Reach
The St. Francis United Church is a joyful, caring community of Christians who unite to worship God, seeking to follow Him closely as we reach out in his name to all in the word and deed.
Here in the Western Cape of South Africa, there are many needy folk and so we reach out to them as we minister to their physical and material needs as well as their spiritual needs.
Our Members are involved with each of the following ministries and we invite you to join us in our work.
FOOD PARCELS
are delivered weekly to families whose bread-winner is unable to work either through sickness, disability or old age. These families are identified by the Care-givers of Masithandane who visit them regularly.
MASITHANDANE
www.masithandane.org is a welfare organisation ministering to folk who suffer from HIV/AIDS and TB as well as widows, orphans and the destitute. This organization was started and is still driven by one of our members who has the expertise, experience and drive necessary to co-ordinate this work. Under her leadership this has become a community project which has brought together under one umbrella most of the projects previously run by various churches and service organizations in the surrounding area.
Several of our members sit on the board.
Also through Masithandane we provide some of the necessary finance to train Care-givers thus giving them an opportunity to learn new skills which provide an income for themselves and their families. People living here who need a Care-giver can contact Masithandane who then place the care-givers in a job. All applicants for training are screened by our members and our Church Hall is regularly used for training purposes.
SLOW TOWN MOBILE MEALS
Slow Town Mobile Meals was begun by one of our members who saw a need for providing meals to those who are unable to cook or provide for themselves. These meals are cooked and packed at the kitchen of our Town Hall and distributed three days a week. This too has become a community project drawing in help from the other churches and service organization in the area.
SEDGEMEER PARK
http://www.discover-sedgefield-south-africa.com/sedgemeer-park.html
Our local residence for the elderly was started in the early 90s when one of our members, Mrs Elaine Watney, gave her home to be used as a residence for the elderly. Read about her in: About – Our Story. Several of our members are living there (although it is not restricted to church members) and others sit on the Board monitoring the welfare of all those living there.
ANCHUSA
A social program for the over 70s was also started by one of our members and meet weekly in our Hall. This is open to anyone living in Sedgefield and transport is provided for those unable to get to the Hall under their own steam.
TB CLINIC
We provide sandwiches twice a week at the TB Clinic where patients suffering from tuberculosis are given their medication. Tuberculosis is fairly common in the Western Cape of South Africa and to keep it under control the government provide medication free of charge to all who are suffering from this disease. However it is vitally important that the medication is taken regularly and with food. Therefore our Members undertake to provide protein rich sandwiches which the Sisters at the clinic give to the patients along with their medication. Members put their name on a roster in the Church Foyer if they wish to take part in this ministry.
CHILDRENS FEEDING SCHEME
This outreach project is run by one of our members along with help from several others in conjunction with Masithandane. We undertake to feed approximately 120-150 children daily. Protein rich cereal, sandwiches and soup (and often fruit) are prepared in home based kitchens in the communities of Smutsville, Fairview and Karatara and distributed to children in the poorer areas surrounding Sedgefield.
STUDENTS
Support is given to several Primary School pupils each year – Assisting them with School Fees, Uniforms etc.
LITERACY
Several teams visit local schools each week to assist with literacy classes for grades 1,2 3.
MINISTERS/MISSIONARIES
We contribute towards the stipend of a Methodist Minister and a Presbyterian Minister in the rural areas of the Cape. Support is also given through prayer and donations to three missionaries serving the Lord outside of South Africa.