The monthly mission for December is Red Bird mission, a non-profit agency located in the Appalachian mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. The organization's mission is to empower individuals and advocate justice by providing spiritual, educational, health, and community outreach ministries to area low-income residents, under the guideance of Jesus Christ. Red Bird Mission is an institution in the Red Bird Missionary Conference related to the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.
The areas of ministry include education ( K-12 Christian School, residential dorms, early childhood development), health and wellness (medical and dental clinics and public health), community outreach (elderly and family ministries), economic opportunities (clothing and craft store), and community housing improvement (work camp, home repair, mission facilities). There are volunteer opportunities in each of these areas, as well as ways to support current missionaries.
History of the Mission - Submitted by Earle Harvey:
The Mission was founded in 1921 by the United Evangelical Church on a small piece of property at the confluence of Cow Fork and the Red Bird River in Bell County Kentucky. Under the leadership of Rev. John J. DeWall, Superintendent 1921-28, the school and church ministries were begun. Red Bird medical work began in 1922 and the first hospital opened in 1928. In 1946 the Evangelical Church united with the United Bretheren Churche forming the Evangelical United Bretheren Churches. Ministires to the community expanded during the first 40 years of operation to include a farm program, clothing ministries, and a Work Camp program. The hospital moved to the Queendale Campus in 1959.
In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Churches united with the Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church. The community outreach ministries have grown to be a significant part of the overall ministries in recent years. The clothing and craft ministries increased in scope after moving into the current facilities on Queendale Center. The craft program has grown in recent years through in-church craft fairs. The ministries to the elderly and families of the community flourished in the 1990's. The DeWall Senior Citizen Center started operations in 1991 and the Red Bird Elderly Housing apartments were opened in 1996. In 1997, new family health programs were begun. The Work Camp program has grown to over 2700 participants annually.
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