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Spending time with shut-ins or nursing home residents is a special way to share the love of God with church members who may not be able to regularly attend worship.
Send an encouraging word or let someone know their church family is thinking of them.
The prayer team meets Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. and is welcome to any who would like to join in to pray for the church and the many needs of the church, the community and the world.
Assist with the Christmas musical. Opportunities exist to help with lines, learning music, building sets, costumes, etc.
Adults who enjoy interacting with middle and high school aged young adults would be welcome to help with youth activities.. Volunteers could help regularly or just for special events with things such as driving.
Teaching Sunday school for our youth is a great way to build a relationship with them and share your love of God’s word. Curriculum is provided and flexible. Teach for a month at a time or the whole year.
Young adults are starving for deeper connection and relationships. Start a small group or bible study that meets at a time convenient for you.
The Cougar Huddle Tailgates are held before home Van Wert football games for middle school and high school youth. Games and food are provided in Fountain Park. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies, set-up and tear-down games, and serve food. Contact Mike and Christy Wortman to volunteer.
Mentor an at-risk youth and have an opportunity to change a life. Mentors will be trained and meet with students weekly at Van Wert Middle or High School. Contact Teresa Shaffer. teresa.shaffer@vanwertfirst.net
A program developed in 2018, graduates of high school to 25 years of age are paired with an adult within the church. Care packages, cards and encouraging texts are just a few ways to show First Church cares and wants to keep them connected.
Started in 2015, Operation Back to School is our largest outreach event. Last year over 800 students from Van Wert county were provided with school supplies, hygiene items, fresh produce and much more. Volunteers are needed to be on the planning committee, help with school supply purchasing, packing school supplies, helping the day of the event, helping organize registrations, doing publicity, cooking and serving food, inventory of supplies and much more. There is a job for everyone! Contact Teresa Shaffer. teresa.shaffer@vanwertfirst.net
Each fall First Church participates in Church World Service’s Festival of Sharing. Church members are encouraged to make various kits (hygiene kits, period packs, school kits, and disaster clean-up buckets) which are then sent to Church World Service to be distributed to those in need. Contact Ruth Ann Covey to help.
First Church is the home to the Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry. Volunteers are needed to help on food pantry days with patron check in and shopping, with inventory and re-stocking of shelves, with unloading trucks on delivery days. Contact Becky Wells for more information.
Each October, First Church and community members join to pack in excess of 28,000 meals in 2 hours for Project 216. Project 216 is a Fort Wayne, IN based food relief organization. The meals that are packed are nutritionally balanced rice-based meals that feed a family of 6. They are used here in the US and abroad. Meals we pack are generally sent to Mission of Hope, which is a mission that we support.
The Isaiah 58 project buys new clothes, shoes and hygiene items for students in need at Van Wert County schools. The purpose of the project is to show students that they are loved and that they are worthy of love, to meet basic needs of students, and to take the burden off the school.
First Church hosts Bread and Bowl, a free meal on Friday nights. Open to anyone, these meals offer a chance for fellowship and a warm meal to any who might need it. Volunteers are needed a couple times a year to cook and serve the meal. This is a ministry with other area churches and companies.
In coordination with the downtown Van Wert trick or treat the Saturday before Halloween, First Church hosts a Trunk or Treat. Volunteers are needed to host a decorated trunk and hand out candy, and to serve food. Donations of food, candy and drinks are also needed. Contact Jill Smelser for more information.
A project of the Sarah Soul Friends women’s group, Angel Tree is an outreach ministry in December where children’s names are chosen from a tree and Christmas gifts are purchased for those children. This outreach serves children of prisoners as well as area disadvantaged families.
First Church coordinates the purchase of turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving meals for families in need (many from the Van Wert School at the Goedde). Volunteers are needed to shop, pack and distribute the meals. Contact Deb Moser to volunteer.
Many of the small groups at First Church have regular projects that they have adopted and do as a group. To find the group that is right for you, call the church office at 419-238-0631.
Donate your gently used or new shoes. These shoes are given to families in 3rd world countries so they can start a micro-enterprise business to support their family. The First Church youth program receives a small donation for each pound of shoes collected which goes to mission trips. Shoes can be dropped in the bin by the church office.
Box City is a community outreach to raise awareness about homelessness. Youth spend the night in the park and there are speakers, food and events to educate about the homeless crisis. Proceeds from any donations are given to Haven of Hope.
Greeters are needed before and after both services to welcome people to First Church.
Volunteers are needed to assist with the sound board and audio visual equipment during the worship services.
Monthly, help prepare the communion elements.
This committee keeps our sanctuary decorated according to the seasons of the church calendar.
Assist in the office with mailings, proofreading and whatever else needs done. Contact firstchurch@vanwertfirst.net to volunteer.
We have fantastic custodial staff, but they could use assistance with big projects at times. Help with things like painting, cleaning, snow removal, work at the parsonage, upkeep of the shrubs and plants outside.
The business of running a church could not happen without committees. Committee members are nominated by the Leadership Development Team. If you have an interest in serving on a committee, speak with Pastor Christian or another member of the staff.
The administrative board is made up of the Chairs of all Church committees as well as several members at large. The administrative board has the highest level of governing authority over the local church.
The finance team oversees the finances of the church including budgeting.
The trustees handle all matters related to the property owned by First Church including the building, the parsonage and trust property and investments.
This committee acts as the human resources department of the church. They perform employee reviews, deal with hiring new staff and any other employee related functions.
The mission committee actively supports First Church mission projects, provides direction and structure to mission projects and allocates the mission budget.
First Church has a fully licensed preschool in our building. The preschool board oversees the running of the preschool and provides support to the preschool administrator. The preschool is a major outreach of the church as the majority of students who attend the preschool are not members of our church.