Serve Local | Ministry Opportunities
Dawson Ministries
The Learning Center
The Learning Center is a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to transforming lives and building a community of hope for future generations. Our mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty by empowering adults through education. Our vision is to see students become self-sufficient and experience a better quality of life for themselves and their families.
There are two main opportunities to volunteer with The Learning Center:
- Instructors/Greeters/Tutors – No certification required! Dawson volunteers are needed to teach at The Learning Center. The GED program offers continuous instruction for invested clients. Volunteers provide in-class instruction of Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, Computer, Bible Study, Writing Workshop, and various life skills courses. As a volunteer, you will make a tremendous impact in the life of another adult who is struggling to succeed, while demonstrating the love of Christ to someone who is in need.
- Community Meal – The Learning Center needs volunteers who are willing to help encourage students toward success by providing a weekly meal. Lunches will usually be for about 15-20 people and will need to be delivered at 11:45am on Wednesdays. This is a wonderful opportunity for an individual, a group of friends, or a Dawson Life Group to support this ministry. To sign up for a time, please visit this link: http://dawsonchurch.org/TLClunch
Contact: Ryann Mitchell or Carrie Mullis at info@bhamlearning.org
Kids Connection
Kids Connection is a ministry of the Dawson Family of Faith to show God’s love by providing for the physical and spiritual needs of children from birth to age 16 whose parents or guardians do not have the resources to meet all those needs. Every week more than 75 children receive needed physical resources and spiritual help. Each year over 3,000 children are provided an estimated 12,000 sets of clothing and other needed item.
There are two main opportunities to volunteer with Kid’s Connection:
- Store Assistants– Volunteers are needed weekly to handle donations, serve customers, keep records, and provide spiritual counseling for family members that come to Kids Connection. Mondays and Wednesdays are designated donation organization days when volunteers stock the store. Tuesdays and Thursdays are designated customer service days when clients shop. Childcare for volunteers is provided on a limited basis.
- Donate – Kids Connection is currently accepting donations at the Kids Connection van in Dawson's North Parking Lot. The van is open for donations every day.
Contact: Joy Phillips at KidsConnectionAL@gmail.com
Iglesia Vida Nueva
In 2017, Dawson’s Hispanic congregation planted a new church in Fultondale, North Jefferson County. Iglesia Vida Nueva (New Life Church) is a congregation comprised of individuals and families from various nations of Latin America.
Volunteers are needed throughout the year to assist the children’s ministry and with special projects. Spanish language skills are not required to volunteer.
Contact: Pastor Joshua del Risco at jdelrisco@dawsonchurch.org
English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes
Volunteers are needed weekly to teach conversational English to internationals. Training is provided for all volunteers, so no previous experience is required. Classes meet on Thursdays from 9:00am until 10:30am at Dawson. Classes begin in September and run through May each year.
Contact: Ben Hale at bhale@dawsonchurch.org
Dawson Missionary Houses
Dawson provides two missionary residences for international missionaries on temporary assignment in the States. The houses are adject to the Dawson campus and are fully furnished. Dawson volunteers maintain the homes and help provide hospitality to our visiting missionaries.
Contact: Ben Hale at bhale@dawsonchurch.org
Dawson Missions Transportation Team
There are occasional opportunities to serve Dawson members as they prepare to travel on short-term mission trips. Smaller teams often fly out of Atlanta, and we need volunteers to drive them to the airport in a Dawson van. This is a tangible and unique way to support missions at Dawson!
Contact: Kyle Bailey at kbailey@dawsonchurch.org
Dawson Construction Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for occasional projects to support worthy causes in the community. Contact the Missions office for the latest opportunities.
Contact: Kyle Bailey at kbailey@dawsonchurch.org
Community Ministries
M-Power (Medical and Educational)
When you volunteer at with our mission partners at M-POWER Ministries, you support a work that is giving hope to so many people in our community. Volunteers fulfill vital roles in every aspect of their Health Center, working with the staff to meet the needs of their patients. At their monthly volunteer orientations, prospective volunteers can learn about their programs and all available volunteer opportunities.
Contact: Maura Ellen Bryan at volunteer@mpowerministries.org
Grace Klein Community
Grace Klein Community seeks to create authentic community by uniting diverse individuals, businesses, ministries, and churches to work together by sharing what they have in order to meet physical and spiritual needs both locally and globally.
There are many opportunities for both individuals and Life Groups to volunteer with Grace Klein Ministries. Please visit their website (https://gracekleincommunity.com/volunteer/) to get to connected. Volunteers serve by delivering food, working in the distribution facilities, or by “rescuing” unused food.
Contact: Carla Phillips, Grace Klein Community Serve Team & Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteers@gracekleincommunity.com or Laura Pickens (Dawson member) at onacliff@aol.com.
Spirit of Luke Ministries
Located in Coy, Alabama, Spirit of Luke Ministries strives to meet the spiritual, physical, and educational needs of people living in Alabama’s Black Belt Region. Teams take one-day trips each year to provide food, clothing and school supplies and build relationships with residents.
Contact: David Bivin at dbivin3@gmail.com
Operation Christmas Child
Each year, Dawson will gather hundreds of shoeboxes that will be distributed around the world by Samaritan’s Purse. Individuals and Life Groups can help prepare and gather the boxes.
Contact: Ben Hale at bhale@dawsonchurch.org