Volunteers Needed

GAIHN & Habitat for Humanity
Many FBC members have participated in hosting homeless families through the church’s involvement in the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN) rotation. First Baptist Greenville is also involved with another ongoing ministry with GAIHN, partnering with Trinity Lutheran Church as shepherds to a family living in a GAIHN transitional home on 8 Carter Street in Nicholtown. The initial story of this ministry was featured in the March 2007 issue of Missions Now.
The family is the Williams family: Clarissa and her 16-yr old twins, Jamie and James. The Williams family first stayed at FBC in the summer and fall of 2006. Clarissa works for the Greenville Hospital System, and the twins attend J.L. Mann. They have participated in our youth programs as well. Another daughter, Jovanda, attends Greenville Tech and is living independently.
As its name suggests, a “transitional home” provides temporary housing as the family transitions from the GAIHN rotation to permanent housing. Temporary is a relative term when it comes to a transitional house. Sometimes the move to permanent housing takes place quickly and sometimes, if the permanent solution is a Habitat house, the transition can last several years.
As reported in the October 15 issue of the News, Clarissa and her family have been approved for the Habitat program, so the church’s relationship with the Williams family will be long term. The role of the shepherd congregation is to provide nurture and support for the family during this transition. Support can take many shapes, but the most important aspect of all is building relationships between our church, our family and our partner congregation.
Here are a few ways members can become involved:
1) Bargain hunters: The family is in need of several pieces of furniture - chest of drawers, buffet, closet/armoire piece. Goodwill bucks are available to spend at Goodwill, or a limited budget is in place for shopping at other places. If you love searching for treasures like this, please volunteer.
2) Handymen/handywomen: If you know how to hang the California-closet type open shelving units and would be willing to donate a couple of hours, we need your help. We’ve taken preliminary measurements, but need someone knowledgeable to verify the measurements before we purchase the shelving. After the purchase, we would need volunteers to install the shelves.
3) Carpenters: The house needs a tall, narrow cabinet constructed in the kitchen to provide additional storage. This sturdy, functional piece will then need to be painted to match the other cabinets in the kitchen. Carpenters can paint or ask that we find another volunteer to handle that aspect of the job.
4) Christmas sponsors: We need sponsors (individual, family, Sunday School class, or mission group) to adopt the Williams family for Christmas.
5) Storage shed helpers: The youth are planning a project to construct an 8X12 storage shed behind the home. This will provide much-needed, secure storage space for lawn care equipment/tools. Matt Rollins and Jerry Kerns are leading this effort, but could use additional adult helpers. 
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Brenda League at brenleague@aol.com or 918-9064 (cell) or 322-2021 (home).

Mentoring Opportunites
Graduate Greenville (a partnership between The Alliance of Greenville, The School District of Greenville County, and The United Way of Greenville) is currently seeking mentors for high school students at Berea High and Greenville High Academy. If interested, please contact
Judy Snyder at 467-2600 or e-mail: jsnyder@unitedwaygc.org

Interested in Ushering?
FBC Ushers serve on one of four groups that serve only three non-consecutive months out of the year. If you would like to serve as an usher at the 9:00 or 11:00 service, please call the Music Office 370-2424 ext. 128.

Security Patrol
The Property Committee is seeking assistance in providing security throughout the church
on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
Contact director of facilities J.R. Christy at 233-2527 ext. 107 for further information.

Join the Guild
The Sanctuary Guid is need of volunteers on Monday mornings to prepare the Sanctuary for the coming week's worship. Please contact Jo Carson at 288-9609 to help.

Wednesday Night Clean-up
The church is currently in need of 3-4 people each Wednesday to help from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Becky Bouton stresses that these are easy jobs. These tasks are good service opportunities for Sunday school classes, circle groups, families or groups of friends. Please contact Becky Bouton at 271-3923 to volunteer.

Sunday Morning Greeters
The 2007 greeter program is seeking to fill approximately ten more slots. Responsible youth and adults are needed to serve at 9:30-10:00 or 10:30-11:00 a.m. once a month. Contact Brenda League at 609-4520 or 918-9164 or e-mail her at brenda.league@rbc.com

Ministry to Families
A Word from Baxter Wynn
WANTED: Members who desire the life-transforming experience, the joy and personal fulfillment that comes from caring for others in the name of Christ.
Members who believe that visiting those who are lonely and in need of friendship, compassion and a caring touch, is a high and holy calling, a way of life in the Kingdom of God.
Members willing to occasionally assist in providing transportation for other members in need of a ride to the grocery, doctor’s appointment, worship service, etc.
Members willing to assist in arranging or delivering flowers to other members, as a reminder of our love and concern for them.
Members willing to assist in delivering Wednesday night church
suppers to homebound members.
Members who have experienced support and loving care from others in times of personal need, and who desire to respond to that blessing by caring for others.
The Ministry to Families Committee provides care and assistance to our homebound and shut-in members. If you would like more information about the work of this committee, or if you would like to explore the possibility of using your gifts in and through the ministries of this committee, please call the chairs: Jeanette Cothran (288-6227) or Janet Huskey (288-5914).