At the annual National Association of United Methodist Foundations (NAUMF) meeting, I had the privilege of hearing Rev. Mike Slaughter speak, and his message landed with the force of truth.

Rev. Slaughter’s point was clear, “Jesus never said, Worship me. He said, Follow me.”

 Jesus didn’t call us to build shrines or sing songs about Him; He called us to do the things He did:

• Serve the poor
• Heal the sick
• Feed the hungry
• Welcome the stranger
• Stand up for the oppressed
• Help refugees find housing
• Fix bicycles

I admit they didn’t have bicycles 2,000 years ago. But if they did, I like to think the disciples would have taken over a corner of the temple to collect donated bikes, teach people how to repair them, and give the fixed ones to anyone who needed a way to get around.

Maybe the first Christians would also …

• Build low income housing
• Drive the sick to their doctor appointments
• Visit those who are lonely or homebound
• Offer respite care for caregivers
• Prepare meals for families in crisis
• Provide transportation for seniors or those with disabilities
• Create community gardens to share fresh produce
• Host neighborhood dinners or potlucks for connection
• Offer free tutoring or homework help for kids
• Start after-school arts or sports programs
• Organize neighborhood cleanup or beautification days
• Provide free or low-cost childcare for working parents
• Offer grief support or mental health discussion groups
• Organize wellness or recovery programs
• Create spaces for prayer, meditation, or healing circles
• Partner with clinics to provide blood pressure or health screenings
• Advocate for fair housing and living wages
• Support addiction recovery and re-entry programs
• Mentor formerly incarcerated individuals
• Promote voter registration and civic engagement
• Support local Native or Indigenous communities
• Plant trees or native gardens
• Install solar panels or improve energy efficiency
• Reduce plastic waste through reusable-container ministries
• Host recycling or electronics collection drives
• Host a “Serve Sunday” where worship happens through community service
• Offer training in compassionate listening and de-escalation
• Build partnerships with interfaith or secular service groups
• Sponsor mission trips (global AND local) focused on helping others with basic needs

The point is that churches need to transform their work from adoration to action.

How We Can Follow Jesus Together

Methodists Helping Methodists Foundation still has grant funds available for 2025, and we would love to see them put to work in ministries that follow Jesus, helping people and transforming communities.

Grants are available up to $3,500 (matching) for churches and ministries within our region who are doing, or dreaming of doing, faithful, hands-on work.

Ideas for grant projects include:

• Expanding food or clothing banks
• Supporting immigrant or refugee ministries
• Caring for the homeless
• Environmental or sustainability projects
• Accessibility improvements (hearing, seeing, mobility)
• Outreach to the community
• Any initiative that shows compassion in action

Whether you’re starting something new or growing what already works, we want to help you make it happen.

Deadline Extended to: November 15, 2025

Apply at: mhmfn.org/grants
Up to $3,500 per grant (matching funds)

It’s time to stop merely admiring Jesus and start imitating Him.
Let’s follow Jesus as we love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in our communities.

Kristi Kinnison
Executive Director
Methodists Helping Methodists Foundation