Visitation
Spending time with shut-ins or nursing home residents is a special way to share the love of God with church members who may not be able to regularly attend worship.
Serve
There are many ways to Serve Joyously at First Church.
Scroll through this page to read about all our opportunities for service. If you are not sure what might be a fit for you, reach out to firstchurch@vanwertfirst.net.
Children
Children’s Ministry (Birth – 5th grade)
Contact Cristi Laukhuf at cristi.laukhuf@vanwertfirst.net for more information about any of these service opportunities to share the love of God with children. Because First Church is a Safe Sanctuary, a background check will be required for all volunteer activities working with children.
Sunday School Teachers
Pour God’s love into the lives of our children in small and large group settings using a scripted and prepared lesson plan. Volunteers are in teams of two and you serve monthly.
Christmas Musical
Assist with the Christmas musical. Opportunities exist to help with lines, learning music, building sets, costumes, etc.
Vacation Bible School
Help is always welcome for our annual VBS program. Opportunities abound in preplanning, leading crews, leading stations, set design, tech, kitchen help, and more.
Middle School & High School Youth
Youth Group Volunteers
Adults who enjoy interacting with middle and high school aged young adults would be welcome to help with youth activities.. Volunteers could help regularly or just for special events with things such as driving.
Sunday School Teachers
Teaching Sunday school for our youth is a great way to build a relationship with them and share your love of God’s word. Curriculum is provided and flexible. Teach for a month at a time or the whole year.
Small Group Leaders
Young adults are starving for deeper connection and relationships. Start a small group or bible study that meets at a time convenient for you.
Cougar Huddle Tailgates
The Cougar Huddle Tailgates are held before home Van Wert football games for middle school and high school youth. Games and food are provided in Fountain Park. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies, set-up and tear-down games, and serve food. Contact Mike and Christy Wortman to volunteer.
H2O (Hope to Others) Mentoring Program
Mentor an at-risk youth and have an opportunity to change a life. Mentors will be trained and meet with students weekly at Van Wert Middle or High School. Contact Teresa Shaffer. teresa.shaffer@vanwertfirst.net
Graduates to Grown Ups
A program developed in 2018, graduates of high school to 25 years of age are paired with an adult within the church. Care packages, cards and encouraging texts are just a few ways to show First Church cares and wants to keep them connected.
Missions
Operation Back to School
Started in 2015, Operation Back to School is our largest outreach event. Last year over 800 students from Van Wert county were provided with school supplies, hygiene items, fresh produce and much more. Volunteers are needed to be on the planning committee, help with school supply purchasing, packing school supplies, helping the day of the event, helping organize registrations, doing publicity, cooking and serving food, inventory of supplies and much more. There is a job for everyone! Contact Teresa Shaffer. teresa.shaffer@vanwertfirst.net
Festival of Sharing
Each fall First Church participates in Church World Service’s Festival of Sharing. Church members are encouraged to make various kits (hygiene kits, period packs, school kits, and disaster clean-up buckets) which are then sent to Church World Service to be distributed to those in need. Contact Ruth Ann Covey to help.
Food Pantry
First Church is the home to the Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry. Volunteers are needed to help on food pantry days with patron check in and shopping, with inventory and re-stocking of shelves, with unloading trucks on delivery days. Contact Becky Wells for more information.
Project 216
Each October, First Church and community members join to pack in excess of 28,000 meals in 2 hours for Project 216. Project 216 is a Fort Wayne, IN based food relief organization. The meals that are packed are nutritionally balanced rice-based meals that feed a family of 6. They are used here in the US and abroad. Meals we pack are generally sent to Mission of Hope, which is a mission that we support.
Isaiah 58
The Isaiah 58 project buys new clothes, shoes and hygiene items for students in need at Van Wert County schools. The purpose of the project is to show students that they are loved and that they are worthy of love, to meet basic needs of students, and to take the burden off the school.
Bread and Bowl
First Church hosts Bread and Bowl, a free meal on Friday nights. Open to anyone, these meals offer a chance for fellowship and a warm meal to any who might need it. Volunteers are needed a couple times a year to cook and serve the meal. This is a ministry with other area churches and companies.
Pregnancy Life Center Walk and Baby Shower
The local Pregnancy Life Center holds a walk each year to raise money for their programming. FUMC is a sponsor of the walk and we encourage members to participate and fundraise.
We also hold a baby shower for PLC each year where church members can donate items needed by expectant mothers.
Trunk or Treat
In coordination with the downtown Van Wert trick or treat the Saturday before Halloween, First Church hosts a Trunk or Treat. Volunteers are needed to host a decorated trunk and hand out candy, and to serve food. Donations of food, candy and drinks are also needed. Contact Jill Smelser for more information.
Angel Tree
A project of the Sarah Soul Friends women’s group, Angel Tree is an outreach ministry in December where children’s names are chosen from a tree and Christmas gifts are purchased for those children. This outreach serves children of prisoners as well as area disadvantaged families.
Thanksgiving Blessings
First Church coordinates the purchase of turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving meals for families in need (many from the Van Wert School at the Goedde). Volunteers are needed to shop, pack and distribute the meals. Contact Deb Moser to volunteer.
Mission Trips
Mission trips are scheduled each year. In 2024 there is a Hope for Her mission trip to the Dominican Republic for women in the church. Trip dates are October 2-9. Contact Teresa Shaffer for more information.
First Church also participates each year in Ignite, which is a local mission trip sponsored by Community Relief. Participants work in Van Wert county on projects for local homeowners. Visit communityrelief.net to learn more or sign up.
Small Group Mission Projects
Many of the small groups at First Church have regular projects that they have adopted and do as a group. To find the group that is right for you, call the church office at 419-238-0631.
Shoe Drive
Donate your gently used or new shoes. These shoes are given to families in 3rd world countries so they can start a micro-enterprise business to support their family. The First Church youth program receives a small donation for each pound of shoes collected which goes to mission trips. Shoes can be dropped in the bin by the church office.
Box City Event
Box City is a community outreach to raise awareness about homelessness. Youth spend the night in the park and there are speakers, food and events to educate about the homeless crisis. Proceeds from any donations are given to Haven of Hope.
Partner Missionaries
First Church partners with several missions with financial donations. They include:
- Mission of Hope
- Pregnancy Life Center
- Crestview and Lincolnview Bible Boards and LifeWise (school bible release programs)
- Boaz Project, Maggie Cripe
- Haven of Hope
Hospitality and Worship
Service Worship Team
Ways to service during worship include reading scripture, reading announcements, or delivering the Chat with the Children. Connect with kids during the service hour through our Alternate Worship Experience (AWE), where volunteers are needed to share a prepared mini lesson.
Those with musical gifts can sing, ring or play during worship. The Chancel Choir sings from September to May. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM. Our Praise Band leads worship every Sunday. Read more about our Music Ministries.
Greeters
Greeters are needed before and after both services to welcome people to First Church.
Audio Visual Team
Volunteers are needed to assist with the sound board and audio visual equipment during the worship services.
Communion
Monthly, help prepare the communion elements.
Liturgical Arts Committee
This committee keeps our sanctuary decorated according to the seasons of the church calendar.
Operations
Office Assistance
Assist in the office with mailings, proofreading and whatever else needs done. Contact firstchurch@vanwertfirst.net to volunteer.
Building Maintenance
We have fantastic custodial staff, but they could use assistance with big projects at times. Help with things like painting, cleaning, snow removal, work at the parsonage, upkeep of the shrubs and plants outside.
Committees
The business of running a church could not happen without committees. Committee members are nominated by the Leadership Development Team. If you have an interest in serving on a committee, speak with Pastor Christian or another member of the staff.
Administrative Board
The administrative board is made up of the Chairs of all Church committees as well as several members at large. The administrative board has the highest level of governing authority over the local church.
Finance Team
The finance team oversees the finances of the church including budgeting.
Trustees
The trustees handle all matters related to the property owned by First Church including the building, the parsonage and trust property and investments.
Staff Parish Relations Committee
This committee acts as the human resources department of the church. They perform employee reviews, deal with hiring new staff and any other employee related functions.
Mission Committee
The mission committee actively supports First Church mission projects, provides direction and structure to mission projects and allocates the mission budget.
Preschool Board
First Church has a fully licensed preschool in our building. The preschool board oversees the running of the preschool and provides support to the preschool administrator. The preschool is a major outreach of the church as the majority of students who attend the preschool are not members of our church.
Cards
Send an encouraging word or let someone know their church family is thinking of them.
Prayer Team
The prayer team meets Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. and is welcome to any who would like to join in to pray for the church and the many needs of the church, the community and the world.
Stephen Ministers
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers – called Stephen Ministers – to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.
First Church is a Stephen Ministries congregation. Contact Jana Thompson for more information.
Cooking and Baking
If you enjoy cooking, volunteer to prepare meals as needed for families who are struggling through a hard time, had a new baby, after surgery, etc.
If baking is your thing, there are many opportunities to provide baked goods to First Church events. Our Wednesday night FEAST needs desserts every week. Our Women’s Ministry team does a bake sale two times a year.
Wednesday night FEAST is a low-cost, home-cooked meal that is prepared Wednesday nights during the school year. Help is always needed cooking, serving and cleaning up.
Funeral meals are another way you can help if you enjoy cooking. The Women’s Ministry team leads this important care ministry.