Local Ministries
Macon County Care Network (Carenet)
An ecumenical local charity, focusing on food insecurity in the community, this ministry serves daily meals, provides groceries for the needy, and serves hungry children with a “back-pack” of food every weekend (over 500/week). They run the Carenet Thrift Store at Macon Center. They give financial assistance for other necessities, such as prescriptions, utilities, fuel, and rent on an emergency basis.
Kid’s Place Child Advocacy Center
Kid’s Place is a ministry to children who have been abused and their families, through coordinated services in a child-friendly place. Kid’s Place was started in 1991, by Dr. Jenny Brown (a member of our congregation) along with members of Social Services, Law Enforcement, District Attorney’s Office, medical professionals, Child Therapists, and others.
Magnolia Mission
This local ministry provides support to foster, adoptive, and biological families in WNC. They provide supplies, transportation and respite care, with a focus on children in foster care and advocate for vulnerable children.
Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center
This is a local Christian crisis pregnancy care clinic, where clients receive pregnancy testing, obstetrical ultrasounds, medical consultations, peer counseling, parenting & life skills lessons, post-abortion support & healing, community referrals, new or expecting parent mentors and more. They also offer information about pregnancy, fetal development, lifestyle issues, adoption options and other pregnancy-related concerns. Dr. Don Dewhurst, an elder at Grace, is the medical director. His wife, Alice, was a founding Director.
Men’s Challenge of the Smokies
Men’s Challenge of the Smokies Men's Center is a residential program of faith-based addiction treatment for men ages 18-50. Check out the Teen Challenge of the Smokies Thrift Store.
Campus Outreach
Jackie and Nick Watkins, Western Carolina University
Campus Outreach is the only reformed Christian presence at Western Carolina University. Jackie and Nick are our missionaries to the university, bringing the Christian message to the students there.
Other Charitable Activities
Supported by special gifts or fund-raising, not generally from the church missions budget.
Operation Christmas Child
An arm of Samaritan’s Purse, headquartered in Boone, NC, this ministry provides gifts and necessities to needy children, especially in war-torn places in the world. Our children help pack many shoeboxes of supplies every fall to send to children at Christmas-time.
Magnolia Mission
Magnolia Mission provides support, supplies and encouragement to current and prospective foster, adoptive and birth families.
Benevolence Fund
This fund supports members and others in the community for many needs. Our Deacons are intent on ministering to our neighbors in Macon County, and choose to focus on needs that are generally not heartily supported by other churches or the community. We help our homeless or marginally-housed residents through WNCAP (Western North Carolina Aids Project) a local “harm reduction” clinic that primarily helps folks with Hepatitis, HIV, and addiction problems. This agency has become a resource for our unhoused neighbors, even if they do not have disease or addiction issues. We also work with “No Wrong Door”, a local support agency for persons who are transitioning from detention or treatment facilities. These folks are also often homeless and have tremendous barriers for success.
Youth Activities
We support periodic activities of our youth outside the regular ministry of Sunday School. We support Vacation Bible School, Summer Camps, special summer programs, events and outings to encourage our young people, and to create intergenerational bonding activities within our congregation and community. We provide opportunities for community service as well as scholarships for older youth to attend intensive training in Christian World Views through Summitt Ministries.
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