University Ministries hosted the Serve Jackson Expo in the Barefoot Student Union Building Sept. 10. Here are eight ways to help serve in the Jackson community:
1. Mission Jackson
Mission Jackson is associated with Englewood Baptist Church. The organization has many programs such as ministry sites with Bible studies, special events like Easter celebrations, D2 mentoring and Kids Across America Christian sports camp. If interested in volunteering, contact Robert McBoom, local ministries pastor, at rmcboom@ebcjackson.com.
“There is an urgent need in our city for kids to have a mentor,” McBoom said.
2. ComeUnity Café
ComeUnity Café seeks to feed the community locally sourced, organic meals, “regardless of their ability to pay.” There are many volunteer positions available, such as in the garden or in the kitchen helping prepare food. To volunteer, visit the website.
Volunteer Coordinator Jade Williams said, “It’s a sense of community, getting to work with people in all walks of life.”
3. Birth Choice Pregnancy Resource Clinic
Birth Choice’s mission is a faith based organization seeking to “extend Christ-like love in a compassionate and responsive manner that values the family and empowers women and their partners to choose life.” Ways to get involved include becoming a mentor, assisting in parenting classes and helping with mother and baby resources. To volunteer, visit their website yourprivatechoice.com, call their Jackson office at (731) 664-8443 or their Gibson County office at (731) 855-2900.
“If nothing else garners a servant’s heart in you, this will,” said T.C. Talley, director of Men’s Mentoring. “People think Birth Choice as a place women go if they’re pregnant, but it’s about more than that. It is about helping future generations. We minister to both women and young men. To volunteer at Birth Choice would garner a sense of humility.”
4. RIFA, ROAR After School Program
Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) is an organization that helps the Jackson community through their thrift store, snack backpack program and their ROAR project. ROAR is an after school program for mentoring and tutoring children in kindergarten through eighth grade. To volunteer, contact Legon Craighead at lcraighead@rifajackson.org or call (731) 427-7963.
Ally Mynatt is the Site Director for the ROAR program. She said it is “helpful for Union students to see Jackson as a whole instead of just the city their college is in.”
5. Hartland Place Apartment Ministries
Hartland Outreach Ministries is associated with West Jackson Baptist Church. The organization serves the residents of this and other apartment complexes with meals and Bible studies as well as a sports ministry for middle school and high school boys. Volunteer opportunities include teacher’s assistants, substitute teachers, sports ministry volunteers and tutors. To volunteer, contact Alan Teel at ateel@wjbc.org or (731) 697-9768.
“What we do allows someone to truly take on the mind of Christ and a servant’s heart,” Teel said. “We are meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the families in this complex. There’s nothing we won’t try to do to help these families.”
6. First Baptist Church Humboldt
First Baptist Church Humboldt seeks to serve the community through their college ministry. To become involved, contact Ethan Giles at ethang@fbchumboldt.org or (731) 784-1883.
“We want students to have an impact on Jackson and Humboldt,” Giles said. “First Baptist Humboldt is all about giving, you don’t have to jump through hoops to serve your community and local ministries.”
7. Young Life
Young Life is a ministry that serves as a mentoring program for youth in Jackson. To volunteer, call (731) 226-2453.
“I have seen a ton of lives changed through Young Life,” leader Sara Clarke Mason said. “Young Life picks up kids who don’t feel comfortable going to other places. We come to them, to their schools and sporting events. We show them that whoever they are, we are going to love them because that’s what Jesus does.”
8. Area Relief Ministries, HUB Club
Area Relief Ministries has many different projects in Jackson such as Room in the Inn, HUB Club and the Fresh Start program. Their programs benefit community members of all ages. To volunteer, email djordan@areareliefministries.org or call (731) 226-2453.
