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Exploring the meaning of Jesus’ treatment of the woman at the well during a Believe Again Bible Study session led one United Methodist to launch a ministry that can be used by any faith community to help those in need. “The session on the woman at the well changed the way I looked at scripture,” said the member of Calvary UMC on Pittsburgh's North Side. “It showed us that Christ wants to invite people to receive God’s love and salvation at the point of their most apparent need. As a community of faith, we have the opportunity to help with the needs of people wherever they are in their lives. We need to find ways to leave our churches and go out and do the same thing. ” The Bible Study, written by the Rev. Drew Harvey as the Conference’s plan for ministry was launched in 2006, contains scripture lessons geared to the plans goals and challenges congregations to apply them in their churches and communities.

“It was a life changing thing for me to work through it,” said the Calvary member, who prefers to remain anonymous. “It made me realize for the first time that scripture speaks to churches and what they should do. I always read scripture for how it applies to me personally.” As an active Calvary member, he was familiar with the UMCOR emergency kits United Methodists collect and send those suffering as the result of wars or natural disasters. But he was also aware of the needs of those living in poverty in the urban area. It hit him that kits similar to those collected for UMCOR could not only help to meet some of those needs, but also serve as a mechanism for churches to get involved in ministering outside their walls. The man, who didn't want to be identified, said he developed Impact as “a tool to make scripture come alive.” Ministering to poor and homeless is something Christians are called to do, he said. “Going to Calvary—I don’t think urban ministry can be done with just one church. No one church could ever handle all that. It takes a whole community of churches to make a difference in all these lives. When we work in unity we create an impact.” With homelessness on the rise due to the present state of our economy, he said, “it is increasingly important to focus our resources to alleviate conditions among our poor and underprivileged.” The Calvary member took his idea to shelters on the North Side of Pittsburgh, including Light of Life Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. He asked them what they needed. While many individuals donate used items to shelters with good intentions, much of what is received is not useable, he learned. For example, people give bedsheets and blankets for king or queen-sized beds. Shelter beds and cots are usually twin-sized. He developed a comprehensive list of what the shelters and some homeless people said they needed. “They really need hygiene items and underwear,” he said. “When I talked with those shelters they thought this was incredible. When people donate things, those working at the shelters or outreach agencies have to use their own resources to put kits together. They expend the energy and time of their people.” The IMPACT program includes a list of items that church or community groups can put together into various kits. They include: School supply kit, infant kit, adult learning kit bedding kit, blankets comforters and pillows, personal hygiene kit and underwear kits. Calvary serves as drop-off point for kits in the North Side area of Pittsburgh. Other urban congregations may choose to accept a similar role. “What we are trying to do is to give the suburban churches the opportunity to help in the innercity,” said the IMPACT founder. Impact can be adapted. A congregation, group of churches or other organization can learn specific needs from agencies such as Johnstown Human Services, Connellsville Community Ministries, or the Erie United Methodist Alliance. Information and tools to use the Impact program are available from Mission Vision, a non-denominational ministry that provides free eye exams and glasses to the needy. Call 724-772-5640 or e-mail info@mission-vision.org. A brochure and detailed information to plan and generate interest in an Impact kit ministry are available. The program can be used by community groups or businesses, as well as churches.