Ministries and Outreach
As a church family, we share the journey of discipleship together, but we have many diversified interests and ministries. We share the work of the church, and we minister to each other as we strive to fulfill the Great Commission. We put our faith into action when we serve each other, and serve the wider community. Here are some examples and descriptions of UCC ministries.
Children’s Ministry
Children's Ministry
The children’s ministry at UCC consists of nearly sixty families with one hundred and twenty plus children from birth through the 6th grade. We are a highly parent-involved ministry, with more than 65% of our parents directly involved in teaching or leading ministry events. The following is a list of various activities that took place in our children’s ministry, as well as family events, throughout the year 2010.
Weekly or Quarterly Ministry Events
- L.O.G.’s (Lambs of God)
This is a 5th-6th grade “youth group” composed of middle school children and led by parents. The group attends youth rallies, have weekly devotionals, participate in service projects and mission activities, and are actively involved in LTC. - LTC (Leadership Training for Christ)
LTC is a widely known Church of Christ program for students in grades 3 – 12. Each year several of our children participate in leadership activities and are involved in team events at the yearly convention (puppets, drama, Bible Bowl, etc.) Teams are led by parents and other adult volunteers in the congregation. - Children’s Church (3 Year Olds Through 6th Grade)
Each Sunday this group meets during part of the worship service to sing, hear a Bible lesson, and draw personal applications to their lives. - M n M’S (Mom’s Need Mondays)
M n M’s is a weekly summer event during which parents can drop off their K – 4th graders at the building for the afternoon. This event is led by the junior high students, youth interns, and the children’s minister. - Wednesday Night Mini Series Event
This is a four-week program for K-6th graders in the auditorium. In the fall, the theme was WWJD and the evenings were spent in small group discussion, watching puppet skits, hearing God’s word, and worshipping together. In the spring, the theme was Treasure Island and was a six-week program. The kids learned to search the scriptures for “treasures,” and followed the “map” God gave us which is His word. This was led by the children’s minister and the youth group. - Bible Class
Nursery though preschool ages are provided a Bible class on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights, as well as K-6th grade (except when involved with Mini Series Event).
Yearly Family Events
- Fall Shindig
Church-wide chili supper and hayride with entertainment for all ages. - Trunk or Treat
Gluten free/dairy free event open to the city of Conway. This is an outreach to not only those with gluten allergies but also a large number of autistic children and other children with special needs. - Back to School Bash
A Wednesday evening service just before school starts in August during which the elders pray over different groups of children and teachers, blessing them as they begin another school year. - Promotion Sunday
An annual celebration in May of each child graduating to the next grade. -
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Our biggest event of the year! We usually double our number of children when we add those who attend from the community. - Breakfast with Santa
Santa is available for pictures and breakfast. This event is led by adult volunteers from the congregation. - Christmas Presentation
A Christmas musical presented by K – 6th grade children and led by adult volunteers. - Parents’ Night Out
A Friday night out for parents during which they can bring their children ages birth – 6th grade to the building for free child care. This is led by children’s minister, youth minister, and the youth group.
Fall Shindig
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry
The youth ministry group is composed of about 30 teens in grades 7-12. Their goal is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The group is currently working through Scot McKnight’s book, Jesus Creed, and studying what it means to love God and love our neighbors. Such studies are put into practice through the following activities:
- Annual Mission Trips
These include trips to locations such as Houston Impact, Fortress Youth Development Center, New Orleans, Mississippi Katrina Relief, Children’s Homes, etc. - Apartment Ministry
This has been an ongoing project for the past seven summers at the South Donaghey Apartments in Conway, which houses a predominately Hispanic population. The youth meet weekly with the children there playing games, providing snacks, and teaching them Bible stories. - Retreats/Youth Rallies/Getaways
The group regularly participates in: area wide friends’ retreats with local churches, an annual family retreat, and several youth rallies, getaways, and leadership trips throughout the year. - Miscellaneous Yearly Activities
The group participates in various service projects, small group ministries, Bible studies, and social events.
Adult Ministry
Men's Prayer Breakfast
The adult ministry at UCC focuses on spiritually equipping adult members to actively embrace the vision of UCC. Adult ministry activities include:
- Sunday Morning Bible Classes
- Sunday Night House Churches
Small group clusters that meet at various homes throughout Conway. These are produced to bring people closer to God and each other through spiritual engagement, prayer, and fellowship in a more intimate setting. - Wednesday Night Activities
- Men’s Prayer Breakfasts – Men’s ministry events that occur on the first Saturday of every month at the church. Men of all ages gather at the church to enjoy breakfast, fellowship, and prayer.
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Home and Heart
Home and Heart – Women’s ministry events that occur on Tuesday evenings in June and December and are hosted in the home of a member. The events offer food and fellowship with focus on practical home application activities (Home) and spiritual guidance activities (Heart). - Bethlehem House Food Pantry – As part of our local outreach, UCC collects food for Bethlehem House, which serves the homeless in the community.
Foreign Mission Ministry
University Church of Christ is dedicated to missions. Approximately 16% of our dedicated budget goes to missions. This does not include earmarked and special contributions outside of budgeted finances. Our mission team includes a variety of church members and leaders actively engaged in mission efforts in all of the following countries:
- Russia – supporting missionaries Vladimir and Muza Vakrushev
- Dominican Republic – supporting missionary Julio Ozuna
- Haiti – supporting orphanage where Bill and Pam Keeler and Valdy and Bea Eichmann (current members of UCC) have worked in the past
- Madagascar – supporting missionary Romain Rakotomalala
- Dominican Republic Elementary School – partners with the church in Invivienda
Other Community Involvement Activities
- Conway’s Ministerial Alliance
This is a group of local ministers from various churches who meet regularly and are united in their desire to cross the boundaries of denominations to better serve our Lord Jesus Christ. - Interdenominational Pulpit Exchange
This is program implemented at various times (most recently during Wednesday evenings last summer) during which ministers from various churches speak at University while our minister speaks at their church. - Church Women United
This is a community program for women of local churches who meet regularly and are bound by their common love for Jesus and their desire to serve Him. They are involved in various activities such as the National Day of Prayer, and also recognize the efforts of Christian women volunteers. - Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS)
Mothers of Pre-Schoolers is a community group that meets monthly at UCC in order to provide encouragement and enrichment for young mothers. - Nursing Home Ministry
The UCC congregation has been involved for the past several years with Salem Place Nursing Home, providing a weekly worship and communion service for the patients there.