Operation Love Your Neighbor
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Operation Love Your Neighbor (OLYN) is FMC's Community Service Ministry Program. As a church family, our purpose is "to know Christ and to make Him known". Our Lord has called us to be His hands, His feet and His heart in loving service to members of our community, especially those who are the most vulnerable. We bear witness to the gospel message clearly and effectually when we are living demonstrations of the Spirit of Christ, manifesting His presence to our community through loving service to others.
Through OLYN, we partner with more than 20 non-profit organizations in Indian River County that minister to families and children who are underserved and in need of God's love and compassion.
We are blessed to be a church family that embodies a culture of service. As a ministry program, OLYN seeks to provide focus and direction for our church members. Individuals who invested their time and energy in serving local ministries have graciously volunteered to serve as ministry team leaders.
Everyone in our church family regardless of age, physical ability, interest, or giftedness is called to serve as an ambassador for Christ. OLYN service teams, with a variety of project and work options provide opportunity for everyone to be engaged in ministry to others.
OLYN service teams seek to come alongside those ministries where the Lord is already at work. Jesus promises to everyone who is faithful with little, more will be given. Through service to OLYN ministries, the people of God experience the joy of the Lord as they lovingly embody His presence in the community.
OLYN PARTNERS
OLYN PARTNERS
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The Arc of Indian River County has been serving individuals with special needs and their families since 1975, providing services, education, and advocacy. The Arc of IRC provides comprehensive services for over 200 individuals age 18 and above. Services include adult day training, behavioral services, residential group homes, supported living, supported employment, transportation, youth outreach, coffee houses, special scouts, and advocacy.
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The OLYN card ministry has its origin in the heart of Ms. Lois Calahan. Lois loved to create handmade cards for people adorned with scripture verses and personalized messages. She and her daughter Peggy Thompson share that love and talent and together they initiated OLYN’s card ministry. On OLYN day, Valentine’s Day Cards are created and then delivered to local Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). Throughout the year cards are made for other occasions, such as Christmas, Easter or the Fourth of July.
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We have some amazing bakers among us at First Methodist Church and when called upon to make cookies they deliver! What does our cookie ministry do? On OLYN day (a Saturday close to Valentine’s Day), our cookie bakers and delivery teams provide cookies to all the first responders in Indian River County and to local nursing homes.
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The OLYN Food Sack Ministry serves homeless and low-income students at Vero Beach Elementary (VBE). As a Title 1 school, almost 90% of the children who attend VBE receive some form of government food subsidy. VBE has a significant number of students in attendance that are considered “food insecure”. These students receive subsidized meals while at school, but on weekends they are at risk of not receiving proper nourishment. The food sack program is designed to fill the gap by providing meals for the weekend. For the past 7 years, FMC has provided nutritious meals delivered each week in sacks for VBE children to take with them for the weekend. Each food sack contains provisions for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire weekend. In 2020, FMC delivered over 2400 food sacks to VBE.
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Little Birthday Angels (LBA) is an amazing organization that provides birthday parties for homeless children living at Hope for Families Center and the Samaritan Center. In addition, they fulfill birthday wishes in “Birthday Bags of Hope” for children at the Hibiscus Centers in Vero Beach and Jensen Beach. The duffle bags are also distributed to several schools throughout Indian River and St. Lucie Counties.
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First Methodist Church through the Children’s and OLYN Ministries has partnered with Vero Beach Elementary (VBE) for several years providing a variety of outreach ministries to the staff and students. VBE is a Title 1 school that receives federal funding based on a high percentage of low-income students in attendance. VBE benefits from several OLYN service teams including the hospitality team, the Cookie Ministry, the Card Ministry and the Food Sack Ministry.
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The Veterans Support Team focuses their ministry on serving the needs of Veterans, particularly those who are homeless in our community. We are proud of those who have served our country, for without their service we would not have the freedoms that we enjoy as a nation. Veterans make up 16 percent of our nation’s total adult homeless population. The American Legion understands this cause is a huge concern and has put forth the Homeless Veterans Task Force to urge each State Department to work with their local public and private sector agencies and organizations to ensure local services and resources are available to homeless veterans and their families.
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The mission of the Women's Refuge of Vero Beach is threefold: to provide a live-in Christian program where hurting women can find sanctuary in a healing environment, to offer biblical counseling and support for the healing and wholeness of emotionally, mentally and spiritually wounded women, men, and families in our community, and to make available training for people to disciple others.
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Shining Light Garden (SLG) is a Christ-centered ministry managed by Joel Bray who receives his direction by listening to the voice of God. As it states on SLG’s website, “Our focus is strictly on growing and giving for God’s glory.” This non-profit organization has been growing vegetables for over 10 years to help feed the homeless, the hungry, and the forgotten. All vegetables are donated to local food pantries, soup kitchens, veterans’ organizations, and senior citizens programs - providing farm fresh produce to those in need.
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United Against Poverty (UP) exists to inspire and empower people living in poverty to lift themselves and their families to economic self-sufficiency. UP believes that poverty is not permanent, and that people are not defined by their current circumstances. Those who come to UP do not lack ambition, nor are they looking for a handout. They come to UP for a “hand up” in the form of skills, resources and guidance needed to build a prosperous life. This “hand up” model is designed to restore dignity and teach empowerment rather than entitlement.
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The OLYN music ministry team shares their joyful voices with people living in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). Many members of our community live in ALFs and do not have the opportunity or ability to attend worship service or hear the beautiful hymns that celebrate and praise our Lord. Music appears often in the writings of the old and new testaments and throughout church history music and instruments have played a pivotal role in communal worship of our Lord. Psalm 92:1 – It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High.
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The Prayer Group meets during the OLYN annual event and following a prepared syllabus they pray for each OLYN service team and ministry, the FMC family, the community, and the nation. The Prayer Group also meets weekly on Tuesday mornings in FMC’s family room to continue praying for individuals, the community and the nation. The Prayer Group is open to all.
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Safe Families for Children (SFFC) is a ministry that began in the Chicago area and recently opened a Treasure Coast Chapter serving St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties. Safe Families for Children was founded in 2003 with the goal to help vulnerable children. The program strives to provide a safe place for children whose families are in crisis and to maintain and protect the family connection. SFFC seeks to keep children safe from abuse or neglect when a family is in crisis because of homelessness, hospitalizations, unemployment, or domestic violence. SFFC relies on volunteers who serve as a temporary host family, or a family friend who provides baby sitting or assistance with errands, or a family coach, or a resource friend that provides material or financial resources to a struggling family. The ultimate goal is to eventually reunite families and reduce the number of children in the child welfare system.
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The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 and has been serving around the world for 155 years. TSA’s mission states, “The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” The Salvation Army in Vero Beach offers emergency financial services, a food pantry, diasaster services, youth character building programs, worship services and holiday assistance.
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The Samaritan Center of Indian River County is affiliated with Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach. The Samaritan Center provides transitional, temporary shelter for homeless families in the County. Additionally, they offer programs at the Center including emotional support, parental training, mental health counseling, medical referral, life skills workshops, financial planning, and domestic skills training. All Center residents participate in an income savings program which prepares the families for an eventual housing solution.