MERCY MINISTRY

Learn More About Mercy Ministry at OMPC

Porch Light Ministry

Porch Light seeks to provide community for OMPC members who are fostering children, to equip those desiring to foster, and to encourage those pursuing adoption. Contact Becky Gibbens, our Porch Light Ministry Coordinator, for more information, ways to be involved or if you are a foster, adoptive, or kinship family.

Porch Light is the Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) for Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church.

God’s heart for His people is the “pure religion” of James 1:27 – that we would “visit widows and orphans in their affliction.” Caring for orphans and children in foster care is not only for those who adopt or foster children.   But it is for everyone who desires “pure religion.” Foster, adoptive, and kinship families need a community to surround them in their calling and this is how we can all be involved.

Care Communities are one tool FAMs use to provide support to vulnerable children and families in need. 

Parents who foster or adopt need to know they’ll be well-supported when a child arrives in their home. Kinship care families also need support as they raise their grandchildren, nieces, or nephews.  All these children have unique needs and require intentional focus from their new caregivers. Supporting these families in practical, hands-on ways provides a healthier context for a child’s transition into their new home.

Interesting fact about Care Communities: The national average of families who continue fostering after their first year is about 50%, but when supported by a FAM and its Care Communities, 90% continue fostering into a second year.

VOLUNTEERS OFFER SUPPORT IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

• Bringing weekly meals

• Supplying or sourcing practical needs(bunk beds,stollers,car seats,clothing)

• Transporting children to appointments

• Mentoring children

• Coordinating volunteers to serve a family

• Become trained to provide respite care

• And more!

Everybody can do something. Contact Becky Gibbens at bgibbens@ompc.org 

Other OMPC Mercy Ministries

Prison Fellowship Ministry

Join Hugh Davis in reaching out to those incarcerated by sharing the Gospel and building meaningful relationships. Contact Hugh for more info.

Serve Over the Mountain with Royal Divinity Ministries

Royal Divinity Ministries is a non-profit organization near Fairfield that promotes healthy living and provides opportunities for social, economic, and educational advancement for those in need. They run a food bank that has become a place where families can find help. Since 2015, Royal Divinity Ministries has served families in Wylam by providing bakery items, produce, and other food. Before COVID, the ministry fed an average of 1,400 people a month; today, they serve around 1,400 people a WEEK! We aim to partner with Royal Divinity Ministries by providing volunteer assistance to encourage and strengthen their efforts.

The volunteering opportunities take place weekly on Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. Prayerfully consider joining us in our efforts to be part of what God is doing in and through Royal Divinity Ministries!

Info: Juan Vasquez, OMPC Director of Mobilization

OMPC Deacons

“Deacons are called by God to serve in a formal capacity that puts them in the forefront of ministering to our congregation, our community and to the world. This is done by being active examples of how to love others well and by leading our congregation in the same manner. Mercy and service are our primarily goals. Secondarily, we should be finding ways to encourage the congregation in its giving of finances and personal resources (to encourage a spirit of liberality in giving specifically). We have other responsibilities including maintaining the church facilities, providing protection oversight, helping with the budget and recommending to the session how to practically run the business of the church but want to see those as less preeminent in our daily work. We want our emphasis to be on serving and see that flowing through staff-led direction in the various ministries. We want to be more practical in our serving and not just earmarking monies to be spent through the Mercy Team. We want to engage personally with members of the congregation and community so we can develop relationships and, hopefully, have others feel the love and care of Christ.”

- Andy Beck, Deacon Chair