Disaster Relief
Mission: Provide disaster relief when natural or cataclysmic disasters occur nationally.
Leader: Rusty Mabry
The utter devestation Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created could not destroy the love and goodwill of Christians for their fellowman. In association with the Southern Baptists throughout the world, First West's Disaster Relief Team served with other Christians to meet needs on site and to serve and comfort the evacuees in our community. Not limited to floods, the Disaster Relief team is on call to respond to any natural or cataclysmic disaster in the United States. Our shower/laundry trailer is ready and available to be used when needs arise.
How you can participate:
Contact the Missions Office for more information on Disaster Relief training and preparedness.
Want to know more?
Contact the Missions office at 322.5104 or e-mail us.
Desiard Street Shelter
Mission: Serve the homeless in our community through meals and ministry.
Leader: Shearon Henry
Some never realize that many homeless and hungry live in our hometown of Monroe. The Desiard Street Shelter, feeds between 100 and 250 men, women and children every week.
In addition to providing hot meals, the shelter seeks to minister and provide resources for the physical, spiritual, and mental issues the homeless in our community face.
How you can participate:
Help prepare and serve lunch on the first Thursday of the month at the Desiard Street Shelter located at 807 Desiard St
in Monroe. Tel:
(318) 322-8200
Want to know more?
You can also call the Desiard Street Shelter at 322.8200.
Jobs for Life
Mission: Assist members of our community in obtaining and keeping good jobs.
Leader:
Jobs for Life teaches basic information that helps men and women obtain and keep a good job.
How you can participate:
Volunteers are greatly needed!
Want to know more?
Call 387-2198 for information on this life-changing program and how you can help.
LifeChoices
Mission: Provide pro-life education and works to assist those with crisis pregnancies as well as abstinence education and pre-natal classes for clients.
Leader: Lyndsey Breard
Life Choices strives to educate all people in the truth about abortion by providing pro-life education to We encourage the work of pregnancy care centers that offer real alternatives to abortion.
How you can participate:
- Help witih services to the clients, special projects, clothes sorting, as a receptionist or as a prayer partner.
- Donate baby clothes (new or gently used up to 12 months), maternity clothes, and hold baby showers.
- Diapers, wipes and baby bottles are always needed.
- Provide baby bottle gifts (fill a baby bottle with change and donate it).
Want to know more?
Contact Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center at 1500 Royal Avenue, Monroe, LA 71201. Telephone 323.2200.
Refuge 91:1
Mission: Provide counsel and ministry to those struggling with domestic violence.
Leader: Chere Cooper
- 1 in 4 women will be victim of family violence in her lifetime.
- 1 in 3 teens will experience violence in a dating relationship.
- 50 percent of men who abuse their wives also abuse their children.
- Every 12 seconds a woman is battered in the United States.
The statistics are startling and prove that domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions in our community. Louisiana is one state leading the nation in deaths as a result of domestic violence and no church or community is immune to its devestating effects. As a congregation, we represent a strong voice in the community. While we alone cannot eliminate domestic violence we can work together to make a difference.
Through Refuge 9:11 Ministry, First West is a church leader addressing the needs of domestic violence victims. We strive to reduce the incidences of violence and abuse and help to break the cycle of family violence in our church and community.
By educating our members on domestic violence and abuse, we hope to create an atmosphere of openess and support for victims, serve as a life line for anyone in the church or community to receive help; and be known as a "safe church" for anyone who needs help.
How can you participate:
Contact the missions office on how you can participate. Pray for more safe homes in our community.
Want to know more?
Contact the missions office at 322.5104 or e-mail us if you would like to assist Cherie Cooper in ministering to domestic violence victims.
Is someone you love hurting you?
Please call—
Police: 911
Louisiana Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.79.7233
Family Justice Center: 998.6030
First West Conseling Center: 322.1427
Wellsprings: 651.9314