Missionaries: Jesus commanded all of his followers with these words. As Christians our job is not to sit idly by while the world is lost. We are to seek and save the lost. One way our "Forever Family" is achieving this is by being active in our community here in Tuscumbia. At the same time, we are also supporting others outside of Tuscumbia to preach Christ's "Good News" to those who have not heard it yet. Camp AmeriKraine: The Eastern European nation of Ukraine is home to nearly 46 million people. In 1991, this formerly communist country, gained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved. Since 1993, Jeff Abrams, minister at Tuscumbia, has been actively involved in doing mission work in and around the city of Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Over the years, numerous congregations have been established, strong relationships have been built with public and private schools and universities, humanitarian containers have been shipped, and hospitals and orphanages have received badly needed supplies.
Patriots for Christ: This is an campus outreach at Northwest-Shoals Community College with the mission to engage this exciting world around us, but somehow remain faithful to the distinctive way of living the Jesus life."
Vacation Bible School: Our Vacation Bible School takes place each year during the first full week of June. We start off our VBS each year with a Sunday Night Kickoff, our regular worship service with a bit of a twist. When our members and guests walk through the doors of the church they will be walking into another world, a place that reflects that of our theme. The front of the auditorium will also have its unique features as well. We have our normal services but dedicate some of it to singing special songs for our children and our preacher, Jeff Abrams, develops a lesson that incorporates our year's theme.
Cookie Visitation: Each week, a number of our church ladies take time out of their day to bake homemade cookies. These cookies are then placed in decorative bags with a very special purpose in mind. A small group of church members then meet at the church every Monday night. They have a list of our special guests who visited our "Forever Family" for worship the previous Sunday. They then take turns volunteering to deliver a bag of cookies to someone on the list, thanking them for their presence with us. This is one way we show our appreciation towards our special guests and take the opportunity to invite them to visit with us again.
Food Pantry: In these challenging economic times, the Food Pantry is an important outreach. We work with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to help families provide food for their tables. A list of families is given to us by DHR. Those families come by the pantry to pick up their food. We take this time as an opportunity to provide them with both physical and spiritual sustenance.
North Alabama Children's Home: In today's world, there are many children who are neglected and abused in many ways: physically, sexually, emotionally, or even socially. James, the brother of Christ, tells us in the New Testament that one of the aspects of pure and undefiled religion is to look after orphans. The children who suffer neglect and abuse need a safe place where their wounds can heal.
In North Alabama, there are at least two places that give hope to these children, North Alabama Christian Children's Home (NACCH) and Child Haven. Both programs seek to help the children heal and develop a close personal loving relationship with their Heavenly Father. The programs cannot do this solely by themselves.
Tuscumbia Church of Christ is aware of a great opportunity to assist both NACCH and Child Haven. Part of our yearly budget is set aside as a donation to these ministries. We also look forward to summer when we can take the children out on the river. Ultimately, our "Forever Family" seeks to help be a part of providing food, shelter, spiritual nourishment and growth to children who are hurting. We want children to know their Heavenly Father and that He desires to provide them with the love they have lacked.
North Alabama State Fair Booth: Every year the North Alabama State Fair is held in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, which is a rock's throw from Tuscumbia. It can best be described as a “family-oriented community event” put on for the benefit of the community. Various exhibits are on display, including: agricultural, industrial, cultural, and commercial.
The Tuscumbia Church of Christ uses this event as a way to spread the Good News to all. We set up a booth in the fair exhibit hall, and various members of the congregation take turns throughout the week giving out free water and balloons to all who come by. We also give away a Bible each night.
The North Alabama State Fair provides us with a ministry opportunity unlike any other. Several thousand people attend the fair each year. You can be sure that many of these are looking for a deeper more meaningful relationship with God. The fields are white and ready for the harvest.