An Idea Whose Time Has Come!

The Challenge!

In November, 2006, Mission Central began to search for a way to enable persons from the more distant regions of our Conference to participate in the kind of volunteer and service activities experienced in Mechanicsburg without having to travel so far! With the recent increases in fuel costs, a means to accomplish this goal has become even more significant as we seek the means to enable God's people to be His hands and feet in service!

The Solution!

HUBs - places where people could go and experience a smaller version of Mission Central that was directed and managed by people feeling called to expand our outreach - were devised in February, 2007. What we envisioned as a one or two location start has grown beyond our imagined level of interest - putting us way ahead of our intended schedule!

Interested in Finding our Current Hub Sites Quickly?

Click under the Hubs menu in the navigation to the left.

Why are they called HUBs?

After considering several options, we decided that the image of a HUB (as represented by each gear in a cluster of gears turning separately but in common and in constant contact!) illustrated what we proposed to happen! If you can visualize Mission Central (affectionately known in HUB vernacular as the "mother ship"!) as the largest gear in the cluster and that each gear turning in concert with Mission Central represents one of the places that carries out similar work but further out from the center - you get the idea!

Why does a church or organization become a HUB for Mission Central ?

Hands on volunteer ministry, as experienced in the completion of the ministry of Mission Central, is a powerful means to understand and fulfill the directives of Jesus as found in Matthew 24, vs. 40: "As much as you have done one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me, you did it to me!" (The Message)

Those interested are seeing the possibilities for service they can create by being affiliated with Mission Central, which has the capacity to facilitate the "how to" of their service and act as the receiving and distribution center for the results of their labors.

Our HUBs also share our vision that hands on mission can be a powerful tool for sharing the

Gospel by illustrating who we are called to be and by living out our faith in ways that are visible to others.

Each Hub agrees to be ecumenical in its outreach and volunteer recruitment, agrees to work with persons of all ages and backgrounds, and agrees to make local mission a first priority in their collection and distribution of materials.

What goes on at HUBs?

Each HUB is free and encouraged to determine the scope of its individual ministry, based on the facility space they may have, the number of volunteers they may have or can accommodate at anyone time, and the interests and service focus that is most important to the HUB location.

Most HUBS are collecting and assembling one or more of the UMCOR Kits that are used for response to disaster and in support of mission work nationally and internationally.

HUBs have volunteer work hours where people can come individually or in groups to complete the hands-on work that is needed.

HUBs may seek out volunteers of all ages, from schools, from senior centers, from other churches and then train and instruct them in the ways of completing the tasks they have determined to complete. This includes the collecting, sorting, packing, and distribution of aid materials.

Some HUBs collect other materials used at Mission Central (such as household items, toys, educational items - what ever is most important to Mission Central at the time) and facilitate getting them to Mission Central for inclusion in larger shipments to people in need outside the immediate area of the HUB.

HUBs learn what is happening locally in their area and seek to find out where they can help to fulfill basic human needs, many times in support of other ministries and outreach projects in their area.

HUBs may also serve as a holding center for a designated number of emergency relief supplies for immediate distribution during times of natural disaster. At those times, designated HUBs will also act as receiving points for shipment from Mission Central that will be utilized to meet the needs of disaster victims in the HUBs immediate area.

In every HUB, fellowship, service to God, and service to others is the primary focus. How God calls each location to fulfill this focus is an exciting part of being a HUB!

Does "HUB" stand for anything particular?

Some of our HUBs have been very creative in coming up with meanings for the acronym we are using - Some examples are:

H = Hands and Hearts, U = United and Unlimited, B = Bringing, Blessing

H = Heart and Hope, U = Uniform yet Unique, B = Birth of more centers, volunteers, projects

Each Hub may come up with their own!

How does a church or organization become a HUB?

Churches or organizations interested in becoming a Mission Central HUB can contact Mission Central to share their interest and to discuss the possibilities for their area. You may also look at our standard "Covenant Agreement" to become familiar with the general provisions of our HUB relationships.

What does the "Covenant Relationship Agreement" look like?

Please click on this link to see our "Covenant Agreement"

What is Mission Central's future vision for the HUB project?

Our vision to have HUBs located in our own Central PA Conference at places which strategically fill the needs to provide service and collection opportunities.

We further envision the establishment of HUBs throughout the North East Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church (covers the states of New Jersey, Eastern and Western PA, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Maryland).

We also envision HUBs being provided with other denominational and non-denominational groups in these regions.