Outreach and Missions

Sharing God's Grace Through Open Hearts and Hands

God calls us to "Go out and serve". One way to do this is through missions. First Church Round Rock seeks to minister to the needs of its growing community and to participate in the worldwide missions of the United Methodist Church. At First Church our missions are as varied as our membership. Some of our missional outreach programs include the the Disaster Response Team (DRT), Church Under the Bridge (CUB) and collaboration with many local organizations such as the Round Rock Serving Center and Habitat for Humanity.

Outreach Leadership Group

In February 2006, the Church Council of First Church adopted a new model of leadership for our congregation. This model is known as the N.O.W. Lay Organization. The N.O.W. model involves three strategic leadership groups that have the authority and responsibility to oversee the three main programatic ministry areas of the congregation: Nurture, Outreach, and Witness.

The Outreach Leadership Group's mission is to continuously reach out our hands to extend the loving care of God into the world. This group of seven leaders, including the group's chairperson, will evaluate the current outreach programs as well as identify opportunities for new programs of outreach. The group will be the key decision making body related to the Outreach ministries of First Church.

During this first year of existence, the Outreach Leadership Group will primarily be assessing the effectiveness of First Church's Outreach and mission ministry programs. The group will be expected to offer plans to strengthen and support ministries that are effective and performing well. The group also should identify ministries where improvements are needed and opportunities for First Church to meet unmet needs in the area of Outreach.

The Outreach Leadership Group will be comprised of seven members who are identified and nominated for service by the Committee on Lay Leadership and appointed by the Church Council. The members will serve staggered three-year terms. (Initially, there will be several members who will serve one or two year terms.) The term of the chair is not tied to a specific period of time, rather the chair will be selected by the Committe on Lay Leadership and serve until such time as the chair resigns or a new chair is selected by the Committee on Lay Leadership.

How to Get Involved

Leadership Roles
Has God called you for service in leadership in the outreach and mission ministries of First Church? If you would like to be considered for appointment to the Outreach Leadership Group, please contact Rich Lautzenheiser, Chairman of the Church Council, at 512-695-1664 or rlautzenheiser@austin.rr.com.

Non-Leadership Roles
Perhaps God has called you to serve in the hands on activities of mission and outreach. There are many different roles to play in this area of ministry. Some opportunities involve on-going committments, while others are short-term, one-time opportunities such as mission trips. To discuss how your talents and experience can be best utilized for meaningful and effective service, please contact Laura Naiser, Director of Discipling Ministries, at 512-255-3336, ext. 116 or via e-mail at laura@fumc-rr.org.