St. Andrews Episcopal Church - McKinney, TX

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Social Transformation PDF Print E-mail

Our approach to outreach flows from our inspire value. St. Andrew's is a place where the Holy Spirit inspires us for service to the community and the world. We believe that Jesus will give us a heart of compassion, and then inspire us to step out in faith to reach out in service and in witness.

Social transformation has been a major part of our identity as a church from the very beginning.  One of our earliest projects was a gasoline outreach, where we donated 25 cents for every gallon of gas purchased at a RaceTrac gas station to the Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina.  Since then, St. Andrew's has: Started the first "Besom" in North America.  Launched the Believe! Run benefitting Holy Family School.  This race, led and staffed largely by St. Andrew's members, is held at the Dickens of a Christmas weekend in McKinney.  Started in 2006, the race goes through historic downtown McKinney and is already a McKinney tradition.  What's more, all the proceeds from the race go to Holy Family School's scholarship fund, an Episcopal childcare facility in east McKinney.  For more information on Believe! check out www.believemckinney.org. Given money for children's medicine through the Matthew's Fund.  Started in memory of a child of one of our members, Matthew's Fund has now given over $1000 to McKinney ISD school children who need medicine.  Partnering with a local pharmacy, social workers at Communities in Schools can use our fund to directly help a child who needs medicine.  Matthew's Fund recently helped a child get needed diabetes medicine and helped put down a lice outbreak at a local elementary school.

St. Andrew's is now proud to announce that we are members of 3e McKinney.

3emckinney.com

engage volunteers in short and long term community involvement.

equip volunteers to serve in love, grace and compassion.

empower the under resourced to long-term self-sufficiency.

The purpose of 3E-McKinney is to engage and equip community focused churches to channel their resources (funds, time and people) into Older McKinney in order to bring glory to God, hope to the impoverished, make a positive impact on all aspects of community life, and empower families to achieve emotional, spiritual and economic success.
 
We envision a profound transformational effect on our community through the coordinated collaboration of many churches, faith-based entities, social service agencies, and individual volunteers, to continue the renewal, restoration and rebuilding of Older McKinney.
 
 
Step 1 – Engage
Promote and coordinate service opportunities that mobilize the energies and passions of large numbers of people in our churches, resulting in long-term and effective community service. Develop partnerships in the community to come alongside existing ministries and social service agencies to meet targeted needs, both immediate and long-term. Identify and work with “Connectors;” i.e., people who are well-networked and possess a proven track record for successfully meeting the needs of others.
 
Step 2 – Equip
Instruct and facilitate churches to move from fellowship to functional unity, with a unity of purpose built around the vision of a transformational community. Train church members on how to effectively extend compassion and grace to those they serve, and build successful relationships with them. Utilize Small Group structure within churches to facilitate connecting, growing and sharing by serving the community as a group.
 
Step 3 – Empower
Provide long-term solutions to families in need through educational opportunities aimed at developing the practical skills needed to grow to economic self-sufficiency and the interpersonal skills needed to thrive in society. Assign “Intercessors” and “Advocates” to build positive relationships and solve problems within the community. 
Expand the physical and spiritual health of Older McKinney by connecting Good Deeds with Good News. We will also promote the investment of resources to meet immediate needs and create sustainable long-term solutions.
 
SOME CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS
 
Community Food Pantry
Meals on Wheels
Angel Food Ministry
Children and Community Health Clinic
Medical Center of McKinney
Samaritan Inn and Gateway Apartments
McKinney Housing Authority
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Collin County Committee on Aging