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Mission Team

Mission Team

Called to provide opportunities for the congregation to serve and support human needs within our church, our community, and throughout the world by extending ourselves in service as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Focused on putting our faith into action by:

  1. Encouraging the congregation to extend ourselves in service to the community
  2. Helping to alleviate suffering locally and globally
  3. Serving and supporting efforts to seek justice, peace, and equity for others locally and globally.

FEATURED MISSION

At St. Andrew UCC, we have “a heart for missions”.
Every month, we celebrate a specific program, and we are engaged with a number of ministries year-round. 
Mission Project 180
Missions Project 180

Project 180 seeks to build community, not prisons.

Over 30,000 Florida prisoners are released annually and reenter our communities. Many wish to become law-abiding citizens and have the best intentions of living a conventional life, yet have few job skills, lack a formal education, and experience discrimination in housing and job markets because of their felony records.

As a result, they become our local statistics—the homeless, the unemployed, the undereducated, the impoverished. Unable to make it in the conventional world, over 76% are rearrested for a new crime within five years, which contributes to victimization and drains community resources.

Project 180 seeks to break this cycle by providing

  • Workforce education and financial literacy classes for inmates
  • Annual reentry lecture series for the general public
  • Information and referrals for felons seeking housing, programs, and employment
  • Comprehensive, whole-life Residential Program for men in recovery

ALSO Youth, a non-profit that supports LGBTQ+ youth and their allies – one monthly mission offering 

All Faiths’ Food Bank – two monthly mission offerings, ongoing collection of non-perishable food items

Family Promise/Francis House, a ministry to help prevent family homelessness – one monthly mission offering, ongoing collection of baby items and cleaning products, meals provided, Christmas gifts

Salvation Army Angel Tree program – Christmas gifts for underprivileged seniors

SPARCC, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center – one monthly mission offering, ongoing collection for the Treasure Chest, their thrift shop

Resurrection House, day services for Sarasota’s unhoused community – one monthly mission offering, annual sock drive

Selah Freedom, anti-human trafficking organization – Christmas gifts

Our national/international partners

Annually, we have fund drives for the following:

  • Christmas Fund (UCC)
  • CROP Hunger Walk (CWS)
  • Neighbors in Need (UCC)
  • One Great Hour of Sharing (UCC)
  • Strengthen the Church (UCC)