Local Missions
At Dayspring we define ministry as an opportunity to help others see the gospel through meeting practical needs. Jesus has called us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” and there is no greater way to show love than by serving others. The following list provides some avenues for us to do just that.
Local Mission Opportunities:
Each Week – Knit, crochet, loom & quilt (or learn how) for missions and for fun. “The Dayspring Stitchers” meet each Tuesday, 10am-12pm (contact Doris Stevens 599-7528).
Every Tuesday – Feed the homeless at St. Louis Street Bapt. Church. Meet in the Dayspring kitchen at 6pm before carpooling downtown. Contact Rob Hartmann, 633-0250.
Every Tuesday, 9:30-11:00AM: Dayspring Food Pantry. Volunteers assist in assembling food boxes for families in our community and loading in vehicles. Contact church office for more info, 251-633-0250
Third Wednesday of each month during school year: Light of the Village community outreach lunch. Volunteers help deliver and serve lunch at Light of the Village in Prichard. Contact Rob Hartmann, 251-633-0250 or rhartmann@dayspring.church
First Three Tuesdays of each month (4:30pm) – PASCO Home (transitional home for men) – A hot meal will be delivered to the home. Volunteers meet at the Dayspring kitchen. Contact: Rob Hartmann, 633-0250.
Once a month on a Monday– Senior Nutrition and Wellness Program, 9-11am and 6-7:30pm, Fellowship Hall; Volunteers sort & package nonperishables for prequalified senior citizens. Contact: Lisa Davis, 895-6967.
Once a month on a Tuesday – Senior Nutrition and Wellness Program, 6-7:30pm; Sort & package, Fellowship Hall.
Once a month on a Wednesday – Senior Nutrition and Wellness Program, 9-11am, Fellowship Hall. Volunteers needed to help with distribution.
Christian Ministry Partners:
YOUTH REACH – GULF COAST
Youth-Reach operates a series of Christian foster group homes in Summerdale, Alabama that are designed to turn around the lives of at-risk youth, ages 12-21. Set in a structure of a balanced family and home life, Youth-Reach concentrates on developing character, responsibility, and a strong work-ethic. They are committed to addressing the mental, physical, and spiritual needs of this generation’s hurting young people. It is in an effort to reach and teach the homeless, damaged, and troubled young men with skills that will enable them to be successful in today’s society. Assistance is needed in mentoring as well as ongoing development of their property and construction of additional facilities.
Location: Summerdale, Alabama
Contact: (251) 967-4809
email: admin@youth-reach.org
website: www.youth-reach.org
RANSOM MINISTRIES
The mission of Ransom Ministries is to empower people to overcome spiritual, relational and material poverty through knowing Jesus and utilizing their God-given gifts and talents in their work. Their main projects are Ransom Cafe’, Ransom ReProgram and Ransom Recycling. You can get involved by volunteering or eating a meal at one of the cafes, being a mentor for a ReProgram student, teaching a class, helping with resume’ writing or mock interviews and by donating your outdated or unwanted electronics for recycling.
Location: 320 South Craft Hwy, Chickasaw, AL 36611 (for a complete list of cafes, please visit our website)
Contact: Matt Armbruster
email: info@ransomministries.com
website: www.ransomministries.com
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES CENTER
International Ministries is a cooperative effort with Dayspring to help facilitate outreach Internationals in the Mobile Baptist Association area. Your God led participation in various ministry opportunities provide a means for you to participate in international missions right here in Mobile! Although our emphasis is primarily in three different areas, the opportunities will depend on the LORD’s leading in your life, your gifting, and your availability schedule.
Mrs. Kim Wilson leads the International Language School and is always looking for volunteers to work in teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). Please contact her at 251-533-2911 for ILS related opportunities.
We have five language churches in our Association, two Vietnamese, one Korean, one Cambodian, and one intercultural. As the LORD leads these churches are always encouraged by those who are led of the LORD to work with/minister to internationals. Also, be aware of the fact that in Mobile county we have people from various parts of the world and more than 74 different languages are spoken. International Missions at our doorstep! Call the International Ministries Director, Gerald Burch, at 251-661-7111 to discuss various opportunities. Join us in praying that the LORD will open doors to start a Spanish-language congregation in the near future.
Opportunities are available to those who feel led to visit these ships during the windows of opportunity that they are in our Port. Meet the sailors, develop relationships, pray with them, witness to the saving grace of Jesus, be available for bible studies or even chapel services. This may also lead to opportunities to invite these sailors to bible studies, worship services, and/or special events here at Dayspring. If God has placed this mobile, international opportunity on your heart call, Gerald Burch at the number listed above.
Location: Mobile Baptist Associational Office, 616 Azalea Road, Mobile AL
Contact: Gerald Burch (251) 661-7111
website:: www.im.mobilebaptists.org
WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER
Faith-based ministry providing assistance, encouragement, and unconditional love to women and families facing unplanned pregnancies. Their goal is always to help women and families make healthy and responsible decisions concerning themselves and their unborn children. Volunteers are needed in the office, newsletters and mail-outs assistance, and peer counseling (trained by Sav-A-Life).
Locations: 718 Downtowner Loop W (Mobile) & 1088 Industrial Parkway (Saraland)
Contact: Martha LeGros (251)660-8035 or (251)490-1907
website: www.savalifemobile.org
MCKEMIE PLACE
The only overnight shelter for single, homeless women in all of Mobile, Washington, and Baldwin counties. In two years, more than 500 women sought refuge here-away from the threat of violence. Group or individuals are needed nightly to bring dinner to the shelter. It’s simple: you choose the menu, prepare the meal at home, then bring it to the shelter around 6 pm. Please prepare enough to feed 25 women and include paper products and utensils.
Location: Broad St. (Call for specific address)
Contact: Christine Greene (251) 432-1122 or volunteer@mckemieplace.org
website: www.mckemieplace.org
VICTORY HEALTH PARTNERS
Victory Health Partners provides a continuum of affordable quality care for the low income, uninsured population of the greater Mobile area. Victory does not accept insurance or any government funding, but instead is funded by tax deductible contributions from supporters. Victory is truly a community partnership of people from diverse backgrounds banding together in friendship and love to provide healthcare to fellow citizens of this great community. Dispensary Aides, Patient Assistance Aides, Office Aides, Data Entry, Physicians Assistants, Marketing Assistants, special events assistants as well as ground helpers are all needed.
Location: 3750 Professional Parkway
Contact: Kim Garrett (251)440-0036
website: www.victoryhealth.org
LIGHT OF THE VILLAGE
Located in Alabama Village, this area is unlike other communities, where the lack of faith, love and hope result in an unpleasant reality. Gang life, drug sales, and violence are common here. However, because of this ministry’s location in the heart of this neighborhood, they have the opportunity to reflect Christ’s light in an otherwise dark community. Tutors are needed during the day to help at the Light of the Village Academy. After school care is provided from 3:30 – 5:00 on Tuesday and Thursday and volunteers are needed to play and supervise the children. The Summer months offer free Day Camp and Bible School for the children. Teenagers as well as adults are needed to assist. Every Sunday, church services are held at LOV at 11:00 and groups are needed to come and play with children outside so that teenagers and adults can listen to preaching. Lunch is always provided after the services and your group may wish to provide the lunch for the approximately 40 children and 20 adults who attend.
Location: Baldwin Dr. – Prichard, AL
website: www.lightofthevillage.org
HOME OF GRACE FOR WOMEN
Home of Grace for Women provides a comprehensive alcohol and drug recovery program for females ages 18 and up. They provide a 12-week residential program that embraces all aspects of addiction and recovery, including spirituality. Their goal is to help addicted females recover from their addiction, be restored with their families, encourage them to further their education as appropriate, and to live a life that is chemically free. Female volunteers are needed in many different areas.
Location: 394 Aldock Rd. Eight Mile, AL
Contact: Heidi Vance 605-1704 or heidivance@yahoo.com
Website: www.homeofgraceforwomen.com
MISSION OF HOPE (MEN)
HAVEN OF HOPE (WOMEN)
Mission of Hope Ministries is a three month, in care, Christian program designed to minister to men and women who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. The program for men is called Mission of Hope and the one for women, Haven of Hope. This ministry does not charge for their services and is totally funded by churches, businesses and individuals who have a heart for helping those who are suffering from addictions. Ladies may volunteer through the Ladies Auxiliary. This is a group of volunteers from area churches who help to “add a woman’s touch” to this ministry. They meet the first Thursday of the month at the Mission of Hope at 10 am. Haven of Hope needs women to volunteer to teach Bible studies and would like for different groups to provide their chapel services.
Location: Ask for Directions
Contact: Eric Roberts (251) 649-0830 Eric.roberts@missionofhopeministries.net and Jeanne Harred about Haven of Hope (251) 649-0830
website: www.missionofhopeministries.net
SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM
The Senior Nutrition Program helps senior citizens, 60 and older, in a specific income range, who are in need of food assistance. The program presently serves 300 seniors each month. Each month, a senior receives over $80 worth of goods and grocery items, boxed and delivered to them. Volunteers come together at Dayspring, generally on the third Monday of the month to assemble the boxes to get them ready for distribution. They begin assembly around 4 pm.
Location: Dayspring
Contact: Lisa Davis (251) 895-6967
website: www.bayareafoodbank.org
Metro Ministries
a spiritual lighthouse shining in Mobile’s inner city where innocent children
are often surrounded by violence, drugs, and other societal dysfunctions. Missionaries Bill and Cheryl Gray,
with the help of volunteers, use discipleship training, music, drama, crfts, drug prevention, day camps and other means to reach children and teens with the gospel.
Contact: To volunteer visit the Metro Ministries website, www.metromin.com or contact Bill Gray, 251-379-4960.
Other Organizations Where You Can Bring A Christian Presence:
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
A non-profit, ecumenical, Christian housing ministry, HFHMC is dedicated to eliminating poverty housing as a matter of conscience and action. Habitat builds simple, descent houses in partnership with people in need in the community. Through donations of time, materials, and investments, Habitat houses are sold to families at no profit, financed with affordable no-interest loans. Skilled and unskilled labor is need for all phases of home building. Volunteers may also provide lunches for work site volunteers, or help in the Habitat office.
Location: Different Locations
Contact: Gretchen (251) 476-4183
website: www.habitatmobile.org
MOBILE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
In Mobile County, there are approximately 600 children in foster care. These children need a safe, stable, and nurturing environment to live in until they can either safely return to their parents or establish other lifelong family relationships. No matter how much time you have, you can make a difference. You have the power to do something positive that will change the life of a young person in foster care. Perhaps you can open you heart and your home to a child in need.
Location: Mobile County Department of Human Resources
Contact: Tonja Smith (251) 450-9150 or (251) 450-9464
website: www.dhr.alabama.gov
PASCO HOME
PASCO provides a safe and faith based transition for those who have struggled through addiction. PASCO promotes success by offering a healthy and structured environment to move forward. More info may be obtained by visiting their website at www.thepascohome.com or by contacting them by email at thepascohome@aol.com.
DREAM CENTER-MOBILE
The Dream Center Mobile is a faith based, non-profit outreach ministry that focuses on children living in high-risk environments in the center of poverty, violence, and hopelessness. For volunteer info, go to their website, www.dreamcentermobile.org or call 251 452-8812.
ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME-MOBILE
Over the past 125 years, Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has been protecting, nurturing, and restoring children and families in Alabama. Contact the Mobile office at 251 639-1022 or mobile@alabamachild.org to see how you may be of service.