Missions & Outreach
Faith that rolls up its sleeves.
Serving Glen Carbon and beyond
Each Sunday we are sent out to strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak and help the suffering. Here’s how the New Bethel family lives that out, at home and around the world.
New Bethel volunteers at Midwest Mission in Pawnee, September 2026
Our impact
What your generosity did in 2025
$37,527
given to missions and outreach
30
missions supported
1,535
free school lunches for local children
258
hours of hands-on service
75
Christmas shoeboxes sent
From New Bethel’s 2025 mission report. The total does not include donated food, volunteer time or the use of our building.
This year
$10,000+
raised for GlenEd Food Pantry in 2026
Mission spotlight
GlenEd Food Pantry
GlenEd Food Pantry is a nonprofit serving families who live within the Edwardsville School District. It runs a food bank and a thrift store, helps neighbors with utility bills, and is raising funds to build a new facility.
This year the New Bethel family has raised more than $10,000 for the pantry. Our members also donate food and school supplies for local children.
1 · Right here at home
Loving our neighbors close to home
Most of what we give stays right here in Glen Carbon and the Metro East, with people we see at school, at work and on our street.
GlenEd Food Pantry
Food, a thrift store and utility help for families in the Edwardsville School District.
TWIGs Lunches & Shoes
1,535 free school lunches for Glen Carbon children in 2025, plus new shoes for 36 students.
Five Buck Club
A special fund the church keeps for local neighbors in crisis: rent, utilities, home and car repairs, and food.
Overnight Warming Location
Shelter and a hot meal in Alton, Edwardsville and Granite City on nights below 20 degrees.
Habitat for Humanity
Building and repairing affordable homes with families in the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area.
Angel Tree
Christmas gifts for local children, sponsored by our United Methodist Men.
School Supplies
School supplies donated by members for local children in need.
Salvation Army
Food, shelter and family support through the Granite City Salvation Army.
Disaster Relief Close to Home
Food and hygiene supplies delivered for St. Louis tornado recovery.
United Congregations of Metro East
A coalition of 20 congregations working for fair housing, better transit and a stronger region.
Metro East Humane Society
Care for cats and dogs at a no-kill shelter serving five counties.
Trunk or Treat
A safe, free fall celebration that welcomes the whole community to our parking lot.
2 · Hands-on service
We show up and pitch in
Mission isn’t only something we fund. It’s something we do, side by side.
- 180 hours with Habitat for Humanity: three members worked ten Saturdays to help build a home in our community
- 54 hours of overnight shifts at the Overnight Warming Location
- Midwest Mission in Pawnee: members assembled 56 personal dignity kits and traveled to Pawnee to help pack supplies for people in need
- 4 Red Cross blood drives hosted and partly staffed at New Bethel
3 · Around the world
Sharing God’s love across the globe
Operation Christmas Child
75 shoeboxes of gifts and the good news of Jesus. The boxes we packed went to children in Nigeria.
Liberia
Support for pastors and district superintendents, and for missionary Priscilla Jaiah at the Ganta Mission Station.
Doctors Without Borders
Emergency medical care for people facing conflict, epidemics and natural disasters.
Church World Service
Welcome and resettlement for refugees and families forced from their homes.
4 · Through our United Methodist family
Stronger together
New Bethel is a Five Star Mission Church, a United Methodist recognition we have received for years for supporting God’s mission at every level: locally, across Illinois and around the world.
UMCOR Disaster Relief
Relief and long-term recovery after floods, fires and storms in the U.S. and around the world.
Special Sunday Offerings
UMCOR Sunday, World Communion Sunday and United Methodist Student Day, funding relief and student scholarships.
Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House
Early childhood education, job training and family support in East St. Louis.
Cunningham Children’s Home
Care, therapy and education for children and youth in Urbana, Illinois.
5 · Open doors
Our building is a gift to share
We open New Bethel to our neighbors: American Red Cross blood drives are held here, and recovery support groups meet in our building.
Get involved
There’s a place for you to serve
Whether you can give an afternoon, a box of supplies or a few coins, you can be part of what God is doing through New Bethel.
Serve
Join the Mission Team
Our Mission Team plans and leads New Bethel’s outreach. Contact Judy Lee through the church office to get involved.
Give
Noisy Change Offering
Bring your spare change each quarter. Every Noisy Change offering supports a different local mission.
Collect
Seasonal Drives
Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, sponsor an Angel Tree child, or donate school supplies and food.
Questions? Call 618-288-5700 or email office@newbethelumc.org.
There’s a place for you
Join us this Sunday
Worship at 9:00 AM · Kingdom Kids Church and Youth Church during worship
131 N. Main Street, Glen Carbon, Illinois