Serving Columbia – Jesus taught a lifestyle of service. As his followers, we embrace and celebrate that lifestyle. Whether rebuilding homes in our neighborhood, feeding the hungry, or serving the poor, we actively work to spread the love of Jesus to our neighbors. We organize service projects for all ages and throughout the year. Making blankets for children in need, feeding the hungry through the Food Pantry, and cleaning up yards in the summer are just a few of the options for how you can plug into serving Columbia with us.
The Fairview Food Pantry opened its doors in November of 2009 with plans to share food with 5-7 hungry families brought to us by the Voluntaray Action Center. Now we are assisting as many as 15 families each month. The Pantry is stocked and operated by members of the church. November 2011, marked the second anniversay of the Food Pantry. We are now assisting 15-18 families each month with nonperishable food items and personal care items for members of these families both young and old.
Each January, our K-5th grade youth participate in Project Linus. Project Linus is a national organization with chapters in all 50 states that provides handmade blankets to local children who are ill, traumatized, or in need. Over recent years, our youth have donated more than 150 blankets to local children.
Extreme Home Makeover Fairview Road Edition is the Fairview Road Church of Christ expressing the radical love of Jesus by transforming the home of a family that needs help! In a four day marathon, Fairview Road spearheads the rehab of a home. This included not only an extensive makeover of the home, but also the landscaping.
In 2017, we were blessed with the opportunity to partner with In2Action – an organization serving men recently released from prison – to fix-up one of their group homes.
Join Us At The Plate is a weekly ministry done on Wednesday evenings in June and August. We meet as a church family for a meal at 6:15 pm, have a brief time of worship, and at 7pm participate in one of several different ministries: visit, do a group community service project, write cards, join the prayer group, are some of the options available. Service projects have included work at the Ronald McDonald House, yard work for seniors in partnership with the Boone County Council on Aging, and helping college students move into their dorms. Volunteers also prepare the meal, provide for set-up, and clean-up.
St. Frances House
St. Francis House is a home for homeless men in Columbia which that offers shelter, food, hospice care when needed, and a non-judgmental atmosphere. Approximately 50-75% of the guests suffer from alcoholism or mental illness.
Two Sundays each month Fairview Road provides hot meals for homeless men in Columbia at the St. Frances House.
Warm Up Columbia
During summer months, Fairview collects warm coats, blankets, bath towels, winter hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for the Voluntary Action Center’s Warm Up Columbia program. The goal of this program is to help low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals in Columbia stay warm during the winter.
VAC Christmas
Each December, Fairview Road adopts families through the Voluntary Action Council Christmas program. This is an excellent time to get into the Christmas spirit and give back to our community. These families are in need of gifts for the adults and children (clothes and toys). Additionally, we typically provide food for a Christmas meal and needed household items.