Outreach Ministry Board
Board Chair: Liz Halbert
Board Communicator:
The Outreach Board identifies community needs, prioritizes areas of focus and directs the time, talent and resources of the church to meet those needs. The Board receives funds for distribution through the church budget, fundraisers sponsored by other groups within St. Philips, the Outreach Endowment Fund and other restricted donations. Grant funding is approved by the Board after submittal and review. Grantees may be mission activities that are sponsored, managed, and completed internally by St. Philip’s Church as well as programs provided by external nonprofit (501 (c) 3 approved) organizations.
The current areas of focus identified by the Board through 2025 are as follows –
· Families and children
· Affordable housing and homelessness
· Substance Abuse Recovery
· Local Disaster Preparedness
· International Mission
The Outreach Board is always open to new ideas to help our community.
We meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm in Room 202.
OUTREACH MINISTRIES
Diaper Ministry
St. Phillips Diaper Ministry partners with the Lower Cape Fear Diaper Bank to ensure that every family in our community has access to basic needs to support their dignity, health, and quality of life. Diapers (child and adult) as well as wipes and creams are distributed through the NC Diaper Bank. Volunteers are needed to work at the Diaper Bank on Wednesday mornings. Wrapping parties are held on a regular basis to package up donated diapers in smaller quantities to distribute. April 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of this ministry. Contact: Maryann Darzano
SOUTHPORT OAK ISLAND INTERCHURCH FELLOWSHIP/FOOD PANTRY
SOIICF is an organization made up of 17 area churches who join to build community by serving others. It regularly supports the Food Pantry in Boiling Spring Lakes and assists with many human needs. Routinely the Pantry serves over 900 families monthly.
They also provide assistance to individuals and families with emergency medical costs, rent, utilities, car repairs, etc. Annually SOIICF supports several community events - MLK Walk, Lenten Wednesday Worship and lunch, the ICF Walk for hunger and a Thanksgiving Prayer service. In 2024, a new event was sponsored by SOIICF – Day4Hope. This is a back-to-school readiness event for underserved children in the county. St. Philips supported this activity with many volunteers, collection of school supplies and financial backing from Outreach. Additionally ongoing Sunday worship services are held at the Southport Rehabilitation Center. Representatives from St. Philips attend monthly meetings and partner in projects. Contact: Margaret Melando
CHAPEL DOCENT PROGRAM
The Chapel of the Cross Docent Ministry focuses on allowing the Chapel of the Cross to be open to the public for quiet reflection and/or historical education on a limited schedule. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am - 2pm. Tours are suspended during the Wednesday noon service, however all are welcome to join for the service. A historical book, authored by church member, Charles Pollock, is available to purchase for $10 each. Volunteers are welcome to join us; schedules are flexible. Please contact Deborah Alt, debann.alt@gmail.com or Kate Hardin, katehardin43@gmail.com for more information. Training will be provided.
Angel Tree
For the 2024 Christmas season, St. Philips provided gifts of clothes, toys, and school supplies to 83 children ages 6 months to 17 years old. We also provided gift cards to two parents ($100 each) in need of funds for clothes and food. We worked with the South Brunswick Middle School counselor who provided names of 20 children, Day4Hope provided 50 names of children and Brunswick Partnership for Housing provided 13 names. This year we are working with the same three groups and have names of 75 children.
Evan and Gayle Peterson continue to manage the program.
Brunswick Partnership for Housing
The Brunswick Partnership for Housing provides outreach and case management programs for homeless individuals and families, coordinates emergency shelter through area motels and provides transitional housing for homeless families. We publicize and support their fundraising efforts, such as Sleep Out Brunswick, as well as receive up to date information about the community needs. Director: Sally Learned
Episcopal Relief and Development
Episcopal Relief & Development works in collaboration with church partners and other local organizations to facilitate healthier, more fulfilling lives in communities that are struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease.
Charities who received funds through our grant application process in 2024/2025 –
St. Philips Belize Mission
SOIICF – Day 4 Hope
Samara’s Village
Matthew’s Ministry
Brunswick County Literacy Council
Lil’ Bit of Help
Brunswick Partnership for Housing
Hope Harbor Home
New Hope Clinic
Brunswick Bands Music Student Assistance Program
Christian Recovery Centers, Inc.