the majority of the meals, but nearly 60 people per week eat in. We are providing food for those who need food," he said.
While some churches provide their own supplies for the meal, private and church donations support the food ministry along with Community Foundation of Burke County and Western North Carolina Presbytery grants. Bi-Lo and other local vendors and grocery stores have provided assistance, Lyons stated.
Gail Gay and Lynda Massengill were sorting clothing on a rainy Tuesday at the Twice Blessed clothes closet at First Baptist in Valdese. The closet is open from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. It offers free clothing to women, men and children. Some shoes are available, too.
Gay said each person generally is allowed six pieces of clothing at one time.
"We started giving out clothing the week before school started in August, thinking parents with children could get clothes for their children for school," Massengill said.
The clothing ministry has received abundant donations and presently needs no more, except "we could use some coats for the winter and we are short on children's clothes, especially the young teen sizes 10-14," Gay said.
Charles Henson and his wife, Shirley, also work with the clothing ministry.
"We are there if anybody needs us," she said.
The ministry, still in its infancy, has given out clothing to perhaps 10 people.
"The people who have come have received a lot," Shirley said. "We have had immediate interest and response."
She, too, mentioned how the Valdese churches are trying to work together "to meet all the needs in these difficult economic times."
Said Lyons, "We feel like we are a community together. We are neighbors that happen to worship at separate churches, but we can work together as the body of Christ to help others."
To donate coats or children's clothes contact Valdese First Baptist Church 874-2266