But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
Tucker First UMC is an Acts 1:8 church, which means the church has pledged to follow the outline of the Bible verse and craft our mission program, finances, and witness based on those words.
Tucker First UMC is an Acts 1:8 church, which means the church has pledged to follow the outline of the Bible verse and craft our mission program, finances, and witness based on those words.
| Highlights of Faithfulness (May 2019-May 2020) |
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What is "Do Something September?"
"Do Something September" is an initiative from our Tucker First UMC mission team that highlights activities and mission projects that you or your family can do on your own schedule throughout the month of September and by doing so, support local businesses and ministries. You can pick a mission project that interests you and volunteer. It is that simple. This is a community-wide effort and there are suggestions for all types of people (persons who shelter-in-place, donate items at local drop off, or serve-in-person, etc.). You can do as much or as little as you like to your level of comfort. Questions? Please send your questions to Missions@tfumc.org. Click the logo for volunteer opportunities.
"Do Something September" is an initiative from our Tucker First UMC mission team that highlights activities and mission projects that you or your family can do on your own schedule throughout the month of September and by doing so, support local businesses and ministries. You can pick a mission project that interests you and volunteer. It is that simple. This is a community-wide effort and there are suggestions for all types of people (persons who shelter-in-place, donate items at local drop off, or serve-in-person, etc.). You can do as much or as little as you like to your level of comfort. Questions? Please send your questions to Missions@tfumc.org. Click the logo for volunteer opportunities.
NETWorks Cooperative Ministry Volunteers & Donations needed. NETWorks continues their all outdoor distribution with pre-packed bags of grocery items. Hours remain Wednesday/Friday/Saturday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Many of their regular volunteers are self -isolating and volunteers from low risk groups are needed to help pack and distribute bags of groceries. No experience necessary; training will be provided.
To Pack Bags of Groceries (indoors) (T/W/T/F): https://signup.com/go/qrFucSp
To Help Distribute Bagged Groceries (outdoors) (W/F/Sat): https://signup.com/go/XyHGTNy
You must sign-up in advance to volunteer; walk-in volunteers will be unable to serve as NETWorks is closely managing volunteer numbers to maintain social distancing.
NETWorks Groceries can be order Online. Shopping for groceries and necessities is hard for all of us right now. NETWorks Cooperative is having the same problem that many of you are having in finding certain items. When you are shopping, they would appreciate you picking up a few items for them if you can find them.
NETWorks has a cart available outside for drive-by drop-off on Tues/Wed and Fri/Sat from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at 2380 Fourth Street. They are in a shared building with Habitat for Humanity, directly behind Tucker First Baptist Church. You can also order from Amazon and have items shipped directly to NETWorks. This is the link for Amazon shopping - https://amzn.to/39WdiWY.
Find out more about NETWorks and their needs by going to www.networkscoop.org.
To Pack Bags of Groceries (indoors) (T/W/T/F): https://signup.com/go/qrFucSp
To Help Distribute Bagged Groceries (outdoors) (W/F/Sat): https://signup.com/go/XyHGTNy
You must sign-up in advance to volunteer; walk-in volunteers will be unable to serve as NETWorks is closely managing volunteer numbers to maintain social distancing.
NETWorks Groceries can be order Online. Shopping for groceries and necessities is hard for all of us right now. NETWorks Cooperative is having the same problem that many of you are having in finding certain items. When you are shopping, they would appreciate you picking up a few items for them if you can find them.
NETWorks has a cart available outside for drive-by drop-off on Tues/Wed and Fri/Sat from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at 2380 Fourth Street. They are in a shared building with Habitat for Humanity, directly behind Tucker First Baptist Church. You can also order from Amazon and have items shipped directly to NETWorks. This is the link for Amazon shopping - https://amzn.to/39WdiWY.
Find out more about NETWorks and their needs by going to www.networkscoop.org.
FAITH PROMISE
Our mission programs are funded through a special campaign initiative called, Faith Promise. By pledging your gift to this program, your pledge enables our mission ministry to expand the mission of the church. If you would like to make a pledge to Faith Promise, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for a mission group, please email missions@tfumc.org.
Our mission programs are funded through a special campaign initiative called, Faith Promise. By pledging your gift to this program, your pledge enables our mission ministry to expand the mission of the church. If you would like to make a pledge to Faith Promise, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for a mission group, please email missions@tfumc.org.
Jerusalem was the city where the disciples were when Jesus gave them the Acts 1:8 command. Our witness to Jesus Christ and His saving power begins at home in Tucker, GA and DeKalb County, GA. We are tell our friends and neighbors about Jesus. We are to seek to meet the needs of people and minister in Jesus’ name.
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American Red Cross – Tucker First hosts four blood drives a year for the American Red Cross. In 2020, the church was asked to host additional blood drives due to the pandemic. To date in 2020, the drive have collected 275 pints (seven blood drives). Blood donors and check-in volunteers are always needed for the blood drives.
**Do Something September** American Red Cross Blood Drive | Sunday, September 6 | 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. All blood donation slots are full and the Red Cross will not accept walk in donors. Volunteers are still needed to help with the blood drive. You can sign up at https://tinyurl.com/tfumcbloodsept2020. **Do Something September**
Deliver SuperPaks to Area Children. | Three teams of volunteers are needed every Friday between 4:30 and 5:30 pm in September to pick up, deliver, and distribute pre-made, “SuperPak” bags to three area distribution sites. These “SuperPaks” contain non-perishable food items and include assorted breakfast, snack, and lunch items. You can sign up at https://tinyurl.com/SuperPaks. 
Great Day of Service | Do Something September -Annually, the church gathers for one large, single day missional outreach to our community. Due to pandemic, the program was changed to Do Something September for 2020. Click the logo for ways participate this year!
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Children First is an initiative to focus our mission efforts on the children of the Tucker community.
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English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – This ministry helps people learn the English language. The current ESOL program is being done online due to the pandemic (click the heading to register). When this ministry does meet in person, volunteers are needed for registration and childcare one night a week. In 2019, the program added a Sunday morning Sunday School class.
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N.E.T Food Pantry- Located in the Tucker Recreation Center, the N.E.T. Food Pantry is an ecumenical outreach of area churches from Northlake, Embry Hills, and Tucker and provide a three-day emergency food supply to families or persons in need. Tucker First stocks a pantry item (spaghetti and sauce) and provides volunteers to staff the pantry one month a year. This food pantry started many years ago in the basement of Tucker First UMC. Spaghetti noodles and sauce contributions can be dropped off at the church office
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NETWorks Cooperative Ministry -A cooperative of churches in Northlake, Embry Hills, and Tucker. The ministry provides food, financial education, and financial assistance to people in our area living below the poverty level. In addition to supporting the ministry financially, the members of Tucker First serve by packing bags and helping to distribute food. They also help stock the food pantry with donations as well as provide space for NETWorks’ Grocery Alliance (weekly food cooperative) operations. During the pandemic, volunteers are needed more than ever.
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**Do Something September**
Volunteer to pack food bags in the NETWorks offices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/networksinside Be a database volunteer, intake/greeter, or a runner to help distribute bagged groceries on Wednesdays/Fridays/Saturdays from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. See descriptions below. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/networksoutside1 Database Volunteers - Database volunteers will be inside the NETWorks building, at a computer station. Runners will bring the database volunteer the info sheet from the greeter station, and the database volunteer will then look the neighbor up in the database, confirm the number of people in the household, enter the assistance given, then pass the info sheet back to the runner. Intake/Greeters - Intake/Greeters will sit at a table under a pavilion and greet neighbors as they arrive in the parking lot. Using a form to guide them, greeters will ask the neighbor a series of questions and take down some basic information to determine how we can best meet their food needs. The greeters will give each neighbor a number on a sticky note to take back to their car so the runner can find them to bring them their food. Runners - Runners will receive info sheets from the greeters, take them to the Database volunteers for confirmation and data entry, and obtain the bags of food needed to fill the order, then run the bags out to the neighbor on the info sheet. Each info sheet will have a number or letter on it, and greeters will give the neighbor the same letter or number on a sticky note so the runner can match the food order to the appropriate neighbor. The runner will them give the info sheet back to the greeter. may also purchase items for NETWorks through Amazon.com and have them delivered directly to Networks. Watch the NETWorks Facebook page or their website for items needed on a weekly basis. www.networkscoop.org |
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Salvation Army Ringers-Every year in December, our church members “ring the bell” for the Salvation Army. This happens at multiple sites in the Tucker community on different days.
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Tucker First United Methodist Men-
Our Men’s Fellowship meets on a weekly basis (currently via Zoom) for discussion and Bible study on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm. They also assist in service projects for the church and work with youth and children on many outreach activities in the community. Contact Andrew Carlton at acarlton@bellsouth.net for more information.
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Tucker First United Methodist Women-The UMW is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and experience freedom as a whole person through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Our two Tucker First UMW circles participate in the following missions throughout the year:
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Tucker First Music & Arts- This ministry provides free guitar and piano classes to the community. Due to the pandemic, the guitar and piano classes are not being offered this year, but Instructors and assistants are always needed when the classes are in session.
Tucker First Youth-During their annual youth week in July, our youth serve many local missions. In 2019, they provided over 400 volunteer hours during youth week.
Tucker Middle School, Tucker, GA- The church hosts an annual teacher appreciation “breakfast break.” This mission outreach is current shut down due to the pandemic.
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Tucker First UMC Space-The church provides space for additional groups and ministries to gather.
In addition to the above mentioned missions, we have many groups in our church that serve the Tucker area through their ministry.
- MARR Men Support Group
- Action Ministries Food Distribution Site for Safe Lunch/ Safe Kids
- NETWorks Food Co-Op Distribution Site
- Multiple Boys and Girl Scout Troops
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Support Group
In addition to the above mentioned missions, we have many groups in our church that serve the Tucker area through their ministry.
Special Offerings – Jerusalem-Through your Faith Promise pledges, Tucker First is able to support the following ministries of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church (NGUMC) annually.
NGUMC Bishop’s Offering - Ministrial Education Fund
NGUMC Wellroot Family Services Offering
NGUMC Wesley Woods Offering
NGUMC Bishop’s Offering - Ministrial Education Fund
NGUMC Wellroot Family Services Offering
NGUMC Wesley Woods Offering
Judea was the province where Jerusalem was located. The disciples were to take the message outside the city. We are called to take the message of Christ to the State of Georgia and the southeast region of the United States. It is a large, growing and spiritually lost population. Through our missions efforts we seek to strengthen and encourage the work of the church along with meeting the needs regionally and statewide.
Appalachian Service Project-Appalachian Service Project (ASP) is a Christian home repair ministry through which volunteers repair homes for low-income families in rural Central Appalachia. Construction skills are not required to participate in this mission. Work teams consist of 5-7 adults and most mission trips are three days (Thursday – Saturday). Tucker First normally sends a team in the fall every year. Due to the pandemic, ASP is not accepting any mission teams this year. You may check out ASP online at www.asphome.org.
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Celebration Singers Youth Choir Tour-Our youth, as music missionaries, spread God’s Word through music to churches and nursing homes annually in June.
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Special Offerings – Judea-Through your Faith Promise pledges, Tucker First is able to support the following ministries of the United Methodist Church (UMC) annually.
UMC Student Offering
UMC United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Offering
UMC Student Offering
UMC United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Offering
Samaria was a neighboring province that many in the early church avoided because they did not know that community or the people were “different.” The call to Samaria reminds us of our responsibility to not just reach people similar to us, but to go further and reach all people with the Gospel. Like the Samaritans of the first century, our *Samaria* may include those who are near to us but different from us economically, racially, spiritually, or culturally.
Cold Weather Shelter at Tucker First UMC-Tucker First operates a cold weather shelter during the winter months when the temperature drops really low. This is the only shelter in the Tucker area and the DeKalb County police work with the church to make sure the shelter is known to the homeless population. This past winter 2019-2020, the shelter was open for ten nights and provided 78 guest night for men and women. The shelter provides a bed, dinner, and breakfast. The ministry also provided eleven nights of motel accommodations for several families. When the shelter is open for the night, volunteers are needed to provide food and to stay overnight in the shelter.
Trinity Big Bethel House T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) Dinner-Trinity Big Bethel House is a thirty-six bed transitional housing program that serves men who are homeless and disabled and/or in recovery. To these men, the recovery program is a lifeline, providing support services that lead back to employment, personal responsibility, and reunification with their families. Tucker First volunteers provide a meal on the fourth Sunday of every month for the men of Trinity House. Volunteers take the meal to the men and eat with them. Additionally, as the men graduate from the recovery program, Tucker First has established four scholarships for graduates to provide them with the tools to give them a fresh start (textbooks, specialized tools, etc.).
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Trinity Table Community Kitchen-Trinity Table, a soup kitchen, is located in Downtown Atlanta and it is run by Big Bethel AME Church. Tucker First provides a meal for the soup kitchen once a year (soup, sandwiches, cookies, to-go bags) and send a team of volunteers to serve at the soup kitchen. The entire project is a two day effort, the soup is provided by our church members and dropped off at the church on Saturday morning and the sandwiches are created on Saturday morning. The serving team takes all the food down on Sunday (usually in February). Additionally, many times throughout the year, Trinity Kitchen has requested that our church help out with the supplies for to-go bags because the kitchen is shorthanded.
**Do Something September**
T.E.A.M. Meal | September 27 | Due to the pandemic, the volunteers are providing food but cannot entire the treatment house for the meal. |
Special Offerings – Samaria-Through your Faith Promise pledges, Tucker First is able to support the following ministries of the United Methodist Church (UMC) or the North Georgia Conference of the UMC (NGUMC) annually.
NGUMC Homeless Offering
NGUMC Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home Offering
UMC Native American Offering
Tucker First United Methodist Women (UMW)-Our UMW, through yearly fundraising, provides financial support for the following Samaria ministries and programs.
Atlanta Mission Day Shelter for Women & Children. Atlanta, GA
Breakthru House, Decatur, GA
Wellspring Living, Atlanta, GA
Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home, Cedartown, GA
NGUMC Homeless Offering
NGUMC Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home Offering
UMC Native American Offering
Tucker First United Methodist Women (UMW)-Our UMW, through yearly fundraising, provides financial support for the following Samaria ministries and programs.
Atlanta Mission Day Shelter for Women & Children. Atlanta, GA
Breakthru House, Decatur, GA
Wellspring Living, Atlanta, GA
Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home, Cedartown, GA
God has given each of us a responsibility for our world coming to know Christ. We are committed to missions around the world. We can give and we can pray in support of those who go into the mission field, but we can also go ourselves. We seek to involve members of our church in our missions’ ministry around the world in personal ways.
Honduras Outreach International
Tucker First sends a group of missionaries to Honduras annually. This mission team work on projects in different villages (e.g. communal fountains, latrines, painting, general repair, etc.). They also offer a Vacation Bible School for the children. Inspired by the adult mission trip, Tucker First sent its first youth missionaries to Honduras in 2019. Due to the pandemic, the annual mission trip has been cancelled. |
United Methodist Men Bike and Bibles
Through an annual pancake fundraiser, our Tucker First United Methodist Men have raised thousands of dollars for Bikes & Bibles. The primary objective of Bikes and Bibles is to provide utilitarian bicycles and native-language bibles to the poorest pastors in Africa’s poorest areas. Here is a recent article about the ministry and the efforts of our Tucker First membership - https://www.umnews.org/en/news/motorbikes-keep-pastors-moving-during-covid-19 |
Our Tucker First Missionaries
Florence Kaying
Florence is a Global Ministries missionary in Mozambique working with women and children. Tucker First, through the UMC General Board of Global Missions, has established a covenant relationship with her. Additionally, our United Methodist Women also support Florence Kaying. You can watch a video about Missionary Kaying here - https://advance.umcmission.org/p-1645-kaying-florence.aspx 
Kathryn Wurst
Kathryn Wurst serves with the Globalscope campus ministry team Unterwegs in Tübingen, Germany. This is the same location and organization that Tyler and Shaynn Crawford have been serving for many years. Tucker First Connection - Kathryn is the granddaughter of Tucker First members, Jim and Gail Cook! The information below is from Kathryn's bio web page. You can also click on her photo for more information about her ministry. Kathryn grew up in a Christian home in the Atlanta area and was a part of the Christian Campus Fellowship (CCF) while a student at Georgia Tech, where she caught a glimpse of how God can use campus ministry to bring people of different backgrounds together to explore faith in a loving community. As a senior, she visited the Globalscope team in Germany and fell in love with Tübingen and the students who are searching for meaning and belonging in a place with few resources for exploring faith. Kathryn enjoys connecting with the students, modeling what it looks like to love Jesus, and helping the community that has been changing students’ lives for the last ten years continue to grow. |
Kabila Mukuni Claude A Mujil
Kabila is a ministerial student attending Katanga Methodist University in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tucker First is sponsoring Kabila and his family while he attends classes at the University. He is 29 years old and has BA in French and African Languages. His wife is Rose Mwange and they have two children, Blanchard Kayemb Ngwej and Catherine Mbind. While on campus at Katanga Methodist University, the children are able to attend school and his wife can enter the Woman’s School that helps her prepare to be a minister’s wife. Kabila is also a rock crusher to help feed his family. The Seminary students are supported through a minimum scholarship of $100 per month which often leaves the families short of food at the end of the month. Kabila is from the South Congo Annual Conference |Galilee/Lumbrumbashi District |Salem/ Kasapa UMC. He is president for intercession for the district and president for evangelism of the local church. Katanga Methodist University was established in 1951 and originally began with the Seminary. It rose to a University in 2002 and now has 900 students. It is located in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The need for seminarians in the Congo is great as the Methodist Church had about 20,000 members in 1950 and now serves 2.6 million today. The seminarians live on campus with their families for two years and can get a PhD in Theology in an additional year. |
Special Offerings –End of the Earth-Through your Faith Promise pledges, Tucker First is able to support the following ministries of the United Methodist Church (UMC).
Katanga University Ministerial Scholarship – Katanga is a United Methodist University
UMC Annual Human Relations Offering
UMC Annual World Communion Offering
Katanga University Ministerial Scholarship – Katanga is a United Methodist University
UMC Annual Human Relations Offering
UMC Annual World Communion Offering