Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church supports a multitude of missions in the Little Rock community, in Arkansas and throughout the world.

The PHUMC Mission Board, composed of lay leaders, meets on a monthly basis to coordinate the support of projects and activities. The staff liaison is Cindy Burns. You may contact her at cburns@phumc.com or (501) 664-3600.

PHUMC Missions

Rwanda: We are collecting items for Rwanda. Click here Bridge2Rwanda for a list of items needed. More information is available at www.bridge2rwanda.org

Children and Youth Raise Money for Missions. During Vacation Bible School in July 2007, children’s offerings totaling 1) $609.50 went to Give-A-Kid-A-Chance to provide school supplies for children in need; and 2) $160 went to Nothing But Nets for mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Africa. At the July 22, 2007, car wash at church, youth raised $282 for tornado relief in Dumas (VIM - Volunteers In Mission) and Little Rock Compassion Center for homeless families.

Click these links for information on Miles for Missions, Hunger Relief, Hurricane Relief.

Volunteers in Mission (VIM). Sends teams of church laity to areas such as Haiti, Russia, Rio Grande, Texas, and Cookson Hills Native American Mission (Oklahoma), to meet specific medical, social and physical needs. For more information, call 501-664-3600.

SHALOM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; The first phase is construction of a house and community center across the street from the Duncan UMC. Volunteers are needed on Saturdays. Contact Jack Fryer or JeJo Mobley at jemob@sbcglobal.net. For more information and photographs, click here.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Churches of Little Rock work together to build homes for deserving families. Contact Bob Laakman at laakman@aol.com or (501)223-3471.

GIVE A KID A CHANCE: We provide children at Wakefield Elementary School with backpacks, school supplies and uniforms. A $30 donation made out to PHUMC and marked "Give a Kid a chance" sends one child back to school ready for success. Help sort and distribute items. Call Terrie & Ken Wilkerson at (501) 227-4919 to help.

PULASKI HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is our partner school. Make a big difference in a child's life by providing tutoring for 30 minutes each week. Call Margaret Schulz at (501) 447-5912.

INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK: September 28-October 5, 2008. Through IHN, our church provides housing and meals four weeks a year to families who are homeless. Contact Susan Chafin, chafinfamily@sbcglobal.net or (501) 663-5305.

GUATEMALA MEDICAL MISSION: Over the past six years, volunteer teams have traveled in mission to Guatemala to assist with the medical and health needs in rural Guatemala. For information contact Cindy Burns at cburns@phumc.com or (501) 664-3600. For details, click here: Guatemala The next Guatemala Mission Trip is scheduled for May 30 - June 8, 2008.

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief): The next trip to Baldwin, Louisiana is in November 2008. Contact Cindy Burns at cburns@phumc.com or (501) 664-3600.

INGATHERING: Help collect supplies and relief kits for people recovering from disasters. Contact Sara Harrison at (501) 664-3600 to help.

KATRINA RECOVERY MISSION TRIPS: clean-up and construction several times a year for youth and adults. Help collect supplies and contact Cindy Burns for details on the next scheduled trip: cburns@phum.com or (501) 664-3600

The Russia Initiative supports developing Methodist churches in Russia. PHUMC’s sister church is the Return to Christ United Methodist Church in Ekaterinburg, Russia, which PHUMC supports through  financial and human resources, having sent numerous mission teams to assist in construction of a church building adjacent to a men’s prison. For more information, contact Cindy Burns at cburns@phumc.com or (501) 664-3600. A June 2006 Toast & Roast honoring Dr. Jeffery B. Hampton, associate pastor at PHUMC, raised more than $24,000 for construction at Return to Christ UMC.

For more information about the Russia Initiative, click here: http://gbgm-umc.org/programs/missioninitiatives/russia/index.cfm

FOOD PANTRY: We have an on-site food pantry that makes deliveries to homes on Saturday mornings. You may donate cans of food or cash. To volunteer to help with sacking and delivering groceries, call Judy Strohm at (501) 666-8878.

MISSION MARKET: Non-profit organization sell items that support worthy causes and make great gifts! the next Mission Market is November 23, 2008, 2 to 5 p.m.

CHRISTMAS: We adopt families and provide gifts to meet their needs. To help, contact Cindy Burns at (501) 664-3600 or cburns@phumc.com

CALL (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime): The Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Ark. Division of Children and Family Services, and Arkansas churches are working together to find loving homes for children in the state's care because of abuse, neglect or other circumstances. Volunteers participate in training in a church setting and receive support provided by CALL. visit www.thecallinArkansas.org or contact Cindy Burns at (501) 664-3600 or cburns@phumc.com

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES are held four Sundays each year at church, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Give the gift of life! Be a blood donor. Encourage others to give. Or help with registration. Call Carolyn Wallace at (501) 280-9969.

MIWATCH (Ministries to Incarcerated Women And Their CHildren): We provide transportation for children who visit their mothers in prison. to drive one Saturday a year, call Gwen Efird at (501) 666-8446.

The Advance for Christ. Supports specific ministries all over the world; a "second mile" giving beyond apportioned funds through an official 50-year-old UMC program in which 100 percent of the congregation’s gift goes to the exact ministry chosen. Contact Cindy Burns at cburns@phumc.com  for a catalog of programs.

What events in your life have had a profound impact and effect? When has life had its deepest meaning? Many of us would include helping others, reaching beyond ourselves and sharing the love of Christ.

A great example is asking someone about a best Christmas. Often the answer revolves around what is done for others, not what is received! When we do for others, we receive the greatest blessing. This is one of the sweetest gifts from God - the joy and peace from reaching beyond ourselves to embrace another.

We are not all called to the same mission. What is your passion? What stirs your heart but might be uncomfortable at first? I am scared when I give blood, but I know in my heart I need to do this; it is over in a few minutes. I confess I started giving when I became a staff person working on missions and couldn’t ask you to do this without being willing to do it myself; so don’t be too impressed with my giving!

I have a fantasy. Every person in our church commits to a mission. Look at the list below. We need 50 tutors each week at Wakefield and Pulaski Heights Elementary Schools. We need a chairperson for CALL. I am praying for folks to help Central UMC in Fayetteville with missions in Uganda. These are just the tip of the iceberg. The list is endless because needs are endless. As followers of Christ, we are the hands and feet of Jesus.

A friend teased me recently and said, "Cindy, you are always asking people to do things." My friend is correct. As long as people go to bed hungry and in need, I will ask. So... will you help?

Love, Cindy Burns

Missions, Evangelism, New Member Involvement, Churchwide Events

MISSIONS: help families in need at Christmas; food pantry, Give a Kid a Chance school supplies, Nothing But Nets mosquito nets in Africa, annual Guatemala mission trip, Habitat for Humanity home construction, Harmony Health Clinic, Ingathering disaster relief, Interfaith Hospitality Network for homeless families, Mission Market to support nonprofit organizations, MIWATCH transportation of children to visit incarcerated moms, prison ministry Bible studies, Red Cross blood drives, CALL (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime) for homeless children, tutoring elementary school children, annual UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) mission trip, Duncan Shalom Zone construction and development. For details on these mission opportunities, please refer to your TM2 booklet (Transforming Members Through Ministry), go to www.phumc.com and click on "Vision" and then "Missions" or contact Cindy at cburns@phumc.com or (501) 978-0511.

Click here for information on missions for children and women.

Want to Help? For information on supporting or participating in a mission, please call Cindy Burns at (501) 664-3600.

Donations may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Checks should be noted for the "Mission Board Endowment" or a particular mission fund by name, like Camp Aldersgate, Give a Kid a Chance, IHN, Habitat, etc.