Aurora Methodists lend assistance to Oklahoma City charities
On June 23, volunteers from Aurora's Flowing Forth United Methodist Church reported to the congregation on a June 8-16 mission trip to Oklahoma City.
Culminating a worship service at Aurora Christian School, a video of trip highlights was shown and Rev. Derek Rogers, Flowing Forth pastor and mission-trip leader, led four volunteers who reflected on the trip.
Twenty volunteers - 11 high-school youth and nine adults - carpooled to Oklahoma City for the project. In addition to Pastor Rogers, speakers were Paxon Rio, Batavia; Josh Bode, Batavia; Chris Stewart, St. Charles; and Max Williams, North Aurora.
According to Rev. Rogers, half the mission team partnered with Restore OKC while the other half partnered with Project 58. Restore OKC sponsors a job-training ministry. mentoring for children and a community garden that includes hand-tool instruction for local residents.
Project 58 has established an "intentional community" in a low-income neighborhood. Designed to bring "neighbor back" to the neighborhood, the project has converted a former church building to apartments and helped reduce 911 calls to police Rev. Rogers said.
During the effort, volunteers filed updates about the mission trip on Flowing Forth's website, flowingforthumc.org and on Facebook and Instagram.
Continuing community-service efforts, Flowing Forth congregants will hold a second "Serve Day" Sunday, June 30. After a brief worship service, volunteers will work at a community garden hosted by Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry in Aurora. Other volunteers will remain at the church to craft greeting cards for Wilkinson clients. The church holds a Serve Day when five Sundays occur in a month.
Flowing Forth UMC holds a worship service at 10 a.m. Sundays at Aurora Christian School, 2255 Sullivan Road in Aurora. The public is invited. Refreshments and fellowship precede worship.
Flowing Forth also will be celebrating its anniversary on Sunday, July 7. The public is invited.
The church was created in a merger of the former Fourth Street UMC and Flowing Grace UMC, both in Aurora.
Call (630) 239-2321 for more information.