Missions Action

     Missions Action is involved in finding opportunities for church members to participate in specific missions projects.  All ages can participate in these exciting projects, even children.  Some Missions Action Projects are ongoing, such as ministering to young men at the Hanover Juvenile Correction Center.  Some projects are recurring, such as distributing backpacks to homeless men in Washington, D.C. each winter.  And some are one-time projects, such as being involved in an international mission trip.

     Click Here to Find out about current 2008 Mission Trip Opportunities.

     For information about International Mission Trips that the Student Ministry of Cool Spring has participated in, go to Student Missions.

     Below are listed some of the Mission Actions Projects that Cool Spring participates in.  Most of these fall into the general category of Community Missions, and in some cases, Urban Missions.  Where indicated, click on a Missions Ministry for more information:

• Hanover Juvenile Correction Center - Cool Spring members provide Bible study every Thursday night for teenage boys in a correctional setting.  Volunteers must be trained and approved by the center.  This ministry began over 35 years ago at Barrett JCC.  This is a seed planting ministry; however, we see lives changed and boys won to the Lord.
   
• C.A.R.I.T.A.S - Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter was organized to care for the homeless year round.  Each Spring, shelter is offered to homeless families for two weeks at Cool Spring.  This ministry began in 2002 and has offered refuge for infants to adults.  Volunteers are needed for Prayer, Meals, Overnight, Cleaning, Laundry, Nurturing, and Setup teams.  This ministry involves the entire church family.
   
• Disaster Relief Ministry - The Disaster Relief Ministry has been developed at Cool Spring to provide assistance to individuals and families in times of natural disasters, such as floods, fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.  There are periodic seminars locally in Disaster Relief Training.  Whether assisting in community disaster, supporting Virginia Baptist relief efforts, or supporting the North American Mission Board, we utilize all of the volunteers, resources, and equipment that we have available to assist those in distress.  Volunteers will receive training through the church, Red Cross and State Baptist Disaster Ministry.
  
  Responders are individuals or groups of individuals with specialized skills, abilities, knowledge or experience or with other particular resources such as commitment to prayer, financial giving, or simply an able body and willing heart who stand "on call" to offer themselves when Virginia Baptists' mission ministries have need of their gifts and talents.
   
• Church Hill Wellness Center - The Church Hill Christian Wellness Center is located in Mount Tabor Baptist Church and is a ministry of the Richmond Baptist Association.  The Wellness Center offers after school tutoring, adult Bible study, computer classes, fitness equipment, food, clothing, and health classes.  Individuals or groups can use their passions and fits for this urban ministry. If this is an area where you feel led to serve, please contact Wayne Smith.
   
• Essex Village - Essex Village is a local community project for underprivileged families, often consisting of single mothers with children. In partnership with the pastor of Essex Village Community Church, Cool Spring provides assistance to the residents of this Richmond Housing center.  This ministry supports a 24 hour child care as well as other ministries.  An annual Turkey Distribution for Thanksgiving provides hundreds of turkeys and groceries along with scriptures to those in need.  Sunday school classes from Cool Spring frequently "adopt" a family in Essex Village to help provide for their daily needs, as well as for special events, such as Christmas presents for children.  Click here for photos from the Essex Village 2006 Turkey Distribution.
   
• Richmond Homeless Ministry - Since 2003, the Middle School Youth have distributed donated backpacks, coats, hats, gloves, socks, personal grooming items, food items, and copies of the New Testament to homeless individuals living in the streets of Richmond in the month of December.  The Students use the opportunity to minister to the homeless as well.  Hundreds of backpacks have been distributed.
   
• Washington D.C. Homeless Ministry - The High School Students at Cool Spring have annually traveled to Washington D.C. in the month of December to distribute hundreds of donated backpacks, clothing items, food items, and copies of the New Testament to homeless individuals living on the streets.  This is an excellent opportunity for the Youth to minister to these individuals.
   
• Food Pantry - Cool Spring maintains a Food Pantry to assist those in need in our community.  Recipients come to the church to pick up the food which is collected through the Adult Bible Study classes and missions organizations.  The food is sorted and stored at the church and is distributed by the church staff on an as-needed basis.  Recipients complete a request form and may receive assistance once a month.
   
• Habitat for Humanity -  Cool Spring has been involved in Habitat for Humanity home construction on an ongoing basis. Habitat for Humanity International seeks to end poverty housing worldwide. Different churches come together in partnership with people in need to build simple, decent, healthy homes. They are then sold to partner families at no profit, through zero-interest loans. Cool Spring has helped Habitat for Humanity projects locally in different ways:
  • Providing volunteers to serve at the construction site and on committees.
  • Providing meals for construction workers.
  • Making financial contributions.
  • Providing part of the funding and labor to build the home.
  • Prayer for the Habitat ministry.
  • Volunteering for international projects.
     
• Gospel Jail Ministry - The Gospel Jail Ministry is a non-denominational, evangelical organization that provides pastoral care for inmates and staff regardless of race, religion, sex, handicap, criminal charge or sentence.  The ministry works to bring the good news of the Gospel to the inmates through personal contact, worship services, Bible study, family contact, follow-up and liaison help.
   
• Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions - M.C.E.F. -  Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Fund is a nonprofit organization developed by area churches to provide emergency assistance to families. Various churches house clothing, food, furniture, and other items when disaster strikes. Funds are also made available for temporary housing and other short term needs.
   
• Mission to Hanover - This ministry is involved in the winterization of homes Hanover County for underprivileged individuals or families.  A Cool Spring Sunday School class adopts one or more homes, evaluates the winterization or repair needs of the homes, and then proceeds to make repairs as a group effort.
   
• Needle's Eye - The Needle's Eye Ministry serves as a spiritual connection between marketplace people and matters of faith. As such, it is not a church or a membership organization.  Needle's Eye's mission is simple. “Connecting business and professional men and women to life-changing faith in Jesus – encouraging them to impact our community with His values, ethics and love”.
   
• Refugee Ministry - Each year hundreds of people come to Richmond from other countries a refugees.  In 2001, six Sudanese young men came to Richmond to find a new home.  These young men were "adopted" by our church and assisted with their adjustment to life in America.  Two of them joined Cool Spring.  Some received training in Pennsylvania and Iowa, while others remained in Richmond.  We assist with seasonal clothing, food, and training in the American way of life.
   
• Recreation Evangelism Ministry - This form of evangelism is growing worldwide and provides opportunities for short term volunteers to teach American sports and share Jesus.  Volunteer teams are needed to travel overseas to share in this unique ministry.
   
• New Vision Ministry - Used eyeglasses are collected at church to send to missionaries overseas to provide sight to individuals with no eye care.  Our members clean, adjust, and read the prescription to aid the missionary doctors in dispensing the glasses.  Volunteers are needed to organize the collection and to prepare and send the glasses to the missionaries.

     For more information about missions at Cool Spring, or for opportunities of service in missions, contact Wayne Smith, who is the Minister of Discipleship and Missions.

Updated 2/13/08