Volunteers In Mission

What is Volunteers-In-Mission?

It was John Wesley who stated, "the world is our parish." Following this Methodist tradition of reaching out to our brothers and sisters around the world, Elizabeth Watson started our Volunteers-In-Mission Ministry at First Church in 1990. That first trip was to Golfito, Costa Rica. Since then there have been 20 mission teams, involving both youth and adults; 18 to Costa Rica, 1 to Honduras and 1 in Rocky Mount in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd. Over 100 different adults, youth and members of other churches have participated in these mission trips. Our building projects have included churches, parsonages, Sunday School classrooms and church retreat and education centers. Equally as important as our building projects, are the relationships that have developed between First Church, Rocky Mount, and the people and churches of Costa Rica. In 2003, First Church's own Wil Bailey (who was a member of several of our early youth VIM teams) began his ministry in Costa Rica. First Church responded with our Faith-Promise weekend, which provides salary support for Wil's ministry. He and his wife Yolanda direct approximately 30 work teams from all our the US each year in Southern Costa Rica. It is a life changing experience as we follow Jesus' command to go and make disciples.

You can be a part of this exciting ministry, either by participating as a work team member, or by joining those that work in our fund raising efforts. For more information contact Larry Dempsey (443-6853) or the church office at 977-0400.

VIM Diaster Response Team
In 2006, the decision was made at First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount to develop a Disaster Response Program as a part of Volunteers in Mission. The VIM Disaster Response Team became a reality in the summer of 2006 under the leadership of Mickey Bailey with 80 people indicating that they were interested in being a part of the team at some level.

Since that time fifteen (17) Disaster Response Teams from FUMC have traveled to the Gulf coast and the Nashville, Tennessee area to help repair homes damaged by hurricane Katrina in 2005, and teams will be returning to Mississippi in both October and November of 2009. Also, team members have worked locally on two different occasions at the home of an elderly member of the FUMC family, have participated in three local Habitat for Humanity projects, and have worked in Kenly, NC, helping build a new home to replace one destroyed by a tornado in late 2008.

Equally important to this effort of the VIM Disaster Response Team members have been the prayers and the financial support of the entire FUMC family.

If you are interested in joining a VIM Disaster Response team traveling to the Gulf region or the Nashville, TN area to help repair individual family homes, contact Mickey Bailey at 903-1004 (cell) or 443-0333.

FUMC Disaster Response Team Video on YouTube

FUMC Disaster Response Team in Georgia Video

Habitat for Humanity
Early on Saturday morning, January 17, 2009, twenty-five brave souls met in 9 degree weather at First United Methodist Church and traveled to a Habitat for Humanity job site where they helped to build a house for a family in need. They hung sheet rock in sub freezing weather. Not only did they give up a day off, they never complained- not once- about the cold and only wanted to know when we could work again. It was a wonderful act of kindness that will make such a big difference in somebody's life. Thank you to all those who participated.

Handicap Ramp Building Team

VIM Disaster Response is working on forming a Handicap Ramp Building Team in order to be able to help with that need in our community. If you are interested in being a part of this team contact Mickey Bailey.

Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in somebody's life!

First United Methodist Church 100 South Church Street Rocky Mount, NC 27804 252-977-0400