Our Outreach

Since inception, we have assisted our local, national and international communities. The following is a list of ministries that we currently support with contributions of time, energy, materials, and money.

Principal Programs

Honduras Health Missions

Church of the Nativity plays a key role in the Honduras Health Mission, an extension of a partnership with six communities in southern Honduras initiated by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina in 1988. Members of Church of the Nativity have gone on every health mission since its inception in the early 1990s, and the Church further supports the project financially and through activities such as evening pill packings when all members of the congregation can contribute.

Millenium Development Goals

We subscribe to the ONE Campaign, through which the Episcopal Church supports the Millennium Development Goals.

For further information about MDG activities in our diocese, click here.

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle collects surplus food from area groceries and restaurants for preparation and delivery to agencies that feed the hungry in our community. The Rev. Jill Staton Bullard, a member of Nativity before she was ordained to the Diaconate in 2008, co-founded this organization in 1990 and serves as its Executive Director. Nativity has provided the core group of volunteers for the Food Shuttle since its inception.

Ongoing Opportunities for Your Participation

Wake Medical Center

Nativity provides blankets for newborn children born to impoverished mothers at WakeMed.

Women's Center

Nativity provides travelers' amenities such as soap and shampoo to the Women's Center of Wake County.

Red Cross

Nativity sponsors an annual blood donation.

African Team Ministries

African Team Ministries exports art and craft items for sale to raise funds for ministries inside Africa. Nativity sells these items in the spring.

HIV/AIDS Care Team

Nativity volunteers form a Care Team to provide emotional, practical, and spiritual support to a person in our community who lives with HIV/AIDS. Team members receive training and support through the Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina.

Uganda Education

The Rt. Rev. Samuel Kamya, Anglican Bishop of West Buganda in the nation of Uganda, called our attention to the needs of his war-torn, HIV-ridden nation and asked that we provide funds to educate 57 Ugandan girls who are orphaned and poor. In his opinion, education of women -- a rarity in such a poor country -- is necessary for living conditions to improve there. Nativity met this request, permitting the girls to complete the equivalent of high school. Some were able to continue on to university. Members of Nativity exchanged photographs and letters with the students they individually sponsored. This ministry continues as an independent 501c3 entity, the US-Uganda Orphans Education Fund.

Support of Diocesan Institutions

Episcopal Housing Ministry

EHM develops neighborhoods of affordable, service-oriented housing for low and moderate-income families. Nativity participates in the St. Nicholas Project to provide Christmas gifts to children residing at EHM.

Episcopal Campus Ministry

ECM is an opportunity for worship, spiritual reflection, Christian education, fellowship, pastoral and peer counseling, and service opportunities for the students and faculty of North Carolina State University, Meredith College, and Peace College. Those who become involved in ECM frequently become clergy and parish leaders. Other than staff salaries, the entire ministry is supported through donations. Nativity provides funds for this ministry and other assistance such as facilities repair and meals. The Episcopal Church also supports St. Augustine's College, a historically African-American institution in Raleigh.

Farmworkers

The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry has responded to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of migrant farmworkers and their families in eastern North Carolina. This ministry serves thousands of Hispanic farmworkers each year through spiritual programming, free immigration services, English classes, a women's group, food and clothing distribution, extensive migrant camp outreach and more.

Thompson Child and Family Focus

In 1886 the Episcopal Church founded an orphanage in Charlotte. Formerly known as Thompson Children's Home, this ministry continues today at several locations in Charlotte. Thompson provides services for children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Nativity takes a special collection for this ministry in November and provides additional funds.

Penick Village

Located in Southern Pines, Penick Village is a retirement community that includes outreach as a fundamental part of its mission. Nativity takes a special collection for this ministry in May, and members of Nativity have served on its Board of Directors.

Others

Through its voluntary contributions to the mission program of the diocese, Nativity assists in diverse activities from college chaplaincies to urban Hispanic congregations. Nativity has provided designated funding for Episcopal Relief and Development.