Missions at Stonybrook
Stonybrook Church is passionate about serving in missions localy, nationally, and globally. Our goal is to create new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the World, through our missional opportunities.
Local Missions
Annual Spaghetti Dinner
All Stonybrook men are invited and encouraged to participate! The Annual Spaghetti Dinner is our major fundraising event, with all proceeds benefiting various mission projects. This beloved community gathering offers a wonderful opportunity for fellowship while helping with cooking, serving, set‑up, and clean‑up.
Contact: Jeff Shellhammer at jdshell@hotmail.com
Church 4 all people, fresh Market
The All People's Fresh Market partners with Mid-Ohio Food Collective as one of the largest distributors of free food in Ohio! It focuses on health and provides our market members with fresh, healthy produce. Through the Healthy Eating and Living (H.E.A.L.) Program, attendees learn how to select and cook foods for healthy living. These classes are open to all market members and the community. Volunteers at the Fresh Market welcome and register members, stock shelves, and help customers with their purchases.
Contact Pastor Lauren at lauren.clawson@stonybrook.church
habitat for humanity
Stonybrook volunteers participate with families in Habitat Wall Builds, at which we raise the framework for affordable homes. When a family helps build or improve a place they can call home, they are also building a better community, a better life for themselves. Habitat for Humanity builds homes because it believes that everyone, everywhere, should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. Stonybrook invites volunteers to be part of the construction crew or hospitality team on designated Wall Build weekends.
Contact: Pastor Lauren Clawson at lauren.clawson@stonybrook.church
seven baskets
Seven Baskets is a faith-based community partner of Columbus City Schools. Stonybrook volunteers currently serve in Scottwood Elementary School on the east side of Columbus. Volunteers serve as lunchtime mentors and tutors, Thanksgiving classroom readers, and collect gloves and scarves in the winter, as well as with other projects.
Contact: Debbie Jackson, debjackson701@gmail.com
clip & snip
Stonybrook volunteers turn gently used wedding and prom dresses into funeral attire for premature babies who have passed. At a time when parents feel most lost and vulnerable, God’s love is shown through a tangible gift that surrounds a precious loved one. To volunteer in collection, clipping, or snipping.
Contact: Joan Marbais at zowlsisjoan51@aol.com
free community lunch at Peace Lutheran
Stonybrook Church partners with Peace Lutheran Church in this monthly feeding ministry. On the designated Sunday, Stonybrook provides and prepares a pre-selected menu, serving at the Peace Lutheran kitchen.
Contact: Becky Marusek at bmarusek@live.com
UNITED Women in Faith
All women are invited to join the United Women in Faith. This is a supportive, inclusive Christian membership organization where women grow spiritually, develop as leaders, and work to create a world where all women, children, and youth thrive. Members nurture one another in community and support worldwide projects to improve the lives of women, children, and youth with prayers, advocacy efforts, and financial gifts. Visit one of the Circles (small groups) monthly or the quarterly general meetings.
Contact: Rose Goodwin at rosegoodwin@icloud.com
Jubilee Circle - meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 11:00 am.
Bethany Circle - meets monthly on the third Thursday at 7 pm.
GRIN (GAHANNA RESIDENTS IN NEED)
This citywide faith-based organization is committed to helping the residents of the Gahanna-Jefferson school district in times of need. Stonybrook supports GRIN in a variety of ways: serving, financial, kids’ clothing and food donations, and supporting GRIN sponsored ministries (see below). Donations to GRIN can be dropped off at 165 Granville St., Gahanna, Ohio. For hours of operation and more information, visit grin4gahhanna.org or call 614.214.4747.
GRIN Weekend Supplemental Food Program
Stonybrook partners with GRIN to adopt Royal Manor Elementary as part of the Weekend Supplemental Food Program. This program sends food home with students on weekends who are affected with food insecurity. You can help by donating the food items identified on the list available in the Narthex and also HERE. Thank you for placing your donation in the labeled grocery cart in the narthex. There are two other ways to support this mission for our community. You may make monetary donations by indicating “Weekend Food Program” on your check or online donation. Or you may utilize the available Wishlists on Amazon or Walmart. By clicking Amazon, or Walmart you will be able to order the requested items and have them delivered directly to the church. For more information, contact Kelly Shellhammer.
GAHANNA SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM
This is a citywide cooperative project through GRIN that provides lunch for students and their families during the summer. Stonybrook serves lunch one week each summer to Royal Manor and Goshen Elementary schools. Servants are needed to prepare food at the church, deliver it to the lunch location, and serve the food.
Contact: Pastor Lauren Clawson at lauren.clawson@stonybrook.church
back-to-school fair
Back-to-School Fair Each August GRIN sponsors a "Back to School Fair" to provide book bags, school supplies, medical exams, vaccinations, assistance for Medicaid, underwear, socks, books, games, and lunch. Stonybrook supports the Back-to-School Fair by collecting school supplies and serving at the event. For more information on serving, contact GRIN at 614.214.4747 or grin@grin4gahanna.org.
For more information about serving with any of our mission organizations or for a current list of upcoming community outreach opportunities, contact Pastor Lauren Clawson
National
APPALACHIAN SERVICE PROJECT (ASP)
ASP is a Christian home repair/building ministry composed of high school youth and adults who spend a week during the summer working on emergency repairs on homes in Appalachia. Some standard jobs are foundation work, room additions, roofing, and plumbing. ASP is a year-round program with fundraising done in the fall, winter, and spring. Stonybrook has partnered with ASP for 50 years. For more information about this ministry, click here.
Contact: Jason Sheldon at jason.sheldon@stonybrook.church
Prison ministry
kindway
Kindway is a 501(c)3 organization that works to support men and women returning to the community from 4 prisons in central Ohio. In 2024, Kindway was recognized as one of the leading prison release support programs in central Ohio. The Embark program is the centerpiece of Kindway. Through in-prison classes and volunteer support mentors, Embark prepares participants for their reentry. Volunteers are critical for the success of the programs.
Contact: Tom Hofmann
New Home Project
In partnership with Kindway, The New Home Project provides funding for individuals who are leaving transitional housing to move to their new living space. Stonybrook provides for the initial rent deposit and housewares for their new space. Church members can respond to a sign-up Genius to provide a houseware item.
Contact: Tom Hofmann at hofmann6456@gmail.com
BILL GLASS BEYOND THE WALLS
This 50+ year ministry takes place in 2 or 3 central Ohio prisons from May through September each year. Trained volunteers are taken into jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities, where they have multiple chances to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. It involves a Friday night training and an 8-hour event on Saturday in the assigned prison.
Contact Dan Shupe.
Kairos
This is a lay-led, interdenominational Christian ministry in which men and women volunteers bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to inmates and their families. The program is very similar to the Walk to Emmaus Weekend thar is a three-day short course on Christianity focusing on grace. The commitment of time is several weeks of team meetings followed by a weekend event at the prison. Contact: GARY WEAVER at garyweaver@sbcglobal.net.
Contact Gary Weaver
cards from Christ
This program helps to provide a Christmas card for every inmate in Ohio. Stonybrook is one of many churches that are involved. Cards can be signed by first name only and no envelopes are needed. Cards can be turned in all year long.
Contact: Sandy Hofmann
McCurdy Ministries
McCurdy Community Ministries supports the community in Española, New Mexico. Partnering with McCurdy Charter School (MCS), ministries include McCurdy Preschool, Project Cariño (mental health counseling program), Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Camp Stars, Leer Project, and partners with many local agencies making the McCurdy Campus a one-stop for people in need. Volunteers serve from the local community as well as teams and individuals from across the country. For more information about the ministry, visit mccurdy.org.
Contact: David & Annette Pagura at dapagura@insight.rr.com
To learn more about our mission trip to McCurdy or to register to join us click HERE!
midwest mission
Around the world and around the corner, people are lacking simple resources that could improve their circumstances. That's why Midwest Mission sends tangible resources to make an intangible difference in their lives through hope and empowerment. Midwest Mission utilizes supplies and financial gifts donated by churches, businesses, and individuals that are used to build kits that supply basic needs for people nationally and internationally. Midwest Mission welcomes all people to volunteer at home or at the warehouse in Springfield, IL. Teams are formed as warehouse openings permit. For more information about the ministry, visit by clicking here.
Contact Pastor Lauren Clawson at lauren.clawson@stonybrook.church.
Global
internatinal mission
umcor
Stonybrook supports UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, in its work across the world, strengthening the United Methodist response to humanitarian crises around the world through disaster relief and recovery, migrant and refugee support, environmental sustainability, agriculture, and food security. Each year Stonybrook celebrates UMCOR Sunday. Gifts received support the administrative costs of UMCOM, allowing every dollar given to disaster relief to go directly to that effort. For more information on the many, many ways UMCOR serves the vulnerable across the world, visit humcmission.org/work/humanitarian-relief