Helping Children Affected By Poverty – Supporting NC Public Schools
About Us
Congregations For Children (C4C) is a statewide initiative of The United Methodist Church focused on reflecting the love of Christ to our neighbors by helping children in public schools who are living in poverty.
Congregations For Children is an effective way for churches to increase their outreach to their community mission field. The C4C model is based on best practices and is designed to set up churches for success and help them to avoid common missteps. Even if your church is already involved in public school ministry in some manner, C4C can help you to expand and strengthen what you are already doing. Today, over 80% of the 800+ United Methodist churches in the NC Conference are participating in school-church partnerships. We believe that by adopting the C4C model, churches can increase their effectiveness and success in those ministries.
Our Mission
K-3 Literacy
- Volunteer tutors
- Collecting/donating books
- After-school tutoring programs
- Summer reading camps
Basic Needs
- Food
- Clothing
- School supplies
Positive Adult Role Models
- Lunch buddies
- Morning greeters
Advocacy
UMAPS is a statewide initiative of The United Methodist Church, formed to advocate for public education throughout North Carolina.
Success Stories
Watch a short video about Harbor United Methodist Church in Wilmington and their C4C Partnership with Mary C. Williams Elementary.
Latest Posts
Summer Literacy Program Grant
Congregations for Children is accepting applications for supplementary funding for NCCUMC churches that are planning to host summer literacy programs for elementary school aged children. Aligned with our focus on Kindergarten through third grade literacy, we invite applications that demonstrate a focus on remediation and reinforcement of reading and writing skills, particularly for low-income children…
“Our Faith, Our Children, Our Public Schools” Webinar
How does the prophet Micah’s call for us “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” apply to the ways we serve and advocate for our low-income children who attend our public schools in North Carolina? Why should all people of faith care about the health of our public…
Continue Reading “Our Faith, Our Children, Our Public Schools” Webinar
Documentary on the Leandro Case
One area of focus of Congregations for Children (C4C) is “Advocating for community and governmental support of public education.” Before we can effectively advocate for our public schools, we must be aware of the pressing needs and issues that our public school educators, students, and their parents face daily. The Leandro case is the most significant court…
Every Child NC Webinars and Newsletter
Every Child NC is one of C4C’s primary partners in our mission to advocate for public school children and educators in North Carolina. This edition of their most recent online newsletter is full of opportunities for clergy and laity across our conference to learn more – and do more – about the challenges that our public…
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
NC Child, one of our nonprofit partners engaged in advocacy for children, is offering free virtual learning opportunities in February and March that align with the mission and goals of Congregations for Children and the local outreach ministries of all of our NCCUMC churches. Learn more about the virtual events below. NC Child Advocacy Virtual…
Public Schools First NC Webinars
Public Schools First NC, one of C4C’s outstanding partners in advocacy for public schools and public school children, is offering two important webinars free of charge in January: Legislative UpdatesJanuary 13, 7:00- 8:30pm Join Representative Julie von Haefen as she discusses key issues related to public education from the 2021 legislative session. Register Now Child Poverty…
C4C is a proud partner of FAST NC. Florence Aid to Students and Teachers of North Carolina (FAST NC) is an effort led by a bipartisan group of current and former North Carolina education leaders to help the state’s public schools as students and educators struggle to return to normal following Hurricane Florence and its impact.
C4C is supported by The Duke Endowment.