Austin Avenue Methodist Church

 Austin Avenue United Methodist Church
 www.austinavenueumc.org
1300 Austin Avenue 76708,  254-754-4685

Affiliations: United Methodist

What regular ministries or activities does your church participate in that you consider to be a part of helping to prevent and heal poverty in Waco? Who organizes and orchestrates these activities?

• Compassion Ministries - Hope House: We have sponsored an apartment for some years, insuring that it is filled with groceries and necessities when an new family moves in. We also support families while they live there. This includes gifts at Christmas. The contact person is Donna Makowski. 
• Carpenters Warehouse: Also working with Hope House this ministry, housed on the fourth floor of the church is a furniture store for Hope House residents. When residents participate in education programs, they are given points with which they can furnish their own residents. Go upstairs and see the furniture, donate furniture, and volunteer with the education programs and moving furniture. Mary Baskins organizes this.
• Meals on Wheels: Our Meals on Wheels program serves meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Kay Turney organizes this.
• Alcoholics Anonymous: Meets Mondays- Saturdays from 12:00-1:00pm, and Sundays at 9:45-10:45am. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday meetings are open meetings. Please contact Rachel Heyduck for more contact information.
• Adopt-a-School Program: Austin Avenue adopted West Avenue Elementary School in 2003. We collect uniforms annually for students that are in need, as well as snacks for teachers. Rachel Heyduck is the most consistent contact for this.
• Habitat for Humanity: We have helped with builds in the past. Rachel Heyduck is again the contact.
• Friends For Life: Serves persons that are elderly or disabled. We have regularly helped with collecting gifts for Christmas, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day
• Food for Families: We have taken a collection for some years. The contact person is Rachel Heyduck.
• ShareFest: Getting the church to come together to help and the community through service. 2008 was the first year for this, and in 2009 AAUMC is hoping to participate.

What ministries and organizations do you support through your church budget that you consider to be a part of preventing and healing poverty in Waco?

• Beyond Our Doors: Beyond Our Doors is an annual collection taken during the Lenten season to help three local agencies to better serving our community. This program starting in the early 80′s and has served thousands of persons. Funds help Mission Waco, The Family Abuse Center, and MCC’s Single Mothers and Displaced Homemakers. There has been discussion of changing one of these organizations. This is organized by Jane Scruggs.
• Potters Vessel: They are housed in our building.

How does benevolence work at your church?

Benevolence is at the discretion of the Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor. Most persons are referred to the three agencies that Beyond Our Doors contributes to, there are additional funds available for these agencies to help persons.

How do you educate your church community (children, youth, adults) about preventing and healing poverty, especially in the Waco community?

Through mission trips for adults and youth we talk about why persons are poor. We also held a Bread for the World workshop, and are continuing to look at more education.

Do you integrate concern for preventing and healing poverty into your worship? If so, what does that look like?

We offer prayers for the poor, prayers for ministries we are involved in, and we have shown videos about specific issues.

Anything else you want to tell us about how your church is engaging with preventing and healing poverty in Waco?

AAUMC is in a place of growth. We are looking for ways to push our current understandings and expand our ministry into the world.

Last updated 12/08