News
Jacksonville Grace UMC addressing homeless problem
10/27/2011
JACKSONVILLE – It all began with a sermon, a YouTube video and God’s timing.
Mike Fender, pastor of Jacksonville Grace UMC, said a sermon on baptismal vows in which members of the congregation were challenged to live out in mission what it means to be support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts and witness.
The following Sunday, while preaching on the text from John in which Jesus is calling his disciples, Fender shared the viral video of Ted Williams, the...Shelter Director a Tireless Advocate for Homeless
10/27/2011
JACKSONVILLE – Homeless advocate Vanessa Tyus understands the needs of her clients who frequent the new Comfort Center housed inside Jacksonville Grace UMC.
As a homeless advocate for Helping Hands ministry in Springfield, Tyus returned to Jacksonville to help her community to begin addressing the homeless situation in the greater Morgan County area.
“I started seeing persons from Jacksonville coming to Springfield because there were no services,” Tyus said....Canteen Run offers help to some of Champaign-Urbana's neediest
10/27/2011
CHAMPAIGN – It's about 8:30 p.m. After two hours mainly spent outside in frigid temperatures, volunteers are ready to call it a night.
The Salvation Army truck they use has just pulled back into the thrift store parking lot on North Market Street when volunteer driver Dan Davies, 56, gets a cell phone call from a Champaign police officer, saying that a 61-year-old woman needs food. As the truck makes a U-turn for the 2-mile trek south, volunteer Karen Krusa fills three bags with food for...Sesame Street is coming to Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House
10/12/2011
Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House of East St. Louis has been selected to host a screening of Growing Hope Against Hunger, a special program in support of children and their families who are impacted by the struggle with hunger.
The Sesame Street production will introduce a new character, Lily, a Hispanic child who is homeless and hungry. In the special Elmo and Rosita meet Lily. Like many others, Lily's family doesn't always have enough to eat. Along with country-western singer...
