As a part of Grace Avenue Mission to “eradicate homelessness in whatever form it presents itself” we believe the everyone needs and emotional home. Our experience teaches us that loved people love and hurt people hurt. When people have an emotional home, they thrive in their sense of well-being and vocation.   The Care and Support Ministries at Grace Avenue are designed to create a sense of emotional home for all.

“In loving and appreciating our neighbor, we’re participating in something sacred.”   –Fred Rogers
Care  Ministries at Grace Avenue is comprised of members living out our call to love our neighbors during life’s difficult times.  We do this by offering to join with and serve both those in our congregation and the community at large through prayer, meals, transportation, connection, conversation and worship. 

Please email [email protected] if you would like more information on volunteering with these ministries or if you or someone you know is in need of care.

Care Partners: Serve through committed presence at a Sunday worship service each month where you welcome members and/or visitors who are in need of prayer or a listening ear.

Prayer Partners: Serve through weekly commitment to praying over all prayer requests presented to the church for those in need.

Visitation Partners: Serve through visiting members of our community who are in long term care or homebound. (This includes Prairie Estates)

Meal Partners: Serve through helping in cooking and/or delivering meals to those in need.

Worship Partners: Serve through assisting a minister in taking elements of worship to those unable to attend services on campus.

Transportation Partners: Serve through providing a ride to those with the ability and desire to attend a service but who are unable to drive themselves.

Prayer Shawl Partners: Serve through making blessing blankets and other items of comfort. Read more about the Prayer Shawl Ministry HERE.

Hospitality Partners: Serve through assisting with all church meals as well as providing comfort in times of grief for families who have lost a loved one by helping with luncheons following funeral services.

Grace Avenue offerers a variety of support ministries to help those working toward emotional health. Some programs are operated through partner organization and others are exclusively via Grace Avenue staff and volunteers.

Journey of Hope (MORE INFO)
2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 5:00pm
Grace Avenue hosts grief group support sessions from Journey of Hope to children, adolescents, and their parents or adult caregivers who have lost a loved one to death. Find more information at www.jogriefsupport.org or cantata Lauren Dugger at [email protected] or 214/693/1177 for more information.

Paths to Healing (MORE INFO)
Meets Mondays at 7:00pm
Paths to Healing is a women’s support and care group where participants will examine their life issues and relationship challenges and discover how to choose new, healthier paths for themselves. Together you will practice authenticity, vulnerability and journey towards emotional health through self-compassion, self-care, increased awareness and healthy boundaries. Contact Jen Bradt at [email protected] for more information.

LINK Special Needs Ministry (MORE INFO)
Every Saturday at 5:30pm (During worship)
LINK stands for “Learning, Including, and Nurturing with Kindness” and consists of programs and activities for special needs children while offering their parents a time to attend worship. Contact Cindy Badon at [email protected] with questions.

Making Memories Respite Care Program (MORE INFO)
2nd & 4th Mondays from 10:00am-2:00pm
Making Memories is a free “day out” program for those suffering with the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Caregivers are welcome to stay, but we exist to provide this time as a period of rest from the demands of care-giving. Contact Lauren Pate a [email protected] or 713/557.0258 for more information.

Relay for Life
Each Year in May Relay for Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It brings communities together to remember loved ones lost, honor survivors of all cancers, and raise money to fund research and make a global impact on cancer. Each year Grace Avenue sponsors a team. Email Tricia Fay at [email protected] to find out all of the ways you can become involved with Relay for Life.

NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness
Contact Yvonne Broach at [email protected] with questions about NAMI. 
NAMI Family-to-Family Class (More Info)
Thursday nights 6:00-8:30 in Room 219
Beginning Thursday, Sept 6, 2018  for 12 weeks
NAMI Family-to Family is a free, 12 class education program for family members of adults living with a mental health condition. In this program, family is viewed from a broad perspective to include parents, siblings, spouses, adult children, partners and significant others. The course is designed to help all family members understand and support their loved one living with a mental health condition while maintaining their own well-being. The course includes information on diagnoses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions. Thousands of families describe the program as life-changing. The program is taught by trained teachers who are also family members and know what it is like to have a loved one living with a mental health condition.

NAMI Family Meetings (More Info)
3rd Mondays from 7:00-8:30 in Room 218
These meetings are for adult caregivers, family members and friends of individuals diagnosed with mental illness.  Our Family Support Group is facilitated by NAMI-trained family members. 

Good Grief
First Sundays at 2:00pm
Meets in the Prayer Room
Good Grief is a share group that meets for support and study for persons who have experienced loss of any kind. All are welcome. The group is led by Joyce Cravens. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

We Love Caregivers
Third Sundays of the Month at 2:00pm
Meets in the Prayer Room
This is a share and study group for those who are filling a caregiver role for loved-ones with afflictions of all kinds. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Divorce Care
Scheduled Periodically
This is a study/support group that invites participants to begin the journey toward acceptance and hope in the midst of divorce. Contact [email protected] with questions or to find out when the next group starts.