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Supported Ministries
Programs supported financially and/or with volunteers by Asbury United Methodist Church through Oklahoma Outreach:
Additional programs supported by volunteers:
Programs supported financially and/or with volunteers by Asbury United Methodist Church through Oklahoma Outreach:
Child S.H.A.R.E. (Circle of Care)
Child S.H.A.R.E. (Shelter Homes a Rescue Effort) recruits and provides support services for foster and adoptive families in the faith community. Child S.H.A.R.E. recruits and provides support services for foster and adoptive families in the faith community. Child S.H.A.R.E. co-ops provide the material goods families need to welcome hurting children into their homes. In 2003, 108 Child S.H.A.R.E. families provided loving care to 176 Oklahoma children. As a result of the support and material goods Child S.H.A.R.E. families receive they tend to continue in foster care longer than other foster families and often times adopt children out of foster care if that option becomes available and also as a result the children in these families benefit from having loving, stable families who provide consistent care.
Pearl's Hope (Circle of Care)
The Pearl’s Hope transitional housing program is a six-month structured program for homeless women with children who 1) meet the admission criteria, 2) who voluntarily agree to program rules and expectations, and 3) are in need of transitional housing due to immediate crisis in employment, health, or other community and personal circumstances. The period of residence can be extended when necessary and accompanied by supporting documentation by program personnel. Follow-up services in the community are provided for one year.
The Frances Willard Ministry Center (Circle of Care)
The ministry center houses the central office for Child S.H.A.R.E. FEW offers space for the faith community as well as the community at large to host retreats, meetings and seminars in a wide variety of accommodations to include facilities for overnight stays. Circle of Care will utilize the FEW campus for training youth and staff retreats, respite care, activities, and it is planned to use at least one cottage in the near future for foster care.
United Methodist Children’s Home (Circle of Care)
The UM Children’s Home works with boys, ages 6-12 and girls, ages 6-18 who are placed in care due to behavioral problems or family problems that prevent them from living at home. They work with the children through a structured residential care program, as well as provide on campus education to those who need it, and individual, group, and family counseling. There is also an Independent Living Program, which focuses on young adults, who have graduated from high school in one of the Circle of Care’s residential programs. This program provides housing, job opportunities, financial assistance, and emotional support that the students need to help them reach independence.
United Methodist Boy’s Ranch (Circle of Care)
The UM Boy’s Ranch is a Christian-based residential, behavior modification child care facility ministering to young men age 13 through high school graduation. Residents participate in regular church services at Gore United Methodist church as well as a MYF group on campus. The components of the Character Education Model are mentoring, protecting, nurturing, teaching, and serving. Residents progress through five levels as they assume responsibility for their decisions and actions. The primary goal is to reunite the family when relationships are positive. The average stay at UMBR is approximately 11-13 months.
Christian Credit Counseling
The overall goal of Christian Credit Counseling Service is to provide help for individuals and families who have found themselves in financial crisis. Christian Credit Counseling Service accomplishes this goal in two major ways: Budget Counseling and Debt Recovery. During all phases of counseling, their ongoing objectives are to provide practical solutions to money management problems and to instill biblical principles of stewardship.
Clarehouse
Clarehouse provides a loving home and quality end-of-life care to hospice patients and families in need of caregiver support. Guests come to Clarehouse in their final weeks of life, when the physical and emotional demands on caregivers become overwhelming, or, as is often the case, there is no caregiver available to meet the 24 hour a day needs of a dying person. The mission of Clarehouse is to fill the need for high quality, practical and supportive end-of-life care without duplicating available hospice services. Clarehouse provides 24 hour personal care, medication administration, meal preparation, companionship and presence, emotional and spiritual support and access to hospice providers in a safe home-like environment. Their website is www.clarehouse.org.
Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries (CJAMM)
Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries (CJAMM) is the prison ministry of the Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church. Three of their ministries: Exodus House, Operation Hope Prison Ministry, and Redemption Ministry in Tulsa, help incarcerated people, ex-offenders and their families. Their website is www.okumcministries.org/cjamm.
Cookson Hills Center – United Methodist Mission
The Cookson Hills Center has been ministering to the Native American people in rural Oklahoma since 1948. The center services a 39 square mile area south of Tahlequah. Ongoing programs include a thrift store, food pantry, craft co-op, home repair, counseling, emergency assistance for housing and employment, a Christmas store, and children, youth and adult education programs.
Executive Ministries
Executive Ministries, an arm of Campus Crusade for Christ, strives to carry the Gospel to the city’s most respected business leaders and professionals through outreach social gatherings, where successful business executives tell their faith story. Follow-up visits are made to those who attend these functions to share the Gospel and encourage participation with other business leaders in various discipleship opportunities including Bible discussion groups. The goal of Executive Ministries is to turn influencers into Great Commission Christians.
Exodus House
Exodus House is part of the Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries of the Oklahoma Methodist conference. A six-month temporary residential project established for the purpose of equipping released ex-offenders and their families to become productive, self-supporting, cohesive family units. Exodus House reunites families, develops job readiness, offers financial planning, Christ-centered spiritual growth and continuity of care through Redemption church, counseling, educational opportunities and more.
Good Samaritan Health Services
The mission of Good Samaritan Health Care services is to bring compassionate healthcare to those in need, who lack financial resources or access to care in Tulsa. GSHS is made up of compassionate Christian medical professionals who desire to see the people in their community healed in all areas of life - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Outreach locations presently include low income sections of Tulsa and the surrounding area.
Habitat for Humanity - Tulsa Chapter
An international ecumenical Christian organization. Donations and volunteer labor are used to assist low-income families in obtaining their homes. Homes, generally under 1000 square feet with one bath, are built with mortgage payments having no interest and no profit. Funds from mortgage payments go into new habitat projects. Ten percent of funds generated in a community go to international projects.
Happy Hands
Happy Hands is a Christian family centered program serving deaf children from six weeks to six years of age. They seek to maximize learning for children with a hearing loss by providing them with an early intervention program composed of a preschool and kindergarten in an all day educational and linguistically stimulating environment.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is a home-delivered meal program. The mission is to help people stay in their homes as long as possible with dignity and security. That goal is achieved through the delivery of meals and also human contact, something that makes a difference in the life of the homebound.
Operation Hope Prison Ministry
An ecumenical ministry to the incarcerated in Oklahoma. The ministry provides mentoring in employment, housing and transportation to those being released from prison. Bible studies are held in prisons and half-way houses. Once a month, volunteers transport young children to visit their mothers who are incarcerated. Other programs through Operation Hope include Kids and Mom’s Konnection, Mentor the Families, Kids in Crisis, and Bedtime Stories. More Information.
Oklahoma Conference VIM
Funds will provide VIM office support as they coordinate missions in Oklahoma and around the world. Members of churches across the entire Conference participate yearly
by enjoying VIM trips including construction, renovation, children’s work, and always a sharing of faith. Their website is www.okumcministries.org/vim/ok.asp.
PAWS – Pets are Working Saints
A program at Asbury to encourage members of our congregation to use their pets in ministry and mission by allowing dogs to take their owners to visit various nursing homes and hospitals, and Asbury children’s programming. Dogs are licensed and insured through Therapy Dogs, Inc. once they have successfully passed one testing and three observations.
Plumbline Ministries
Plumbline Ministries is a strong, solid Christian counseling ministry. They are committed to being an arm of the local churches’ ministries. Their goal is to promote and provide the same principles and tools of healing and growth found in the early church through Christian counseling. The clients continue to meet and be served by the counselors until they have reached their goals. Plumbline operates solely on contributions and the clients are those referred by local churches. Asbury’s Care Ministry endorses Plumbline and refers members and non-members alike to them as needed. Plumbline offers a creative third option between a Stephen Minister and a professional counselor and is a wonderful service for any individuals who need counseling at this level and who cannot afford to pay.
Project Transformation
The purpose of Project Transformation is to aid culturally diverse churches and communities with creative summer programming that will support spiritual growth for youths, children, and their parents, build relationships and models for ongoing volunteer ministries and to support college students in their faith journey by providing a summer mission experience and an introduction into ministry. Children participate in a curriculum including Bible stories, computer activities, arts and crafts, outdoor games and one-on-one reading for 30 minutes each day.
Redemption
St. Luke’s/Redemption United Methodist Church is a ministry which has a step-by-step approach to Christian discipleship. Redemption is a fellowship of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and friends of faith. Twice weekly volunteers bring approximately 50 residents from Correctional Centers for worship and classes, i.e., 12-step Recovery/Support group, Bible Study, Life Choices, Computers, and other self-improvement classes. Sunday service is followed by a dinner which is provided and served by United Methodist Church volunteers every week.
Restore Hope
Supported by Tulsa District United Methodist Churches, this agency offers assistance and services to families experiencing economic hardship or family crisis. Restore Hope Ministries offers a comprehensive package of services to reach its goals. Programs are designed to achieve the dual purpose of equipping families to help themselves restore their economic and spiritual vitality and to mobilize congregations to serve families in economic need. Programs include Emergency Aid Services, Chapel Ministry, and Case Management Services. More Information.
The hospitality of Tulsa
The Hospitality House of Tulsa provides family-centered,home-like lodging and support services for families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities. The patients of the families served can be any age. Meals are provided for the families in the evening and daily transportation is provided to the Tulsa hospitals.
Volunteers serve as Welcome Center Host or provide evening meals. Spiritual support is provided through prayer request cards which are prayed over daily by volunteers. Upon the patient’s discharge from their care in Tulsa, The Hospitality House of Tulsa will connect the patient and their family to physical, financial and spiritual resources in their local community. Their website is www.tulsahospitalityhouse.org.
The Little Lighthouse
A Christian developmental center serving children from birth through the age of six years with developmental delays as a result of physically and mentally challenging conditions are eligible for enrollment. A Bible-based curriculum specifically designed for children with special needs by the LLH staff, is the foundation for the classroom structure. Qualified Christian teachers and therapists from a wide range of specialized fields work directly with the children as well as supervise a team of volunteers. More Information.
Wesley Foundation at the University of Tulsa
The Wesley Foundation is the campus ministry of the United Methodist Church. A variety of opportunities are offered for students to get involved at Wesley: Student Leadership Council, small groups, intramurals, service projects, praise & worship, and Friday Noon Lunch. Contact 592-5778. More Information.
Ministry to the International Students:
- Friendship Families (to befriend international students)
- Volunteer English tutors
- Funds for bilingual Bibles (paralleled with English)
- Volunteer driving instructors
- Holiday dinners, parties (provide home or food)
- Furniture & household items for newly arrived students
Young Life
Young Life is a mission community of Christ-centered people committed to reaching adolescent youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They do this by building personal relationships with young people, by sharing their lives and participating with them through a variety of experiences through which the Gospel can be heard and experienced. Young Lives is a program that teams up with mature Christian women to provide teen girls in crisis with encouragement, guidance, and ongoing support by being a mentor, club leader, prayer partner or donor. More Information.
Youth at Heart
Youth at Heart’s mission is to shape, support and encourage Tulsa’s inner city youth. Educational, spiritual and recreational after-school and summer programs are provided for youth ages 6-18 who live in Tulsa’s public housing communities and low-income apartment complexes. Educational, spiritual and recreational programs provide an effective alternative to idleness, vandalism, school truancy, drug use and gang-related activities. Their website is www.youthatheart.org.
Additional programs supported by volunteers:
A & W Connection
The A&W Connection began in April 2004 when Asbury adopted Walt Whitman Elementary through the Partners in Education Program of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. There are weekly, bi-weekly, or as needed volunteer opportunities. Some include reading, tutoring, field trip chaperon,testing monitor, office aides, Bible club, and more. Asbury ministry and volunteers support A&W through prayers, hands on activities, and donating items.
Quilting Ministry
This group makes lap quilts and full size quilts for various mission areas. They have done extra requested sewing projects for VBS and Walt Whitman. They have begun a new quilting project in partnership with the Prayer Ministry called Prayer Quilts.
Ronald McDonald House Meals
The Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa is a home-away-from-home for families whose child is being cared for in the hospital. Volunteers provide meals for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Tulsa. Asbury is committed to providing meals every weekend for these families. Their website is www.rmhtulsa.org.
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