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Sistersville Ministerial Association reports 2012 giving

By Staff | Dec 10, 2012

Many ministries are offered through area Christian churches working together in the Sistersville Area Ministerial Association. Together these congregations support a Food Pantry, utility and prescription assistance, as well as other emergency help such as lodging and transportation. Assistance is offered to anyone in need who resides in the Sistersville and Friendly area of Tyler County regardless of church affiliation.

The Pastors of the Sistersville Area Ministerial Association wish to thank the community for all of your prayers and financial support of our ministry together in the name of Jesus Christ!

FOOD PANTRY – Many thanks to First Baptist Church for housing the Ministerial Food Pantry. Food pick-up is on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. If you need food assistance contact any Pastor or the First Baptist Church by Tuesday to make arrangements for Wednesday pick-up. (See below for phone numbers.) In 2011, the Food Pantry fed more than 306 neighbors in need. We are still compiling the number of hungry neighbors who have received Food Pantry assistance this year. Thank you to all of our Volunteers and Food Donors! Your donations make it possible to offer this assistance to the many needy families in our community. Thanks to those who recently contributed to the Food Pantry including: First Baptist Church, Hope Fellowship Church and their Bingo Event, Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church and Cub Scout Pack 153.

Those living in the Paden City area can receive food assistance through St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church of Paden City. If you live in the Eastern half of Tyler County, please contact your local area churches or the Adams House Ministry in Middlebourne, which was established by the Middlebourne United Methodist Church.

Applications are currently available for the Christmas Dinner IGA Food Voucher program. Applications can be picked up at any of the Churches in the Sistersville Ministerial Association. The Deadline to apply is December 9th. Completed applications can be dropped off at the Tyler Star News Office or mailed to Sistersville Area Ministerial Association P.O. Box 64 Sistersville, WV 26175.

YEAR END REPORT – Rev. Colleen Griffith is the Treasurer for the Sistersville Area Ministerial Association. She wants the community to know how your contributions have been used in ministry to help our neighbors in need over the past year. From the first week of Dec. 2011 – Dec. 3, 2012 we have helped our neighbors in need with the following: Electric bills $650.00; Water bills $957.52; Gas (heating) bills $169.74; Prescription & Medical assistance $1,063.26; Transportation/ gas assistance $1,140.83; Housing/ Emergency Lodging $1,356.35; Food ministries (including 2011 Christmas Dinner IGA Vouchers, Easter Dinner IGA Vouchers, Thanks-giving Dinners, Food Pantry and emergency needs) $4,850.65; “Office”(PO Box rent, stamps, checks) $ 83.10 = Total of $10,271.45 in Assistance ministries for 2012! (2011’s total was $7,706.78.)

None of this would have been possible without the generous contributions of the community.

Rev. Griffith gives all glory to God. “As I have paid bills throughout this year, I am continually amazed at both the incredible need and amazing generosity in our community. Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.” Our Food Pantry continues to serve many hungry neighbors each month. We are currently receiving a lot of requests for utility assistance and help with gas to get to Medical appointments.

The requests for all types of assistance have increased greatly this year, God has always provided through the generosity of our community! It is truly a blessing. Whatever the needs are God provides! In the Spring of 2012, because of our community’s generosity, the Ministerial Association voted to increase our giving from $30 to $50 per need. We were able to help so many families in need. However, because more funds were being spent per family each month our Bank account is the lowest it has been in the two years I have served as Treasurer. If donations are not received, we will not have enough money to pay for the Christmas Dinner IGA Food Voucher program and help with utilities and emergency needs. We are receiving applications for the voucher program on faith that the funds will be donated.” explained Rev. Griffith.

Many thanks to all who have made financial donations to our community ministries. One Donation was received this past week from Carl and Judith Ash (Friendly,WV). Thank you!

Donations can be dropped off at the Tyler Star News office or mailed to Sistersville Area Ministerial Association P.O. Box 64 Sistersville, WV 26175

Sistersville Area Ministerial Association Participating Churches include:

Sistersville First United Methodist Church, 304-652-2794, Pastor- Rev. Bill Dawson.

First Presbyterian Church, 304-652-2634, Pastor Rev. Colleen Griffith.

First Baptist Church (Food Pantry), 304-652-2443, PastorPhil Richards

Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 304-652-1801,PastorRev. Dr. Patricia Geerdes.

Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church,304-652-6381, PastorFather Jim McCafferty.

Sistersville Church of the Nazarene, 304-652-2307.

First Christian Church,304-652-6804, Pastor Jim Willison, Sr.

Hope Fellowship Church, 304-652-6201, Pastor- Bill Williamson.

Friendly United Methodist Church, 304-684-2353, PastorRev. Gene Adkins.

The Sistersville Area Ministerial Association encourages you to worship at the church of your choice this week.

May God bless you and Merry Christmas!