Taking seriously our covenant pledge to be present in the world as servants of God, the congregation of Grace Covenant Church seeks to be good stewards of its resources of time, influence and budget. We are pleased to lend our support to the invaluable ministries of global, national and local partners. May we introduce them to you? By clicking on each of the ministries whose name is underlined in the text, you will be able to access its website.
Global Ministries of Compassion
Children with chickens from Heifer International.
Heifer Internationalprovides animals to families in need, providing that family with both the means of providing for its own self-sufficiency and the self-sufficiency of its community as it "pass on the gift." Church World Serviceis a relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States. Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works worldwide to meet human need. Alliance of Baptists Bridge Missions supports the work of numerous organizations addressing human need, education, addiction, peace and justice.
Partners for Peace, Justice and Religious Liberty
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Libertyis a non-profit education and advocacy agency that has worked in Washington, D.C. for almost 70 years on behalf of religious liberty through the separation of church and state. Bread for the World (BFW): Grace Covenant is a BFW Covenant Church, joining 58,000 members nationwide learning about and lobbying Congress on behalf of those suffering from hunger. Interfaith Alliance, founded in 1994, consists of 185,000 members drawn from more than 75 different religions and belief systems to defend religious liberty and challenge hatred and religious bigotry.
Partners in Local Ministries
ADFAC volunteers stuff Christmas stockings for teens from low income families.
Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Families (ADFAC) distributes emergency aid funds to families in crisis and through its Helping Hands ministry seeks to preserve, improve, or replace existing substandard owner-occupied housing. CASA of the Tennessee Heartland, serving Anderson, Morgan, Roane and Scott Counties, trains volunteers to provide advocacy for the best interests of abused and neglected children under the protection of the juvenile court. Liz Goodlaxson, a member of Grace Covenant, is the agency's Resource Development Director. CONTACT Helpline enlists and trains community volunteers backed up by a support staff of professional counselors and ministers to answer over 7000 calls annually from people needing listening/counseling, information/referral, and suicide prevention services which are free, anonymous, and confidential. CONTACT also provides TeleFriend, an after-school helpline for children.
Ecumenical Storehousewas established in 1984 to accept, store and distribute contributions of used household goods to persons in need. An Associate Member, Grace Covenant partners with the First Christian Church of Oak Ridge in alternating with 8 other churches in providing personnel and funding for the Storehouse’s operation.
Healthy Start/Healthy Families provides professional home visitor services to first-time parents of Anderson County whose babies are identified as being at risk for abuse or neglect. A prevention program rather than an intervention program, Healthy Start initiates weekly home visits, teaching partent(s) to recognize and respond to a child's needs, while linking them to vital education, medical and social service resources and providing transportation to essential services.
Grace Covenant joined 12 other churches in constructing a home for Geneva Booker, shown nailing a starter piece at the Construction Dedication Service.
Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County is a special partner, since both the Executive Director and the Manager of the Habitat Home Store (the Reverends Susan and Rodney Parrish) are members of Grace Covenant. Since our beginnings in 2004, Grace Covenant has participated in two Apostle Builds in which 12 churches provide the funds and volunteer labor to build a house. Members of our congregation are regular volunteers in the Habitat Home Store, and we participate in a number of activities throughout the year supportive of Habitat’s work.
Grace Covenant has also been pleased to provide monetary support to the following additional organizations: YWCA Family Violence Program operates a family shelter with counseling and referral services. Clinch River Home Health provides in home nursing, aide services and rehabilitation therapies on a sliding scale to the sick, disabled, and elderly. Emory Valley Center provides training, housing, jobs and job placement for adults with severe disabilities and preschool services for children with disabilities.HOPE of East Tennessee operates a halfway house in Oak Ridge and offers outpatent therapy for recovering addicts and alcoholics. RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers) monitors court cases related to alcohol abuse.
