Mission & Service

Mission Opportunities

Aldersgate offers a variety of mission opportunities for making a difference in the lives of others. Click on any of the links below for more information.

If there is an organization or cause you feel Aldersgate should support, our Mission and Outreach Team takes proposals once at their once a quarter meetings. The next meeting will be on Sunday, November 16th, at 11:30 AM in Room 21 (After Sunday Service)

Aldersgate Missions &Outreach Team Purpose Statement

Meetings: Once a quarter in February, May, August, November, on the 3rd Sunday at 11:30. Decisions are recorded and forwarded to the Aldersgate Office Manager for publication and historical records.

Budget: Derived from a portion of one cell tower contract. It may vary from year to year depending on the income from the tower. No budget is derived from congregational pledges.

This is an ad hoc team with no time parameters on membership. The chair may be on the Administrative Council at the discretion of the Council chair. The function of this team is to determine recipients and distribute funds from the designated cell tower income.

These funds are distributed to non-profit agencies and organizations, including dues and pledges to agencies and organizations in which Aldersgate holds membership. In addition, we support Methodist-sponsored missions and events. Input from the congregation for financial support of an agency or organization is encouraged. Priorities are given when the member is actively involved with the requested support.

These funds are not available for individuals. However, expenses incurred by an individual working with an agency may be reimbursed with prior approval by the team and appropriate receipts are provided. In addition, this team has oversight for and approval of funds expended from the Linda Detering Mission Travel Fund. These funds were accumulated from rummage sales held every year and may be requested by individuals or groups for travel expenses relating tomission trips. No cell tower nor pledge monies are in this fund.

Communities of Belonging: Community Conversations

Tuesday, October 21st. Doors open at 6:45 PM. The program will begin promptly at 7 PM. Please enter through the upper parking lot.

Aldersgate's Friendship Hall

This is a FREE, 18-and-over community event.

Story

Strengthen your community and challenge stereotypes through an evening of stories and conversations with those moving beyond incarceration, addiction, and homelessness.

Join a special opportunity to connect with members of Communities of Belonging as they put a human face on the complex social issues that affect us all.

Our community conversations strive to reduce fear and stigma and instead to build allies through thoughtful dialogue, shared values, and mutual understanding.

Communities of Belonging is a federally recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization empowering formerly incarcerated and homeless populations with holistic support and peaceful integration into society.

Your support has helped provide 7 years of clean and sober restorative housing and more than 350 weekly community circles. Come learn how you can get involved and what's next! Together we're creating a world where everyone belongs.

For more information, please visit: www.CommunitiesofBelonging.org

Coming Up from Communities of Belonging....

Bowl For Belonging Fundraiser- Saturday, November 15th

Where: Kent Bowl — 1234 Central Ave N, Kent, WA 98032

When: Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 1:30-3:30PM

Who: Adults 18+ only (sorry kids, this one’s for the grown-ups!)

Just Us Solutions, in collaboration with Interaction Transition’s program Hope on the Horizon and Communities of Belonging, is excited to announce an upcoming community event: the first-ever

Bowl for Belonging — a bowling afternoon dedicated to second chances, connection, and celebration!

This event is more than just a game. It’s a symbol of the strikes we overcome and the new frames we get to write in life. Together, we’re creating joyful moments, building bridges for successful reentry, and showing that hope is on the horizon.

Join us as we roll toward healing, laughter, and a brighter future—for all.

We’re thrilled to announce a high-energy, community-powered bowling get together like no other — and we want YOU to be part of it!

Communities of Belonging

Aldersgate provides financial and spiritual gifts to Communities of Belonging, a Washington State non-profit that supports those impacted by the criminal justice system and homelessness whose mission is to build connected communities through restorative homes, community conversations and holistic reentry support that integrate marginalized populations as a vital part of the whole.

Congregations for Kids

During Vacation Bible School, we have a coin drive to raise money the Backpack program which provides over 1200 kids with backpacks filled with school supplies throughout the entire Bellevue School District.

Mini Mission Trip to Lazy F 2025 Preregistration

Memorial Day weekend, Aldersgate members of all ages head over to Lazy F, one of 4 UMC camps in our area, to work on several projects to help enrich their camp and get ready for the many summer campers.

Sophia Way

Aldersgate provides a hot breakfast on the second Saturday of every month to Sophia Way which provides a shelter and path to permanent housing for homeless single women.

Panera Gleaning Program

Volunteers from Aldersgate pick up leftover food from Panera that would otherwise be discarded and delivery it to several different homeless shelters in the area. Contact the office for more information on how to get involved.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The knitters of Aldersgate knit prayer shawls and offer them to anyone who is in the need of being comforted in a tangible prayer. There are always several available for friends, families, or visitors. Contact the office for more information on how to get involved.

Outreach Organizations

Aldersgate Church belongs to several outreach organizations focusing on social justice. Find out more below and through their websites.

Faith Action Network

An organization specifically for lobbying the Washington State Legislature to promote legislation that supports and promotes principles of social action.

Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council

A consortium of representatives from various faiths represented on King County’s eastside. Their purpose is to gain knowledge, provide a voice for and support the non-profits on the eastside that work to address areas of social concern.

Reconciling Ministries

A movement within the United Methodist that promotes and supports total inclusion of all peoples in both the clergy, laity and all positions of leadership without regard for sexual orientation, gender, race, age, physical ability or ethnicity within the congregations of the United Methodist Church.

Organizations Sponsored by AUMC

Overseas Missionary: Katherine T. Parker

An overseas missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, began serving in 2013 as part of the Health Team of the United Mission to Nepal, focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene. She previously did similar work with the Community Health and Agricultural Development program of the Methodist Mission in Cambodia.

Jama Letuu Orphanages

Methodist sponsored orphanages and school in the Congo that many churches in the PNW conference including Aldersgate helped built and have continued to support since the 1990s. The orphanages, Jamaa Letu, which means “our family” in Swahili house 60 girls and 25-30 boys. Several orphans have completed their secondary education and are now enrolled in technical school or university. Aldersgate is proud to continue financially supporting Jama Letuu.