Missions
Click on the name of the organization to learn about how Trinity supports their ministry. From there, you can click on the organization’s logo to go to their website for additional information.
Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center
Every Sunday, our “ACTS wagon” is in the narthex to collect food donations for Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS). This collection continues the commitment we have maintained ever since Trinity was one of the original member churches in 1986. ACTS was formed to reach out, in Christ’s name, to those among us who need temporary, emergency help with groceries, clothing, prescriptions, household goods or utility bills. ACTS is supported by its member churches, individual contributions, and grants. Monetary donations, payable to Trinity and designated for ACTS, are also welcome.
ACTS works with other agencies in the area to secure appropriate services for its clients. The validity of clients’ need is ensured through interviews and extensive record keeping.
Volunteer service is the only way ACTS can operate. To see how you can get involved, visit their website for details. The community can also help ACTS by donating food, clothing, housewares and furniture; providing tax deductible financial support; and praying that their work, gifts, and presence will reflect the love that Christ called us to give our neighbors.
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Emmaus
The purpose of Emmaus is to renew the church as the body of Christ in the world through development of leaders and renewal of Christians as faithful, committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Emmaus of the Midlands Community is run by a board elected by the community each year. They have monthly gatherings on the 4th Friday, and they also hold a men’s walk and a women’s walk twice a year.
Since 1993, over 100 Trinity members and friends and family of members have attended. Several members of Trinity have been elected to the Board, served as Lay Directors of a walk, and held other leadership positions. Trinity has also had members very involved in Chrysalis youth weekends, which is a similar program for teens and young adults.
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Epiphany Ministry
The Epiphany Ministry is a three-day weekend program for 14 to 18-year-old boys and girls who are locked up in the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) system. It is a ministry sanctioned by the Upper Room of the United Methodist Church and is conducted by a group of adults who have attended one of the three-day ministries such as the Walk to Emmaus, Tres Dias, or Chrysalis. These Christians go into the DJJ facility to teach these kids all about Jesus, what He did for them, and how He wants to help them in their life today. The weekend ensures that all the kids are fed, nurtured with music, skits and fun-time, along with being loved by those there and being shown that they are loved by God himself.
Trinity members have served this ministry for a number of years, starting in Greenville then moving to Columbia. Donnie Bates, Joye Brotherton, and Bob Kelly have all served as Lay Directors for a particular Epiphany, and Bill Bengtson has been a regular at the Epiphany Ministries in Columbia.
The ministry does not just leave the kids with nothing when the weekend is over but does a monthly meeting for the kids that features Bible Study, music, games and — of course — food. The people who participate in this ministry love the Lord but also have a heart for these children who have been broken and, in some way, broke the law to wind up in a DJJ facility.
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Epworth Children’s Home is a ministry of the United Methodist Church. Trinity supports Epworth by asking the congregation to support them financially anytime during the year, but particularly for the Mother’s Day Offering in May and the Work Day Offering in September. Epworth does not receive apportionments from the United Methodist Conference, so this funding is critical for the life-changing ministry to thrive.
Epworth Children’s Home provides care to children in our own communities who have experienced abuse, neglect, and loss. Epworth’s care breaks the destructive cycle and encourages children to aim higher in life. The physical, emotional, academic, and spiritual care they receive transforms their lives.
The Honduras Agape Foundation (HAF) is a foreign mission ministry to Quimistan, Honduras, and surrounding villages. Trinity joined South Aiken Presbyterian and two other churches in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1999.
Since its inception, more than 16 Trinity members have participated in one or more HAF mission trips. These trips may involve construction, Bible school events, dental clinics, medical brigades and eye clinics. They feed hungry kids, attend worship services, and share the love of Christ with those they help.
Also, several Trinity groups and individual members sponsor a child through HAF in the “Agape Promises” program, which provides the children with school uniforms, books, food, medical and dental care, and weekly Bible study classes. There is also a higher education scholarship program.
HAF is funded solely by donations and periodic fundraisers.
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Kairos of South Carolina
Started in 1976, Kairos is an international Christian ministry whose purpose is to establish a strong Christian community among the residents of correctional institutions. Trinity has been involved with Kairos since 1996.
Monthly behind-bars fellowship opportunities are held, with an attendance of 100-150 inmates. A typical prison might have two full-scale weekends per year, followed by monthly reunions. Inmates are strongly encouraged to seek frequent “prayer and share” fellowship.
Bill Bengtson participates by attending these prison ministry events. Many church members have participated in other ways too – choosing time slots to pray during Kairos weekends so that all involved are lifted in prayer around the clock, making monetary donations, and baking. Kairos is sometimes known as the “cookie ministry,” because cookies – in large quantities – are used in some prisons as a tool for communicating unconditional love. Trinity has been a part of that effort, helping change the lives of many who are otherwise forgotten by most of society.
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Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center is a safe place for women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy. All services are free and confidential. Trinity has supported Life Choices for many years, raising money and collecting needed items for this life-changing ministry.
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Supporting Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child is an annual tradition at Trinity. Every year, many in our congregation fill shoeboxes with both fun and needed items for children, and these boxes are shipped worldwide to young people who may not typically receive gifts or hear the Good News about Jesus.
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Salkehatchie Summer Service is a unique summer program with the main purpose of helping poverty-stricken families who need home repair and maintenance. It was founded by the Rev. John Culp in 1978, shortly before he became pastor at Trinity. The youth who attend are given leadership and growth opportunities that they could never find anywhere else. There are a number of one-week camps held in South Carolina each summer. Trinity sends youth and adults to Salkehatchie’s Baker Creek Camp in McCormick County every year.
The week-long Salkehatchie mission experience teaches our youth that poverty does exist, and that they can help by using their time and talents. God often helps them grow spiritually through this program. Salkehatchie changes the lives of both the receiver and the giver.
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