Mission and outreach is a high priority at Cornerstone. Through the Amigos Days Project, we help revitalize homes and neighborhoods for Dallasites who are unable to finance renovations themselves. We prepare relief kits filled with emergency supplies that are shipped wherever they are need most. (We've even been known to do this as part of our worship experience!) We collect food for area food banks. And annually, we open up the doors of the church for Breakfast with Santa where families from nearby shelters receive a warm breakfast, free photos with Santa, and kids are given free vouchers to buy and wrap presents for other members of their family. If you would like more details about our projects, please contact missions@cornerstone-umc.org.
American Sign Language Classes
Cornerstone offers introductory and intermediate classes in American Sign Language (ASL). Participants are invited to join in celebrations of Sunday morning worship -- by signing the "Gloria Patri" that is sung each week in worship -- and occasional performances with our adult choir. For more information, please contact Kristin Crowdus through the church office.
Amigos Days
Amigos Days is a hands-on ministry where urban and suburban churches are joining together with residents of urban neighborhoods to make a difference in the city. Cornerstone partners with other area churches to help with hands-on revitalization of local neighborhoods. The goals of Amigos Days are making disciples of Jesus Christ, supporting urban churches in mission, building strong, on-going relationships between urban and suburban churches, and restoring and revitalizing urban communities. For a look at our 2008 project, please visit http://cornerstone-umc.org/calendar_event.html?event_id=386.
New Beginning Center
The New Beginning Center is a program designed to provide safety and positive change for families experiencing abuse. Our support includes on-going food collection, Christmas gifts, donations to its thrift store, volunteers, funding for programs and donations for shelter. For more information, visit http://www.newbeginningcenter.org/.
Methodist Children's Home
We support this ministry through gifts given at the altar rail during our communion service. For more information, visit http://www.methodistchildrenshome.org/.
Blood Drives
Frequent visits of the bloodmobile. Blood is life... pass it on!
Sager-Brown Depot
United Methodist Board of Global Missions Sager-Brown is a collection point for goods that are needed anywhere in the country or in the world due to disaster, war or drought. We collect the specified items for each kit and forward them to Sager-Brown Depot for distribution.
The P.E.T. Project
Personal Energy Transportation. This program builds wheeled hand-driven vehicles PETs for people who have no use of their legs due to landmines, polio, birth defects and other catastrophes. The people who receive these live in third world countries where wheelchairs are useless and must crawl on the ground as their means of transportation.Larry and Laura Hill, founders of the P.E.T. project, have a workshop at the retirement community of Penney Farms in Florida. The people at Penney Farms build the PETs for shipment to South America. All PETs are given in the name of Jesus Christ. They cost about $250 to build and deliver. Donations are always appreciated.For more information, visit http://www.giftofmobility.org/what_is_pet.htm.
Missionaries in Africa
Delbert and Sandy Groves teach local African men in Zambia the carpentry skills needed to build and assemble the PETs for local delivery. Supplies and donations for their program and letters of encouragement are greatly welcomed. For more information, visit http://www.gbgm-umc.org/newlife-zambia/.
Kairos Prison Ministry
What it is:Kairos is about opening that hole in the wall so that Gods love can pour through. The first and essential message of Kairos is "God loves you." That love from God is initially shown and transmitted through the team members
Forty-two resident participants experience Gods love, grace and forgiveness through talks, discussions, and worship services.Kairos has the goal of forming a Christian community in the institution. We believe that it is not easy to be a Christian and to live a Christian life in a penal institution. If there is a Christian community, with mutual support and encouragement, it becomes much easier. It has been shown that if a Christian community forms and grows in an institution, the institution will change.
Kairos is ecumenical; each team is made up of members of different denominations. We want the residents, who may have been exposed to some denominations criticizing others, to see Christians of different faiths and traditions and beliefs able to work together as the body of Christ.
How you can help: Prayers: We maintain a 72-hour prayer vigil, covering the time of the weekend. (Thursday night through Sunday afternoon) A colorful prayer chain surrounds the residents with each link representing each half-hour during which persons are praying. This is a very powerful witness to these residents of Gods love for them through the prayers of others. Please sign the prayer chain form on the Kairos table. Cookies: We need 3,500 dozen home baked cookies. Every person at the unit gets a dozen cookies each day we are there. This is a way that we can show everyone that Gods love has no limits. Directions for these cookies are on the Kairos table. Gifts: Each weekend costs around $11,500. This covers the cost for the team and residents. Cost includes supplies for the weekend, food for the team and residents, lodging for the team, etc. Team members are asked to cover their own expenses ($125) through their own means or by obtaining donations.
If you want more information on how you can get involved or support one of our missions, please contact Joetta Fraser or Melissa Simon through the church office, at 972-414-6460.
