Missions Overview

The main Mission account at White Plains is called the Faith-Promise Account. This primary account, which receives financial gifts directly from the congregation, funds all of the Mission Program activities. Missions has two types of accounts: Restricted Accounts (which have their own individual account number and carry over from year to year) and Unrestricted Accounts (which don’t have individual account numbers and are simply a means to directly transfer funds to specific mission programs at the end of the year).

As a way to make the White Plains congregation aware of the many Mission Programs that we support, we have provided a short description of Mission activities funded through the Missions Work Area. Starting with the Restricted Accounts, the first account is:

International Mission Activities. Funds from this account support our international activities in Haiti, where we annually provide fertilizer and seed to a rural farming cooperative in Furci (Haiti) through the Mountains of Hope for Haiti Program, as well as our support of several Peruvian churches (through Pastor Edith), where we send work teams to help with Vacation Bible School, Christmas gifts for children, and various church infrastructure needs.

White Christmas. Funds from this account are used to support families in need from our church and from transitional housing programs (i.e., Carying Place). Christmas gifts are provided to these families by Sunday School Classes and the White Christmas program.

Food Pantry. This ministry provides foods (meat, bread, fresh produce, and more) in addition to baby supplies, books, and toys, to families in need on the 3rd Saturday of every month except January. We also offer prayers, local resource information, and announcements on church activities to our guests. Good Samaritan bags are prepared as part of this program for distribution to individuals in need. Diapers are paid for by the Mother/Baby Ministry. Children’s books and other non-food items are donated by the congregation.

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) rebuilds and repairs homes of families in need in rural Appalachia. During the summer, work teams are composed of youth and adults, whereas during the fall and spring adult work teams are used.

Kairos. Funds from this account are used for Prison Ministry. Teams of church members go into Central Prison for devotional and spiritual enrichment programs.

Baby Fund distributes diapers and wipes to families in need. Often, this activity is associated with the Food Pantry.

Welcoming Wellness is a mental health initiative with a goal of providing education and resources to caregivers, friends, and families of people suffering from mental health issues. We also endeavor to decrease stigma by building community and encouraging people to reach out for help when they need it. A video library, varied resources, and monthly presentations are available at WelcomingWellnessNC.com.

Emergency Relief provides funds for natural disaster relief, commonly through the United Methodist Church UMCOR program. In 2024, these funds were used to support the Appalachian Service Project relief efforts for recent floods in western North Carolina.

Refugee Support (CWS – Immigration Solidarity Fund) provides one-time financial assistance to residents of North Carolina who, due to their immigration status, may be ineligible for other public financial aid during an emergency or time of hardship.

Hands Engaged in Local Projects (HELP) is a program comprised of church volunteers who help repair homes for families in need. They also take on projects around the church (such as electrical, plumbing, audio/visual, or construction work).

Church on the Streets is a month-long program in which White Plains volunteers go out into local areas and help individuals, neighborhoods, or the city conduct activities that build community and understanding.

Tutoring (Seeds of Love and Harvest of Love). This program provides tutors and resources for children in Elementary School (Seeds of Love) and in Middle/High School (Harvest of Love). Tutoring occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a one-on-one student/tutor ratio. Support programs for parents occur while students are meeting with tutors.

Hispanic Mission Ministries. Funds from this account are used to support Mission activities associated with our Hispanic Ministries Program, such as family retreats to coastal North Carolina.

Apex Immigration Service provides a trusted source of immigration legal services that lead to citizenship and a better life for low-income immigrants and refugees. (Now a partner of Fiesta Family Services).

InterVarsity is a Christian Fellowship program at major Universities throughout the world. Funds from the Intervarsity account are used to support a Christian Fellowship Coordinator (in our case, David Williams at Oxford University), who creates Christian programs and fellowship opportunities for college students.

School Supply Kits. Funds from this program are used to purchase school supplies and backpacks for children and youth in need, usually when school starts in the fall. Sunday School Classes also are involved in raising funds for this important ministry.

Youth Mission Ministry funds are used to support Youth Mission activities, primarily through programs such Stop Hunger Now.

RiverCross uses a story-based format, anchored by world-class audio dramas, to engage, equip, and empower people so they can set vulnerable children free from trauma and free to thrive.

Impact Global Health Alliance (formerly Curamericas Global) partners with other organizations to deliver sustainable and measurable health improvement
programs to underserved communities around the world that lack basic health services.

One Wake is a group of dues paying churches, religious congregations, and other non- profits in the Wake County area that work together to identify key community problems (currently focused on affordable housing, mental health, and public transportation) and to involve our base communities to work toward solutions that create systemic change to achieve a common good.

Extra Blessings Toys. Funds from this account are used to purchase toys for families in need participating in the December/Christmas Food Pantry.

United Methodist Church Rainbow Covenant. This account supports a variety of Methodist programs at the individual (i.e., missionary), the conference (in our case the White Plains Children’s Center), and the national levels.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is a Global Ministries, humanitarian organization that helps alleviate human suffering. Missions gave $1000 to UMCOR for Western North Carolina relief. Individual families in our congregation also give often to UMCOR directly.