Connect Community Center

PARTNERS WITH COVENANT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AS A REFERRAL AGENCY THAT REACHES OUT TO DISTRESSED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN TWO FOCUSED MINISTRY AREAS (WEST GREENVILLE, NC AND LA ROMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC).

CELEBRATE RECOVERYCELEBRATE RECOVERY (CR) IS A TWELVE STEP PROGRAM BASED ON THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES TAKEN FROM JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT. THE MINISTRY SUPPORTS PEOPLE SEEKING PERSONAL RECOVERY THROUGH WEEKLY MEETINGS IN BOTH LARGE AND SMALL GROUP FORMATS AND AIMS TO FREE PEOPLE FROM THEIR "HURTS, HANG-UPS AND HABITS." THE MAJOR HURTS ADDRESSED ARE DIVORCE, SEXUAL ABUSE, CODEPENDENCY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE LONG TERM OBJECTIVE OF CR IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS FIND HOPE AND STRENGTH IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS WHO SEEK PERSONAL RECOVERY BASED ON THE LOVE AND COMPASSION OF JESUS' LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION. CURRENTLY, CR SERVES 40+ PEOPLE IN ITS OUTREACH THROUGH COVENANT CHURCH AND INTO THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

OUTREACH MINISTRYTHE OUTREACH MINISTRY PROGRAM SERVES AS THE VITAL INVITATION LINK TO THE RECOVERY AND CARE PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY THE STRATEGY OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO COLLABORATE WITH MINISTRY PARTNERS SERVING TWO FOCUSED MINISTRY AREAS OUTSIDE OF WINTERVILLE. ONE OF THE MINISTRY AREAS IS THE INNER CITY OF WEST GREENVILLE, NC. THIS AREA IS IN DISTRESS DUE TO WIDESPREAD CHEMICAL ADDICTION AMONG ITS RESIDENTS, WHICH HAS LED TO BROKEN FAMILY STRUCTURE, CRIME, POVERTY, UNDER-EDUCATION, MALNUTRITION, AND POOR LIVING CONDITIONS AMONG OTHER ISSUES. THE CONNECT COMMUNITY CENTER COORDINATES OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS UNDERSTAND THE SERVICES AVAILABLE. THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS. AS THE SERVERS IN THE MINISTRY "EARN THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND AS BASIC NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY BEGIN TO BE MET, WE INTRODUCE THESE FOLKS TO THE HOPE FOUND IN KNOWING JESUS.THE 1209 BREAKFAST MINISTRY AT 1209 CHESTNUT STREET IN WEST GREENVILLE IS A HOME WHERE CHRISTIANS GATHER EVERY SATURDAY MORNING TO COOK BREAKFAST FOR, AND SERVE, THOSE WHO NEED TO BE FED PHYSICALLY, BUT WHO ALSO NEED TO BE FED SPIRITUALLY. THE PANCAKES, GRITS, AND COFFEE FEED PHYSICAL HUNGER, BUT BEING TOLD ABOUT AND SHOWN THE AWESOME NEWS OF GOD'S LOVE, GRACE, FORGIVENESS, AND PEACE IS WHAT ALWAYS BRINGS THEM BACK FOR MORE. AND THOSE WHO COME OUT AND VOLUNTEER LEAVE KNOWING THAT NOT ONLY DID THEY SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED...THEY SERVED JESUS. MATTHEW 25:40 (NIV) "THE KING WILL REPLY, 'TRULY I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME.' BREAKFAST IS SERVED TO 85-120 EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, MANY FROM THE HOMELESS SHELTER, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. SEVERAL GROUPS NOW SERVE WITH THE MINISTRY INCLUDING: COVENANT CHURCH, IGNITE CHURCH, REIMAGE CHURCH, KOINONIA CHURCH AND FRIENDS IN FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN CHURCH. WE PRESENTLY ALSO HAVE FAITH ASSEMBLY, ARTHUR CHRISTIAN, AND UNITY FWB CHURCHES ALSO MAKING CASSEROLES AND ASSISTING AS SERVANTS AND THEN WE HAVE GREATER WORKS CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, CHRIST'S CHURCH AND JOURNEY CHURCH WHO COME FOR SERVING ONLY.THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE TOY STORE (CVTS) PROVIDES A "HAND UP" FOR LOCAL AREA FAMILIES WHO WANT TO PURCHASE AFFORDABLE NEW TOYS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS. RATHER THAN SIMPLY GIVING A HANDOUT OF TOYS TO AT-RISK FAMILIES, WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO PURCHASE CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN. DONATED TOYS ARE SOLD AT DEEPLY DISCOUNTED PRICES. THE FUNDS GENERATED ARE REINVESTED BACK INTO THE STORE, GIVING JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO SOME OF THESE SAME FAMILIES TO WORK IN THE STORE, WHILE THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE THEY RECEIVE FROM BEING EMPLOYED BY THE CHRISTMAS STORE EXPAND THEIR EMPLOYABLE SKILLS. FOR ONE WEEKEND, CHRISTMAS VILLAGE TOY STORES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA OPEN TO SELECT FAMILIES TO SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. INVITATIONS TO SHOP AT AREA CHRISTMAS VILLAGE TOY STORES ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED. OVER 600 INVITATIONS WERE PROVIDED TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS AND DISTRIBUTED TO AREA FAMILIES. TWO CVTS ARE IN OPERATION: A PITT COUNTY STORE AND A WASHINGTON (BEAUFORT COUNTY) STORE. BETWEEN BOTH STORES, ALMOST 500 VOLUNTEERS SERVED. THE VOLUNTEER FORCE INCLUDES DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND MINISTRIES.CAMP CONNECT IS A CAMP AT WHICH LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS GATHER ON THE CAMPUS OF EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY EACH SUMMER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHURCH MEMBERS TO CONNECT WITH THE STUDENT BODY AND THE STUDENT BODY TO CONNECT WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. AT MOST RECENT COUNT, THERE WERE 57 STUDENT LEADERS, 115 STUDENTS, AND 19 ADULT LEADERS IN ATTENDANCE AT CAMP CONNECT.CHILDREN OF HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION (CHAT) IS A SCHOOL THAT IS OPERATED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE CHILDREN OF BARRIO GEORGE. EACH CHILD WHO ATTENDS CHAT IS PROVIDED WITH A SCHOOL UNIFORM, BOOKS, CHRISTIAN TEACHING BY TRAINED STAFF, PLUS MEDICAL, DENTAL AND NUTRITIONAL CARE AS NEEDED. EACH CHILD IS ASKED TO MAKE A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THEIR EDUCATION, WHICH IN MOST CASES IF $5 OR LESS PER MONTH. THE CHAT ACADEMY CURRENTLY HAS 200 CHILDREN ENROLLED AND HAS THE CAPACITY FOR UP TO 400. THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CONNECT COMMUNITY CENTER ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DONATE TOWARDS A CHILD'S TUITION.IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, THE CENTER OPERATES A MEDICAL CLINIC WHICH IS OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK AND IS FREE TO THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 PEOPLE VISIT THE CLINIC EACH WEEK THAT IT IS OPEN.

CARE GROUPSTHESE ARE CONTINUING CARE AND FELLOWSHIP GROUPS, WHICH ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE IN THEIR HEALING AND RECOVERY PROCESS WHICH STARTED IN ANOTHER RECOVERY PROGRAM, SUCH AS CELEBRATE RECOVERY. SOME PAST AND CURRENT OFFERINGS INCLUDE: DIVORCE CARE, CARING FOR YOUR AGED LOVED ONES, LIFE HEALING CHOICES, SINGLE MOTHER GROUPS, PARENTING CLASSES, MENTORING, AND SEVERAL OTHER BIBLE-BASED STUDIES.