Mission Efforts
Mobilizing the Whole Church to Serve
Our local church efforts are the ongoing and emerging mission work that involves the whole congregation. These efforts are about responding to immediate needs and dreaming together about what’s next.
New in 2026 – Dinner Church: Beginning next year, we will launch a new expression of outreach called Dinner Church. This will be a space where people from our community can gather around the table for a free, shared meal and then attend a specific meeting or gathering that meets their needs, such as A.A., a finance class, a parenting group, Grief Share, and more. As a church, we will provide food, childcare, and a welcoming space where God can use these gatherings to shape lives and offer hope to our neighbors.
New in 2026 – Bi-Annual Thrift Stores: Twice a year, we’ll transform part of our campus into a pop-up thrift store, offering affordable clothing and household goods while creating space to meet, serve, and care for families in our community. These events will not only provide tangible help but also create natural opportunities to share Christ’s love in word and action.
Disaster Relief: When hurricanes strike or local families are impacted by tragedy, our mission teams organize collections, send crews, and provide meals, cleaning supplies, and hope.
Serve Days: Several times a year, we organize church-wide service events. Our next event is May 31st, where a group will go to the USA Wesley Foundation to assist in building maintenance.
Mission Partners
Long-Term Relationships That Make a Difference
These are the ministries and organizations we support on an ongoing basis. They reflect our belief that mission is best lived out through committed, relational partnerships.
Family Promise of Baldwin County: Helping families experiencing homelessness find shelter and sustainable housing.
Kidz Eatz: Providing weekend meals for local children who experience food insecurity when school is not in session.
Baldwin Family Village: A supportive housing community that empowers women and children to transition out of homelessness.
USA Wesley Foundation: Supporting college students at the University of South Alabama as they grow in their faith and prepare to serve in the world.
Ronald McDonald House: Offering meals and comfort to families whose children are receiving medical care away from home.
Prodisee Pantry: Providing food assistance to families in crisis throughout Baldwin County—a ministry that has grown into a community-wide effort.
Mission Collections
Tangible Generosity for Local and Global Needs
Some of our most impactful mission work comes through the simple act of collecting and giving—a way for people of all ages to participate in compassion. These are often seasonal or event-based and provide direct support for very real and immediate needs.
March-April (Lent)—Costa Rica: Our Lenten collection will support the ministry in Costa Rica. We will once again ask for financial donations, but we will also have some tangible requests.
May-July—Flood Buckets: Throughout the summer, we will collect supplies and financial donations to assemble flood buckets. At the end of the summer, we will host a church-wide fellowship event where, in addition to other activities, we will assemble the buckets in preparation for hurricane season.
August-September – Families Experiencing Homelessness: During these months, we make special appeals for items needed at Baldwin Family Village and Family Promise.
October-November – Adults Experiencing Homelessness: With winter approaching, during these months, we make a special appeal for blankets, coats, and other items that adults experiencing homelessness need.
December – Embrace: Throughout December, we take up a collection for Embrace Alabama Kids.
Mission Trips
International Missions and Missionaries – The Global Reach of the Gospel
Spanish Fort UMC believes in going to the ends of the earth with the good news of Christ. Our international missions are built on relationships, not just projects, and we are proud to support:
- Ray and Lidia Zirkel – Costa Rica: The Zirkels lead ministries of community development and spiritual growth.
- Monica – South Asia: A long-time missionary, Monica serves in areas where Christianity is a minority faith.
- Costa Rica Mission Trips: We send annual teams to Costa Rica again, where we engage in construction, children’s ministry, and discipleship with local communities. These trips strengthen our partnerships and remind us that mission is a two-way street where we receive just as much as we give.
- Campus Ministries: Although they are not international, we also support college ministers who are in their own kind of mission field.
