Reach Our Community

At Grace, one of our core missions is to reach out, connect and serve others in our community. You can play a vital role in the life of others here in Peoria by serving in any of the following outreach and service ministries. We invite you to scroll down to see all of our ministry partners and prayerfully consider investing your time, talent, and resources in one or more of these ministries.

←Other opportunities to serve

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    Bridges International

    Bridges International is a student organization which seeks to help international students in the United States through service activities, social networking, and spiritual resources. An estimated 80 percent of international students never set foot in an American home. How can you help? We always need prayer. Our specific needs change often. Contact Adam Saatkamp for more details at 309-657-4910. Visit our website to learn more.

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    Camp Good News

    Reaching children age 7-13 for Christ through camping and retreat ministry. How can you help? Visit our website to find out our latest projects and needs.

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    Campus Outreach Central Illinois

    Campus Outreach is a college ministry that exists all over the world on hundreds of different campuses. In Peoria, Illinois, Campus Outreach is the missional arm of Grace Presbyterian Church to lost college students on Bradley University's campus. Campus Outreach's mission statement is: "Glorifying God by building laborers on campus for the lost world." Through partnerships with local churches, Campus Outreach seeks to see college students come to Christ, grow in their faith in college, and upon graduation, be sent out into the lost world to reach even more people for Christ. Here is a link to their website that includes the other college campuses that partner with Grace Presbyterian Church in Illinois and Michigan: https://cocentralil.org/.

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    CBS InPRISON Ministry

    Community Bible Study ministry called CBS InPRISON is a ministry that teaches weekly Bible studies in men's and women's correctional facilities in small study group settings.

    How can you help? You can volunteer to participate on a prison ministry team, bake cookies for the inmates, participate in the prayer vigil, or donate to sponsor an inmate to attend the ministry. Contact Duane Weeks at 309-966-1341

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    Child Evangelism Fellowship

    CEF is a number of unique ministries which have proven to be effective tools in our effort to evangelize children.

    How can you help? Be the hands and heart of Jesus to children at an after-school Bible Club for ninety minutes once a week. Encourage children through notes and prayers throughout the year, as well as provide snacks and rewards for weekly Scripture memory.

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    Dream Center Peoria Freedom Arts Projects

    The Dream Center Peoria Freedom Arts Project aims to change the community by teaching young people lessons in the arts in a safe environment. Junior and senior high students participate one night a week in an 8-week course. The classes encourage young people, who otherwise would be unable to attend art classes, to pursue old and new passions in the arts. We hope to offer the following classes: art (drawing, painting), audio/visual, bass, choir, dance, drama, drums, guitar, keyboards, photography, recording/sound engineering, songwriting/spoken word, vocal, and graphic design.

    How can you help? We are in great need of instructors to teach each class. Please call if you are interested, (309) 676-3000.

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    Esther House Women's Residence

    Esther House serves as a transitional residential facility for women and women with their dependent children. It exists to present the love and life of Jesus Christ as the only way to spiritual and emotional wholeness. Residents are assisted in acquiring the educational and vocational skills necessary to become functioning members of society.

    How can you help? Volunteers are always needed at Esther House. They need receptionists, transportation providers, light housekeeping, or meal preparation. Help raise funds by being a sponsored walker in their Walk for the Lives of Women and Children in April. Their desire is to see relationships develop with the residents that would continue to support them when they transition out of the facility. Please call Connie at Esther House, (309) 689-0915, Ext. 305 for more information.

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    The Gideons

    The Gideons International print and distribute God’s holy word. Last year Gideons distributed some 85 million scriptures world-wide. Since its inception Gideons have distributed over 1.6B scriptures. There are over 250,000 Gideons serving around the world. The Auxiliary wives make up the largest single Christian women’s organization in the world.

    How can you help? You can contribute to the work of Gideons by donating funds. All monies so donated go to the printing and distribution of Gideon placed scriptures. For a $5 donation a Bible can be placed and for about $1.35 a pocket testament can be placed. You can become directly involved in the work of Gideons by becoming a member. If you are a member of a Bible believing church and meet a few other qualifications you would be eligible to join. See the Gideon Display in the Atrium or talk to any Gideon. Visit our website to learn more.

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    Good News Club at Brimfield Elementary School

    Good News Club takes the Gospel of Christ to the public school through an after-school Bible Club, seeing children come to Christ and growing as they are planted in a local church and mentored by believers in their lives.

    How can you help? Be the hands and heart of Jesus to children at an after-school Bible Club for ninety minutes once a week. Encourage children through notes and prayers throughout the year, as well as provide snacks and rewards for weekly Scripture memory. Contact Julie Wieland at 309-446-9750.

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    Good News Club at Glen Oak School

    Good News Club takes the Gospel of Christ to the public school through an after-school Bible Club, seeing children come to Christ and growing as they are planted in a local church and mentored by believers in their lives.

    How can you help? Be the hands and heart of Jesus to children at an after-school Bible Club for ninety minutes once a week. Encourage children through notes and prayers throughout the year, as well as provide snacks and rewards for weekly Scripture memory. Contact Marlene List at 309-231-2080

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    Great Oaks Camping Association

    Great Oaks Camp was established in 1972 as a ministry to the urban youth of Peoria. We believe that building a child’s self-confidence, improving their attitude, developing their civility and citizenship, and helping them take personal responsibility first begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. We nurture this relationship by offering a free week of camp to low-income children during the summer follow-up programs throughout the year.

    How can you help? There are many ways to volunteer at Great Oaks. It could just be a one-time service project, continual involvement in one of our programs, or even full time work at the camp. 

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    Hands Of Love

    Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ through music, media and more! How can you help? Consider joining our prayer and support team! Contact Scott and Rachel Kramer, 309-645-3069.

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    Kairos Prison Ministry

    Kairos Prison Ministry is an ecumenical ministry that conducts a short course in Christianity over 4-days at maximum security prisons in Illinois and over 400 prisons in U.S. and six foreign countries. The objective is to bring the truth of the gospel and build a Christian community within the walls of correctional facilities.

    How can you help? You can volunteer to participate on a prison ministry team, bake cookies for the inmates, participate in the prayer vigil, or donate to sponsor an inmate to attend the ministry.

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    Land O'Lincoln Camp Cedarbrook

    Land o' Lincoln Camp Cedarbrook is a camping ministry committed to loving kids, sharing Christ, and exploring nature. How can you help? Pray, donate, encourage a young person you know to attend camp. Contact Charmaine Freeze at 309-697-4422.

    Land o' Lincoln Camp Cedarbrook

     

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    Mission Peoria

    Mission Peoria is a week-long mission trip which provides youth the opportunity to serve and minister to children and their families within the inner city of Peoria. Each day we go to different locations to provide a VBS-style event for children aged 2 – 12 which includes songs, skits, Bible lessons, games and inflatables. We also participate in various service projects in the inner city. Each evening we have a powerful time of worship and life changing messages.

    Contact John Vanne

    Your message has been sent.

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    Peoria Jobs Partnership

    12-week practical evangelistic Bible Study on how to be a Christian in the work place offered at the Southside Mission Career Training Program as well as in many state and federal prisons and local community jails. They also provide practical job application skills as well as Bibles and follow-up letters and books. They also manage 2 houses that help former female prisoners to transition to living in the community.

    How can you help? There are many volunteer opportunities. Teachers are needed as well as financial, book or postage donations; they are also looking for items for inmates in transition.

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    Peoria Rescue Ministry

    The Peoria Rescue Ministry ministers to men on the street. It provides three meals a day, a noonday and evening gospel service, a clean place to sleep and spiritual counseling 365 days a year.

    How can you help? Grace conducts a gospel service at the Ministry on the 4th Sunday evening of the month. Men, women and youth can participate in these services through testimonies, song leading, playing a musical instrument, praying and bringing a message. Pastor Kerry Frantz of Grace Presbyterian Church currently organizes these. Mature Christian men can volunteer to oversee evening meals and services. PRM also often has special projects for church teams such as various construction works, helping sort items donated at PRM’s warehouse on S. Jefferson, etc. Contact Lee Burnham, Mission Director at 676-6416 for more information about these. Contact Ron Crowell for more information at 309-674-5313.

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    Salvation Army

    The Salvation Army is an international organization that meets the physical and spiritual needs of people in 125 countries around the globe, without discrimination. The Salvation Army provides assistance to those in need 365 days a year.

    How can you help?  We appreciate your gifts and prayers, and we’d like to invite you to partner with us as a volunteer. Whatever your background, skills, or availability, you can help those we serve; serving meals, helping with child care, etc. Please check our website and click on the volunteer logo.

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    South Side Mission Food Pantry

    South Side Mission food pantry distributes food to up to 1,000 people in a single month! We collect food at Grace every week in the South side Mission barrels located at Grace entrances. We take all of the donations on Monday to the Food Pantry.

    How can you help? A great way for children, adults, and Sunday School classes to directly help needy Peoria area families is to bring non-perishable canned and boxed food items for the Mission. 

    Contact:  Rick & Dick Trumpe, 309-243-7273

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    Youth For Christ

    At Youth for Christ, we take the truth and love of Jesus to teens that don't go to church. How can you help? We always need help...time with teens, food providers, drivers, and more. Give us a call and let's talk. Visit our website to learn more.