Ways to Serve

A father to the fatherless... God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:5-6

How can I help?

Below are the ministries Sevier Heights has partnered with in 2010. We encourage you to read through the descriptions below and commit to participate in at least one of the following ways:

Give a financial gift to the "Love Wanted" campaign. Your gift can be designated to the ministry of your choice by checking the appropriate box on the "Love Wanted" envelope (available at the Welcome Center and in the "Love Wanted" booklet). "Love Wanted" gifts will be received February - December 2010.
Volunteer your time to the "Love Wanted" ministry of your choice. Email David at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

Love Wanted Partner Ministries

AMACHI

What they do: A Knoxville-based ministry that helps children of incarcerated parents by engaging them in committed mentoring relationships with followers of Jesus.
Goal for Sevier Heights in 2010: 10 Sevier Heights individual mentors; 10 Amachi families cared for by four Sevier Heights Bible Fellowship classes and/or Small Groups.

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES

What they do: Manifests the love of Jesus by providing adoptive services for children and families.
Goal for Sevier Heights in 2010: A scholarship fun of $50,000 toward Bethany child adoption families; Five Sevier Heights families willing to adopt a Bethany child

ONE VISION INTERNATIONAL: HAITI

What they do: A Knoxville-based ministry focusing specifically on 125 orphans in Haiti.
Goal for Sevier Heights in 2010: $25,000 for medication; $50,000 for shelter

MOORELAND HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

What they do: A local school representing all socio-economic groups: 67% of their students are on scholarship lunches.
Goal for Sevier Heights in 2010: Five Sevier Heights weekly tutors for Math 101; Five Sevier Heights weekly classroom readers; $1,000 towards the reading program

SEVIER HEIGHTS CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

What they do: Our Sunday and Wednesday programs that partner with parents and aid them in the growth of their children.
Goal for Sevier Heights in 2010: An additional 30 individuals serving in our weekly children's programs (Sunday and/or Wednesday); Four Sevier Heights Bible Fellowship classes and/or Small Groups serving together in a Sunday morning children's program on a rotating schedule.

INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD

What they do: Our Southern Baptist organization that makes disciples in all nations by sponsoring and training missionaries, organizing international mission trips, and overseeing mission projects.
Goal for Sevier Heights in 2010: Five Sevier Heights individuals surrendering to full-time missions; 300 Sevier Heights individuals going on a short-term international mission trip; $20,000 in scholarships; $50,000 to IMB projects

More ways to Serve

VISION

The Vision Ministry exists to build relationships while providing encouragement and support for students and teachers at South-Doyle High School through Project Boost Camp, Project Mentoring, Project Credit Recovery, Project Campus Beautification, and Encouragement.

Ministry Contact: Email Cheri Harkins or call her at 865-609-9152

Wears Valley Ranch

Wears Valley Ranch provides Christ centered homes and Christian education for boys and girls ages 6-14 from families in crisis; students may remain until high school graduation. It also provides Christian family modeling, individualized education at St. Andrews School, Bible study, worship and scripture memorization, and weekly counseling for each student and for house parents.

Ministry Contact: Seth House, Volunteer Coordinator, 865-429-KIDS, 865-429-9105, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://www.wvr.org/

Women’s Jail Ministry - Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO)

Teams from Sevier Heights Baptist Church make weekly visits to the Women’s facility at the Knox County Jail located in the City County Building downtown. We lead five worship services on Thursday nights, with the total attendance being anywhere from 70-100 ladies. Since we are the largest church group of the 3 servicing the women’s facility and are covering the most pods, we make ourselves available to divide and cover any remaining pods that might not have their church group show up for the evening. We have led as many as 9 services in an evening! The goal of our team is always to bring hope and encouragement, but, more importantly, to share the plan of salvation and bring a realization of a new life in Christ. We also minister to the officers on duty.

Ministry Contact: Regina Helton, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Montgomery Village

Volunteers work in the Baptist Center at Montgomery Village, participating in and allowing expansion of its on-going ministry in our immediate community.

Involvement can be behind the scenes, handling food, clothing and other supplies, or can be dealing directly with people. There are programs that take place on a regular weekly basis. Tutoring individuals or teaching classes are options for growing the ministries of the Baptist Center.

Ministry Contact: Tom Hodges, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://www.kcab.org/ministries/montgomeryvillage.php, 4601 Joe Lewis Rd., Knoxville, TN 37920, 577-6244

Knox Area Rescue Ministries - KARM

The purpose of the Knox Area Rescue Ministry is to seek to rescue the poor and needy of the Knox Area by providing recovery services in Jesus’ name.

Possible service opportunities include:

Ministry Contact: Victoria Reagan, email us, 633-7624 or contact the main office at 673-6540 (p), 673-6556 (p), 418 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917

The Free Medical Clinic

The clinic exists to provide medical care without cost for the working poor: those who are employed but do not have insurance and cannot afford medical care.

Volunteers may be non-medical or may be medical professionals. Non-medical volunteers will assist with receptionist duties, with stocking supplies, or assisting the medical professionals as needed. Medical personnel will be asked to contribute their services pro bono for the clients of the clinic. Donations of equipment, supplies, medicines and services are constantly needed.

Ministry Contact: Peggy Coley at the clinic office, 577-3733 (577-FREE), 577-4229, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 6209 Chapman Highway.

SHBC Deacon Ministry

Individuals in this group maintain contact with and minister to church members, families, and others as needed. Participation either as a deacon or as a member associated with a deacon is possible.

Ministry Contact: David Harkins, Executive Pastor, 577-4222, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

CAC Grandparents as Parents

Grandparents as Parents is an organization that makes a difference in the life of a child. It is grandparents caring for grandchildren when parents are unable or unwilling to provide care. Many grandparents are primary care givers because of a sudden change of circumstances involving the natural parents, such as death, incarceration, alcohol or drug abuse. They are retired and living on a fixed income and have no financial assistance.

Ministry Contact: Jennifer Oakes, 524-2786, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://knoxcac.org/program.html#seniorcorps

CAC Mobile Meals

The Senior Nutrition Program has two components: Mobile Meals and Congregate Meals. Mobile Meals is by far the larger of the two. Note: See Senior Nutrition. Mobile Meals (called Meals on Wheels in other communities) provides home-delivered meal program for senior citizens in Knoxville and Knox County. It serves noon meals five days a week and holidays to Knoxville and Knox Co. citizens who are at least 60 years old who cannot cook for themselves and have no one to prepare meals for them.

Ministry Contact: Jennifer Oakes, 524-2786, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://www.knoxcac.org/mobilemeals/program.html, http://knoxcac.org/mobilemeals/donate.html

CAC Project LIVE - Live Independently through Volunteer Efforts

Project Live provides case management, transportation, home repair, and senior companionship for seniors in Knoxville and Knox County, and helps them live independently through volunteer efforts.

Ministry Contact: Barbara Heiser, 524-2786, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://knoxcac.org/program.html#pl

CAC Senior Nutrition Program

The Senior Nutrition Program has two components. Mobile Meals is by far the larger of the two, but Congregate Meals sites do also utilize volunteers. Noontime weekday meals are provided for persons over 60 without regard to income. Participants contribute.

Congregate Meals: Group dining facilities in several Knox County locations. Some transportation is available. The time frame is usually 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to go to one destination and work, rather than driving a car from house to house.

Mobile Meals: Meals delivered to homebound people (called Meals on Wheels in other communities).

Note: The description below is primarily about Holiday emphasis at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please visit http://knoxcac.org/food_nutrition.html and http://www.knoxcac.org/mobilemeals/volunteer.html for a more complete program description.

Ministry Contact: Jennifer Oakes, 524-2786, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://www.knoxcac.org/mobilemeals/program.html, CAC Office on Aging, 2247 Western Avenue, 37921, P.O. Box 51650, 37950-1650

Appalachian Ministry - Tennessee and Kentucky

Volunteers are involved in the lives of children in Appalachian communities in Tennessee and Kentucky, on a year round basis. A local school and local church are our contact points in each community. Gifts of aid are our tools.

The activities vary from one time of year to another but will involve the participant becoming part of an ongoing effort to minister to those in need. Participants deliver gifts and needed supplies, and build relationships over time, which allow opportunities to share the gospel and to strengthen church ministries in the area.

Ministry Contact:
Tennessee Contact: Cindy Cruze, email us, 579-6019
Kentucky Contact: Kristye Raby, email us, 687-5163

A Hand Up for Women

This ministry exists to help unemployed or under-employed women acquire the skills needed for life and full employment.

Volunteers provide materials, training or mentoring to women who are taking their place in the working world. In many cases interview skills, proper dress and background for employment are lacking, and volunteers help to provide them. Along the way, relationships are built that allow the volunteer to share more of life than job skills, and to see the life changing effects of this Christian ministry.

Ministry Contact: Eva Pierce, 219-0104, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Hope Resource Center

The Hope Resource Center provides unconditional love and practical help to people, leading them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They also:

Ministry Contact: Linda Quesenberry, 525-HOPE, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or contact the main office at 544-7776, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sevier Heights Benevolence Ministry

This committee is responsible for addressing the benevolence needs that come to the attention of Sevier Heights Baptist Church. The work is under the direction of the Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care.

Ministry Contact: Charlie McNutt, Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care, 577-4222, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

SHBC Homebound Ministry

Individuals in this group maintain contact with and minister to our homebound members and others in need of assistance, especially with regard to limited mobility or transportation.

Ministry Contact: Charlie McNutt, Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care, 577-4222, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mentoring

Members of the church have begun to connect with others as mentors, whether the others are young children, high school students, young parents or adults attempting to make changes in their lives. There is typically some training available for involvement in these roles, and the locations in which the opportunities are provided are all through the community. Examples include the Mooreland Heights Elementary School, Montgomery Village Baptist Center, Soar Youth Ministries, Wesley House Community Center, Mothers of Preschoolers, A Hand Up for Women, Knox Area Rescue Ministries, and the Good Samaritan Network. Time commitments are varied, and often customizable.

Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for information about specific ministries or mentoring opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life.

Softball Evangelism

A team of men who like to play softball and love God, practice softball and play in our church league. They also travel to prisons in the southeastern United States to play inmates and share the story of Christ with them. In a typical year, there will be nine or ten trip opportunities, and 400-500 prisoners who indicate they are accepting of God’s love and planning to reorient their life around Christ.

Contact Carl Smith at 865-577-4222 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Disaster Relief

Volunteer Disaster Relief teams are usually formed under the direction of the International Red Cross and/or the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Volunteers need to be available for occasional call up, which may be to local or remote locations.

Must be trained by the American Red Cross and the Tennessee Baptist Convention programs before participation.

Ministry Contact: John Jarrard, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 865-546-8546

Truckstop Ministries Chapel

The truck stop chapel at Petro Travel Center on Watt Road at the I-40 369 exit is one of 68 locations as part of Truckstop Ministries, Inc. located in Jackson, GA.

Ministry Contacts:
Bill Irving, Chaplain Team Leader (I-40 Strawberry Plains exit), 546-8546, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Steve Johnston, Chaplain Team Leader (I-40 Watt Road exit), 691-7768

Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach (KICKO)

KICKO is “committed to transforming our inner city by equipping and empowering its children to realize their full potential and discover their God given destiny.” The center piece of their ministry is Sidewalk SONday School, which takes place in various locations on weekday afternoons, with a weekly attendance of 500-600 children.

Ministry Contact: Bill and Janice Clark, 523-4956, www.kicko.org

Operation Backyard

Operation Backyard is a minor home repair program providing repairs for individuals that cannot afford them. Youth groups have the opportunity to paint, roof houses, build handicap ramps, etc.

This is a week long local mission trip or can be a weekend project. With the summer camp program, the group stays at an inner city church, works during the day, and worship opportunities are provided at night. SHBC middle and high school students are attending Operation Backyard Summer Camp this year and adult volunteers are needed to supervise and train the students.

Ministry Contact: Dan Myers, Knoxville Leadership Foundation, 524-2774 extension114, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

This ministry opportunity is directed by Knoxville Leadership Foundation.

Cruizers for Christ

Cruizers for Christ is a group for those who have an interest in motorcycles, hot rods and classic cars. The group will organize cruise-ins and service projects in the community, as well as connect participants to Worship, Bible Fellowship and Small Groups. If you are an automobile or motorcycle enthusiast, we would like to hear from you.

Check out our Facebook Group, Cruizers for Christ. Or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Mooreland Heights Elementary School

Volunteers are involved in the lives of children in the community of which our church is a part. Personal time spent with those children builds relationships and changes the perception of the church in its community.

Involvement can vary from helping in a classroom to one-on-one mentoring of an individual student. Reading to children, or listening to them read is often desired for personalized attention that a teacher has a limited ability to give.