Missions & Outreach

At First UMC Cocoa Beach, we are called to serve our local community and larger world. The church does not exist for itself but to help people who are struggling by being the hands and feet of Jesus. While we support many different ministries at home and abroad, we focus on feeding hungry people through our community food pantry and in partnership with Family Promise of Brevard, and BRIGHT (formerly Brevard Justice Ministries). We also work with One Body Global Ministries to help the poor in Nicaragua, and Pastor Mark leads surfing mission trips to El Salvador. Finally, we support many of the national and international ministries of the United Methodist Church, including the the United Methodist Children's Home, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and various other programs in our connectional system.
 

First UMC Cocoa Beach offers a community food pantry the third Sunday of every month for those needing extra help to make ends meet. (The schedule is subject to change in months with holidays.) This ministry is supported by members of our congregation and generous partners in the community. 

Our church partners with Family Promise to help families experiencing housing instability. A core belief in this program is that every child deserves a home! First UMC Cocoa Beach supports Family Promise by providing meals to families supported through this organization. We typically serve 6-8 times per year. If you would like to help, please contact the church office and a ministry leader will reach out to you.

Brevard Righteously Igniting Good Hope Today

BRIGHT is a 501(c)3 community organization made up of seven member congregations across Brevard County. While our congregations differ in terms of theology, race, socio-economic status, and location, we are united in our Biblical call to do justice. Unlike direct service agencies or mercy ministries, BRIGHT does not work to address the immediate needs of individuals. Instead, BRIGHT is a direct action organization made up of justice ministries that work together to address the root cause of community problems by using the power of organized people to hold public leaders accountable for fair and just policy. Every year we work together to discern issues in our county, conduct extensive research, develop policy proposals, and work with elected officials to make improvements. Most recently we tackled 3rd grade reading achievement levels and issues around affordable housing.  For more information go to  www.brightbrevard.com.      

First UMC Cocoa Beach hosts mission trips to La Libertad, El Salvador, giving participants a chance to serve some of the most impoverished people in the area and surf some of the best waves in the world.  Partnering with local organizations like Hope House, groups share the love of God by purchasing and installing clean water filtration systems, offering medical services, delivering food, serving at a local orphanage, making repairs and improvements to public spaces and local homes, helping teach English skills, teaching surfing to kids as an alternative to street gangs, and supporting young adults who wish to attend college.    

One Body Global Ministries, Inc. (OBGM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization building community in Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, Central America by providing access to education, vocation, and health-oriented programs that engage the community and enable them to reach higher standards of living, independently. This is accomplished through their Partnership for Education & Vocation, located in the village of Madroñal and other adjacent communities where they provide:

Because they focus on long-term relationships, OBGM is often called upon to aid with medical, food and spiritual needs. It is through all these efforts as the Body of Christ that we are all connected.

You can help by donating online, volunteering or providing in-kind professional skills to support OBGM administratively or with a specific project.

General Donation Link: https://obgm.kindful.com
General Website: https://obgm.org
Email: info@obgm.org
Telephone: +1-267-269-8765

If you would like more information about getting involved in our next project, click the button below, send us a message, and someone will be in touch soon!