Outreach and Missions
Idlewild Presbyterian Church has earned the nickname "urban cathedral" for many reasons, including its gothic architecture; more importantly, the church has made an unparalleled commitment to the residents of the center of the city. Midtown Memphis is much more to us than just an address. Whether embarking on large-scale initiatives, such as building transitional housing apartments, or offering a hot meal and warm fellowship to neighbors in need, Idlewild members strive to take their faith into the community.
Idlewild supports a number of outreach ministries both locally and outside the city limits. Each person is challenged to find the way he or she is called to serve. If you are interested in getting involved in one or more of our outreach ministries, opportunities abound!
The Reverend Margaret Burnett
Associate Pastor for Outreach Ministry
726-4681 ext 19
margaret@idlewildchurch.org
LOCAL OUTREACH
Adopt-A-School
Idlewild Church has been an "adopter" of Idlewild Elementary School, a neighborhood public school, for many years. About 100 elementary students spend an hour or two each week with tutors from our Adopt-A-School program. More than 50 Idlewild members tutor reading, science, math, social studies and writing. In the Community Readers program, volunteers read books to kindergarten classes. The church hosts Idlewild Elementary's completions ceremonies each May. Each August a luncheon is held for the school's teachers and all the tutors, mentors and readers. For more information contact Ann Craig Bobo, acbobo@comcast.net.
Children and Family Enrichment (CAFE)
Many children and families in Memphis suffer from extreme poverty in addition to the precipitating issues of lack of jobs, education, healthcare, and strong support systems. Idlewild is committed to responding to the needs of children, prenatal through age 5, and their families in new, expanded, and creative ways. Through parenting programs, enhanced early childhood education, and enrichment programs, the church will play an active role in caring for children and families in our city. This new ministry is still in the "explore and create" stage, but look for an even stronger ministry to children and families in the coming years!
For more information contact Thor Kvande at tkvande@gslschool.org .
Ministry of Hospitality
Every Sunday morning committed members of Idlewild Church provide welcome, care, and compassion for God's people seeking assistance. These members greet, listen to, pray with, and build relationships with guests who need help because of poverty, crisis, mental illness, addiction, or a temporary setback. For more information contact Laurie Harrison at lauriejp38112@yahoo.com.
Community Support
Idlewild Church provides financial and volunteer support of many other local ministries, including: the Door of Hope, the Church Health Center, First Presbyterian Soup Kitchen, Memphis Food Bank, MIFA, the HUB, Friends for Life, Hope House, Memphis Union Mission, Caritas Village, Dress for Success, Habitat for Humanity, Jr. Achievement of Memphis, Las Americas Community Center, Memphis Interfaith Hospitality Network, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Partners for the Homeless, the RISE Foundation, Workers Interfaith Network, and Memphis Family Shelter. Organizations submit grant requests in October and grants are awarded in Janurary. In 2010 Idlewild Church shared $50,000 to support the organizations listed above. For more information contact Virginia Dunaway at dadvld@bellsouth.net.
MIFA Meal Delivery
For a number of years Idlewild Church has delivered MIFA Meals on Thursday mornings. A church member and a staff member ride together to serve people in the community who need a hot meal. Delivering meals is a simple way to make a difference and to get to know another person in our church community. This ministry is now coordinated by the Community Support Committee; for more information contact Virginia Dunaway at dadvld@bellsouth.net.
More Than A Meal
Thursdays at Idlewild
More Than Art-3:30 p.m.
Worship Service - 5:00 p.m.
Dinner - 5:30 p.m.
Because so many people in our city live at or beneath the poverty level and many also spend much of their time alone, Idlewild Church gathers every Thursday for our "More Than. . ." ministries. Idlewild's More Than Art (MTA) begins at 3:30 in the afternoon when guests gather to create artwork together. This More Than Art class is taught by Rhodes students and explores various forms of art from pottery to photography, comic books to painting, and much more!
At 5:00 Worship begins. Any guests who choose to join in the weekly worship service gather in the chapel for a grace-filled service. This service follows the order of worship used at Idlewild on Sunday mornings and invites the congretation into Scripture, music, and Holy Communion.
At 5:30 the evening meal, More Than a Meal (MTAM) begins. The evening includes a delicious hot meal, music, prayer, conversation and new friendships. Church members, students, and friends from the community share a meal with friends from our community. For more information contact Earle Donelson at donelson@lebonheur.org.
Beginning in 2010 is a new "More Than. . ." ministry called More Than Reading (MTR). This ministry pairs church members with MTAM guests who are interested in improving their reading and writing skills. If you are interested in this new ministry please contact Becky Cremer at beckycremer@gmail.com.
Please come and bring your family—you can make a real difference in the lives of God’s people in Midtown Memphis! Visit the MTAM website page to learn more.
Peacemaking
The McMerton Community Garden is up and growing! The Peacemaking Committee started this garden in the Binghamton community just 2 summers ago, and it has expanded to several nearby plots. Church members, neighbors, and friends meet regularly to share the work and fun. In 2010 the gardeners started working with GrowMemphis, which supports community gardens throughout the city. If you would like to get involved please contact Carl Awsumb at awsumbcarl@me.com.
In addition to gardening, the Peacemaking ministry of the church has been instrumental in the "Greening of Idlewild," making our church the first "Green Fork" church in the city! Coordinating communication with those who serve in the military, organizing Peace Walks, sponsoring a "Walk to Church" Sunday, and leading a service of Prayers for Peace are just a few of the ways the Idlewild Peacemaking Committee guides the church in being peacemakers. In 2010 the Peacemaking Committee will also begin work to help people who have served their prison terms find meaningful work in the community. The Adult Ministry Committee offers a Sunday morning Peacemaking class that is alsoa forum for advocacy, education, and conversation around peacemaking issues. For more Peacemaking information please contact David Bell at davidbelllaw@gmail.com.
Recreation
Much of Idlewild's outreach ministry stands on the strong shoulders of our Recreation Mininstry. Born during the Civil Rights Movement, this ministry is strong and diverse in 2010! Baseball, basketball, and soccer involve children and adults from our congregation and from the community. Pottery classes, photography, a 5K, and various yearly carnivals continue to welcome people to Idlewild and help build relationships built on play and fellowship! For more information contact Jonathan McCrarey at jonathanmccrary@gmail.com. See the Recreation page on this site.
Return Baseball to the Inner City (RBI)
RBI, a free five-week baseball camp for boys and girls ages 8-13. Most participants are children from neighboring areas who would otherwise be at home alone during the summer months. An RBI day begins with a gathering and devotional, followed by organized sandlot baseball, and concludes with a healthy lunch. For more information about Idlewild's Recreation program contact Ashley LaRue at alarue@idlewildchurch.org or click here.
Global Missions
Idlewild participates in a number of mission and outreach projects beyond the boundaries of Memphis. In recent years we have made mission trips to El Salvador, Guatemala, , Mexico and Jamaica; led vacation Bible schools in Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Mexico; and worked with a group to build homes in the Appalachian Mountain region. Our goal is to provide assistance where needed, but more importantly to communicate to the residents that we want to get to know them as children of God.
Idlewild Church's Global Missions ministry also brings mission opportunities right here by providing "Just Coffee," organizing an Alternative Gift Market to support the artisans in developing countries, and supports PC(USA) missionaries.
Clean Water for the World
With a recent focus on clean water for the world, Idlewild's global mission has broadened in the past 4 years. Along with installing water systems, the clean water team trains community members to maintain water systems,and offers the entire community education about the importance of clean water. Our Idlewild teams have installed systems in Ghana and in Mexico. For more information contact Gayle Walker at gwalker@idlewildchurch.org.
Living Waters for the World recently completed its 335th installation! Living Waters, a global mission resource of the Synod of Living Waters (PCUSA), serves as a resource to churches of all denominations, civic organizations and others in mission, enabling them to provide clean water to communities in need. So far more than 166 systems have been installed around the world. To learn more about this exciting ministry visit www.livingwatersfortheworld.org.
The PC(USA) Border Ministry
Idlewild Church works actively with the PC(USA) Border Ministry at Agua Prieta, Mexico, and with the neighboring First Presbyterian Church in Douglas, Arizona. For more than 10 years Idlewild members have spent a week in Arizona offering Vacation Bible School to children from both sides of the border.
At Christmas time, Idlewild children's mission groups Micah's Missionaries and Small Samaritans collect, pack and ship hundreds of gift bags to children in Agua Prieta. For more information contact Barbara Jennings at math0618@bellsouth.net.
Children's Outreach Ministries
Much of Idlewild's outreach ministry is initiated by the children of our church! Our elementary-aged children are Small Samaritans and Micah's Missionaries who not only pack Christmas bags for children in our sister churches in Agua Prieta, Mexico and Douglas, Arizona, they also teach the church about responding in love to needs around the world. They have presented programs about Rwanda, KIVA, Global Women's Issues, Homelessness, Living with Special Needs, and many more vital issues. Idlewild is made stronger in our faith by these children who urge us to learn, grow, give, and show compassion! For more information see Children's Ministry or contact Mary McIntosh stephenandmary@bellsouth.net (Small Samaritans) or Barbara Jennings math0618@bellsouth.net (Micah's Missionaries).