Support
Caring is at the heart of our vision statement and the heart of our vision is to care. Pastoral Care within the context of our Church was established to support the leadership of the church and to serve our congregation.
Our congregation is made up of children and young people, young adults and older adults. We as a church body work with one another to meet the pastoral needs of each of these groups within the church. The responsibility of caring for one another is not given to just a few but shared by the church body. Our greatest resource in helping us deliver pastoral care is God’s word.
One of the ways we deliver pastoral care is through our connect groups and the feedback we receive from individuals and families who have experienced that support is excellent. It is one of the strengths of the pastoral care ministry. Other ways we can care for each other is through hospital visits, home visits by request, through prayer ministry and laying on of hands all under the authority of leadership and accountability to leaders and to the Holy Spirit.
Pastoral Care
Helping Hands
Helping Hands Community Outreach Project is a commissioned ministry of Portadown Elim Church & was established on Easter Sunday 2009. We are a family support work, which engages with those within the Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough who are currently facing challenges in life and could use some assistance.
In all areas of the work there are opportunities to serve and volunteer in helping others. This approach can assist those who are unable to work, providing a safe environment where they can realise God’s purpose and plan for their lives. They can create structure and friendship, enhancing their employability while tackling some of the issues they face.
Y-Zone
The Y-Zone was established in April 2000 and is a Youth and Community Outreach department of our church. Our mission is to reach young people in our town who are identified as being ‘at-risk’ or ‘marginalized’. We offer support, guidance, hope and opportunities so that young people can make positive life choices. When young people sense that they are significant, secure, important and authentic they become better shaped mentally and emotionally to choose to live in right relationship with God and others.
Safeguarding
Elim is committed to creating healthy churches and safe spaces for all. We recognise the ways in which children and adults can be at risk of harm or abuse, so endeavour to create a culture to minimise opportunities for abuse to occur. Children rely on adults to keep them safe, therefore all our churches working with children, either directly or indirectly, are committed to safeguarding children in their care. We seek to do this by providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment where children can reach their full potential. Similarly, within our churches there are adults in need of protection, care and support due to vulnerability, whether that is a permanent or temporary state. We are aware too that within our churches there are relationships of trust, which flourish best within healthy churches and environments, where there is openness, transparency and accountability.
We firmly believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and all involved in the life of our churches and activities have a role to play in keeping children, young people and adults safe.
If you wish to raise a concern regarding safeguarding within the Elim organisation, the following form can be used to notify the National Safeguarding Coordinator. A copy of the form will also be emailed to the person completing the information. Link to form
Elim Safeguarding Policy
Missions
At Portadown Elim we believe that all of God’s people are called to join in God’s Big Mission to every nation, tribe & tongue- whether thats praying, giving or answering God’s call to ‘go.’ There is no one off limits or out of bounds to being called by God to get involved in missions! Throughout the year we have a range of opportunities for you to get involved including fundraisers, short term mission teams and prayer meetings where we gather as a family to pray for our precious missionaries who have given up everything to follow Jesus wherever He has led them.
“Therefore, GO and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28 v 19-20