Ministries and Outreach

 “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.”
Isaiah 58:10

The Interfaith Food Closet of The Valley

St. John’s is a member of The Interfaith Food Closet located in Valley, Alabama. The non-profit foundation is sponsored by 23 local churches throughout the year.

The food bank gives out goods to locals who are in an emergency situation. Those situations may range from grandparents keeping their grandchildren’ someone losing their job, going to the hospital or anyone on welfare who runs out of food at the end of the month. Donations are accepted through out the year and can be brought to the church Sunday Mornings or dropped off at the Food Closet located at 6313 20th Ave. Valley, Al. Phone number is (334) 756-3443. Office hours vary.

Nets for Life Campaign

Working through local Church and community partners, NetsforLife® has had a major impact on malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.  The program’s methodology of hanging nets in homes has resulted in higher rates of net coverage and a greater reduction in malaria-related deaths than the standard distribution method.  Although the cost of distributing nets directly to households is higher than positioning them at a fixed collection point, coverage and retention rates are much better when the NetsforLife® methodology is implemented, leading to a decline in area mosquito populations and a reduction in malaria-related sickness and death.You can make your donation to the church and have it earmarked for Nets for life, or go the the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund page and donate there or Answer Africa.

Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries

The Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries, or CVEM. The heart of CVEM is our Direct Service to neighbors in times of great need or crisis. Trained volunteers meet with folks on an appointment basis and offer financial assistance for housing and medical expenses, obtaining basic household furnishings and goods, education and job-related expenses, and helping to maintain essential transportation. Direct Service, however, is so much more than financial assistance. We offer time for folks to share their stories; we sometimes ask tough questions and offer input to help problem-solve; and we connect people with other community resources. Their phone number is (706)-327-0400.

CVEM serves the Chattahoochee Valley through:

• direct assistance ministry to persons in poverty and/or crisis

• intercultural art program for children

• a youth leadership program

• education classes, workshops, communication pieces, and resources on various areas of social justice

• Located in Columbus Georgia, CVEM serves the Columbus and Chattahoochee Valley area.

  
  

Soles4Souls

St. John’s will accept your gently used shoes for donation to the Soles4Souls Organization. This group collects gently used clothing and distributes it around the world to people in need. Find out more about their organization here: https://www.soles4souls.org Please contact the church at (706)-645-2156 to make arrangements for drop off or pick up of donations. Please note, Soles4Souls does accept mismatched shoes as well.

Big valley animal rescue

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

From the beginning of the Bible, we see how important animals are to God. He blesses them, forms covenants with them, enjoys them, and calls them good. Yet, from the beginning of creation, there has also been a special relationship between mankind and animals. One of Adam’s first tasks is to name the animals. Naming is an act of relationship that reflects God’s intent for humans to share a close bond with his other creatures. As we seek to fulfill this special relationship that God intended for us to have with animals, we must reflect on the responsibilities we have towards the animals put in our care. Psalm 24:1 clearly proclaims—“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.” This fact is repeated regularly in Scripture. God commanded that Adam and Eve to “rule over” every living thing (Gen. 1:26). Yet, it is clear He did not relinquish ownership of every living thing. Humans are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God. In His likeness, what duties do we have towards animals?

St. John’s works with a number of local animal rescue groups. One of these is Big Valley Animal Rescue. https://big-valley-animal-rescue.business.site/- or you can find them on facebook. Big Valley works through donations and volunteers to foster homes and find forever homes for dogs in our area who have found themselves without a family. You can find out more about this worthwhile organization by visiting the website or facebook page. Any donation to them would be well appreciated.