The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church

Outreach Ministry

A unique Ecumenical Holy Week opportunity each year is the Labyrinth Walk, sponsored by Binkley and other sponsoring churches.

Binkley Church considers outreach an essential dimension of its ministry. Through "reaching out" we discover how we fit into our community and the world as Christians, as Baptists and as persons concerned with peace and justice, both as members of a local community and as citizens of the world. Binkley supports outreach through the ministry of its members beyond the church walls as well as through the stewardship of our financial resources and building space that we open to community groups. We sponsor mission projects such as disaster relief ministries for women and children, preparation of meals for the homeless, and the building of houses through Habitat for Humanity. In all, we make financial and volunteer contributions to more than 50 ecumenical, education, social service and peace organizations. The largest recipients are the Inter-faith Council for Social Service and Habitat for Humanity, although our outreach spans the nation and the world. In addition to the regular budget line, Binkley outreach is supported by special offerings, 30% of the Associate Pastor's time and an estimated $98,000 in waived building use fees for community organizations.

These are some of the Outreach and Education groups that Binkley Church sponsors and supports.

Committee Name	Description
Acolytes	Trains upper elementary-age children who assist in worship by lighting candles and carrying Bibles and banners.
AIDS Care Team	Members who assist persons with AIDS; affiliated with TRAIN (Triangle AIDS Interfaith Network).
Alternative Gifts Fair	Held each November as an opportunity for members and friends to honor a loved one with a Christmas-time donation to various charitable organizations.
Binkley Preschool	A half-day preschool program sponsored by and housed at Binkley Baptist Church.
Binkley Readers	A discussion group in which members select the books, lead discussions, and host meetings in their homes.
Bread for the World	A lobby group that seeks congressional support for food sharing with the rest of the world.
Church Library	A collection of resource books and tapes available for all ages.
Church Women United	An ecumenical organization in Chapel Hill for women.
Community Kitchen	An interdenominational ministry that provides three meals a day to persons needing food; staffed by volunteers through the Inter-Faith Council (IFC).
Discipleship Class	For middle-schoolers to help them consider the meaning of Christian discipleship and possible baptism.
Earth Ministries	A group of Binkley members concerned for ecology of the earth and all of its inhabitants from a Christian perspective.
Family Ministry	A committee of the Board of Christian Education, which plans and oversees growth and fellowship opportunities for all types of families in the church. Programs include a parenting support group, You and Your Aging Parent support group, and the church-wide retreat held each fall.
Habitat for Humanity	An ecumenical ministry that constructs homes for low-income families using volunteer labor.
Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC)	An ecumenical social service agency coordinating a wide range of ministries through the use of trained volunteers.
Meals on Wheels	An agency based at Binkley in which volunteers take hot meals to those confined to their homes.
Mental Health Support Group	Provides education, support, and fellowship for individuals who experience mental illness in their families. Meetings are generally the first Sunday of each month following worship.
Parenting Group	A group of parents that meets periodically for fellowship and educational parenting programs.
Peer Learning	Senior adult class members teach one another based on their area of expertise.
Prime Timers	A Binkley fellowship group for persons age 55 and up; meets monthly on the first Wednesday, usually at 12 p.m.
Racial Reconciliation Ministry	A shared partnership with Barbee’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Joint worship, study, and mission projects are planned and shared. The Habitat Partnership House is one example.
Saturday Night Alive	An adult fellowship group that meets for a potluck dinner twice a month.
Seymour Symposium	Educational event that focuses on the church’s role in the world; held every few years in honor of Dr. Robert E. Seymour, pastor emeritus.
Vacation Bible School	A summer Christian educational event for preschool through elementary grades. Usually held in July.
Yard Sale	A GIGANTIC biennial event (traditionally held in August) to raise additional outreach funds. The next yard sale is scheduled for August 2006.
You and Your Aging Parent	This is an informal group designed to share concerns, needs, information, and caring. Anyone dealing with an elderly parent is welcome.