Nothing, as the Apostle Paul tells us, "… in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:39

Our Congregational Care Ministry Team is composed of a group of dedicated Christian lay persons who are called by God to extend the pastoral ministry of our church to everyone in our fellowship. They go forth in love to minister in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Their mission is to help you feel that divine love, so you will be uplifted, strengthened, healed, comforted, forgiven, and empowered. They provide an organized way to care for our members, through the training of "Lay Ministers" to serve those among us who have special needs or those who are new to the church.

The pastor (or pastors) cannot attend to all of the pastoral care needs of a congregation our size. Many people who have needs "fall through the cracks", even when the pastoral staff has the best of intentions and works its hardest! Crisis care may be available in most cases, but ongoing care will be lacking if only the pastors are providing care to our church family.

The truth is, the pastors shouldn't do all of the pastoral care, because all Christians are called to the ministry of care, and some are specifically equipped with the spiritual gift of shepherding. This is why we have Lay Ministers!

A Lay Minister is a person who feels called to intentionally care for God's people, who is trained by the Congregational Care Team, and who faithfully serves his/her "flock". Each Lay Minister is assigned three to five families or individuals, whom they care for by applying the P.A.C.E. model: Prayer, Availability, Contact, and Example.

Our prayer is that they will minister to you, that you will experience Christ's presence through them, and that you will be blessed.

If you need pastoral care, counseling or other specialized ministries, please contact George Naff by e-mail or phone at (828) 264-6090. Back to top

Local Outreach Programs
At Boone UMC, we support many local, national and global ministries that touch the hurting lives of God's people. The church is best defined by the missions to which we give ourselves. Through this work area, we cooperate with the following organizations to assist them in their service to the local community:

Carolina Cross Connection
The Carolina Cross Connection is a Christian Outreach Ministry for youth and adults. The purpose is to strengthen one’s relationship with God, to serve Him, and to show His love by being leaders at Cross Connection, and by serving those in need. This is a Christian mission camp for youths and adults; Boone UMC youth attend it annually, spending a week each summer at one of the six camps in Western NC Conference. During the week, the youth help the elderly or disabled in nearby communities, including minor construction, yard work, painting, etc. and get better acquainted and spend time with the person they are working for, spiritually, socially, etc. It is about showing a passion for helping others and growing closer to God. For additional information, please call or e-mail Vern Collins at the church.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity works to provide housing for low-income families. Boone UMC is a covenant church with Habitat - which means we support this organization financially as well as physically through. Refreshments are also furnished. If you would like to provide refreshments or if you would like to serve at one of these Habitat work days, please call the church or Pegge Laine at (828) 264-1630. If information is needed concerning the Habitat program in Watauga County, please call (828) 262-1213 or e-mail wataugahabitat@yahoo.com.

Hunger Coalition and Free Pharmacy
The Hunger Coalition is a non-profit United Way agency whose mission is to relieve poverty and hunger on a crisis basis to those in need. It is located in the heart of the High Country (Boone, NC) and serves Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties. Boone UMC and other churches continue to assist in this ministry. For additional information, go to www.hungercoalition.com.

OASIS
OASIS (Opposing Abuse with Service, Information and Shelter) is a non-profit volunteer organization serving Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties. OASIS provides services and support for victims of family violence and sexual assault. Services include a free confidential safe home, advocacy, information and referral, support groups and educational programs. Boone UMC through the United Methodist Women assists OASIS in this program. For additional information, go to www.oasisinc.org or call (800) 268-1488.

The Angel Tree
The Angel Tree is a program to give gifts and food to those in need at Christmas. Our church works with several agencies in the High County to ensure a total outreach to those in need. Beginning in mid-November, the church places a Christmas Tree in the Church Narthex with cards attached of families who have requested assistance. For additional information, please call Susan Jones at (828) 963-7172 or call the church office.

The Boone Crisis Pregnancy Center
The Boone Crisis Pregnancy Center (BCPC) is committed to presenting the gospel of our Lord to women with crisis pregnancies. The support ministry offers pregnancy tests, information about prenatal development, education about abortion procedures and risks, and counseling regarding pregnancy options. The center also provides on-going emotional support, community referrals, housing, maternity and baby clothing, and baby furniture. In addition, BCPC sponsors a post-abortion/adoption support group, which ministers to women and men who have emotional and spiritual needs resulting from a previous abortion, and “Great to Wait”, a biblically-based sexual abstinence until marriage program reaching church and community youth as well as BCPC clients. Boone Crisis Pregnancy Center is located at 232 Furman Road, Boone and can be reached at 265-HELP (265-4357).

The Salvation Army in the High Country
Boone UMC is a supporter of the Salvation Army as part of the Lenoir Corps, which includes Watauga, Caldwell and Avery counties. The following outreach services are provided in Watauga County:

• Emergency food, shelter and meals;
• Clothing, school supplies and household needs;
• Utility bill payments;
• Sick and housebound elderly ministry;
• Residential substance abuse program referrals;
• Family and individual counseling;
• Prison ministry and aid to families of the incarcerated; and
• Disaster services.

The Lenoir Corps of the Salvation Army also operates a thrift store, located at 2348 Hwy 105 in Boone, to partially fund services provided to Watauga County. Eighty-five percent of all funds raised in the High Country are used in the area, with the remaining 15 percent going to national and international efforts. To reach the Thrift Store, please call (828) 264-0072.

The Society of St. Andrews
The Society of St. Andrews provides food to those in need through a gleaning and distribution program. Several times a year volunteers at Boone UMC organize an effort to distribute potatoes, fruit, etc. that is available through the National Distribution System. From 1983 to 2001, the State of North Carolina redirected 25,149,979 pounds of surplus food to those in need. Last year, the church youth gleaned apples from local orchards to give to those less fortunate. For additional information, please call Amy VanDevender at (828) 262-1821 or e-mail the church.

National and International Outreach Programs
Through our financial gifts and special collections, we support the following United Methodist mission projects in the U.S. and around the world:

AGAPE
Project AGAPE is a joint project of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the North Carolina and the Western North Carolina Conference and of the United Methodist Church. For additional information, contact Diana Haas, a member of the Work Area on Missions, through the church or log onto
http://www.wnccumc.org/missionsoutreach.html.

African Methodist University
A university which was founded and now operated by the United Methodist Church to provide undergraduate and graduate education for the African people.

The Children’s Home*
A residential home for troubled and in-trouble children and youth and their families.

Curamericas
This project, formerly Andean Rural Health Care, carries out preventative and primary health care services to over 50,000 persons in rural villages and low-income barrios in Bolivia.

Henderson Settlement
A program providing childcare, agricultural and economic development, housing assistance, and recreation for disadvantaged children, youth, parents, and elderly in an isolated, impoverished Appalachian community.

Hinton Rural Life Center
This program advocates for the small membership congregations within the United Methodist connection. It serves as a place of training, renewal, and missional activity for small membership congregations.

Hispanic Ministry
This ministry provides English-as-a-second-language classes (ESL), community activities, and religious (worship and Bible studies) programs for the large Hispanic community in the area and consults with Anglo congregations about ministries for and with the Hispanic communities.

International Mission Teams
Boone UMC embraces a variety of missions to other countries that include everything from helping to build churches, hold bible studies and house construction to assisting with care in orphanages.

Contact us if you are interested in taking part on a future international work team. There are a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels including families, young people, and individuals.

Missionary Salary Support
The salaries for United Methodist missionaries serving in the United States and around the world are partially funded through this support.

Red Bird Mission
Located in western Kentucky, this community development program provides a school for 300, housing for the elderly, meals for the homebound, medical transportation for the needy, a jobs program, a store selling clothing and household products at low cost, and a housing repair and construction program.

United Methodist Agency for the Retarded (UMAR)
This organization of the annual conference provides a safe home environment for adults who are developmental impaired.

United Methodist Campus Ministry*
This ministry provides a chaplain and religious programming for United Methodist students and others attending colleges and universities in surrounding areas.

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
The agency of the United Methodist Church which provides emergency and long term assistance in the event of disasters caused by natural disasters, political instability, war, etc.

Western North Carolina Conference Outreach Apportionment
These funds go to the missional as well as administrative ministries of the annual conference and the United Methodist Church.

World/Hunger Poverty
This fund of UMCOR assists the millions of people suffering from chronic malnutrition and hunger through emergency assistance and long term development. Back to top

The United Methodist Women (UMW) is a community whose purpose is to know God; to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand the mission of the Church. Some of these local missions include:

• Hospitality House;
• Watauga Hunger Coalition;
• Watauga Youth Network;
• Shelter for the Night;
• Carolina Cross Connection;
• Dr. Derrick Fund;
• Boone Crisis Pregnancy;
• BUMW Scholarship Fund;
• Oasis; and
• We Care Program.

Call office for meeting times at (828) 264-6090.
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The Methodist Men met on May 27. 2003 and applied for a Charter in the United Methodist Men. The Charter was granted and on August 5, 2003 the following officers were elected:

John Marshbanks-President
Jay Vincent-Vice-President
Donny Miller-Secretary
Bill Dixon-Treasurer

The Methodist Men established 11 community related projects for 2003-2004. Please contact the church at 264-6090 or E-Mail A.J. Thomas at ajthomasbumc@bellsouth.net for additional information. Time of meetings and projects can be found in the church newsletter and on the News & Information link of this Web site. Back to top

Girl Scouts of the United States of America
The Girl Scout program at Boone UMC and in the community is one to be proud of. With the mission of inspiring girls to the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service, this organization has helped many young girls on their way to becoming happy and resourceful citizens.

The levels of Girl Scouting offered are: Daisy for kindergarten ages; Brownie, for grades 1 - 3; Junior, for grades 4 - 6; and Cadette & Senior, for grades 7 - 12.

The church sponsors several countywide Girl Scouting events during the year including the Brownie Sleepover, Thinking Day, Girl Scout Sunday Services and the annual Service Unit Recognition Banquet.

For additional information about this Girl Scout program, please contact Jeannine Indicott at (828) 265-7344 or Katherine Hicks at (828) 297-6634.

“On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and
To obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and morally straight.”

Scouting at Boone UMC is available for all boys age 11 - 18. Troop 109 is a member of the Blue Ridge District in the Old Hickory Council. For additional information, call Arvil Sales at (828) 264-6579 or go on-line to www.oldhickorycouncil.org.
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