In July, 2010, our church began ministry with the Broadwater Townhome community off Harrowgate Road.  We began by hosting monthly Family Nights, and have transitioned to other monthly events including distributing teddy bears alongside the children of Broadwater at a local retirement community and hosting a Thanksgiving celebration in the Broadwater Community.  For more information on upcoming events and ministry opportunities, please check back frequently for event postings on our homepage, or contact Jenni Deckert.

CARITAS is an acronym for Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter.  The program began in the mid 1980’s as a response to the growing need for shelter for homeless.   In addition to food and shelter, CARITAS offers support and guidance through full-time case managers who work with each willing client to take the necessary financial, legal, medical and emotional steps toward self-sufficiency.  Through CARITAS, congregations serve as the first line of community support for anyone in need of emergency shelter.    To get more information you can check out the  CARITAS website is caritasshelter.org.

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), a nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry, was founded in 1976 on the conviction that all of God’s children deserve a decent and safe place to live. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Chester United Methodist Church works with the Rochmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity serving the City of Richmond and the surrounding counties of Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico and New Kent.  You don’t have to be a skilled craftsman to serve, just a willing heart.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Bruce Koch.

CCHASM stands for Chesterfield Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry. This is a non-profit organization that serves individuals and families in Chesterfield-Colonial Heights who have found themselves in an economic crisis.  CCHASM provides emergency financial/food assistance, Thanksgiving meal packages, career clothes closet and emergency disaster relief for this area.  For more information, visit www.cchasm.org or email Kay Williams.

For almost two years, we have been blessed to provide a ministry to the unemployed througout the Chester community.  Throughout this time, we were able to help many people work through the shock of unemployment and find their way back into the job market.  At this time, we feel that this ministry has run its course and will no longer hold weekly meetings.  However, Kris Spadaccia, the leader of our Empowerment Ministry, will continue to offer resume editing and other forms of support for those in need.  You may contact her by using the link below.

This ministry supports families sent to us through CCHASM - young single mothers earning only minimum wage, fathers who have been laid off from their jobs now bringing no income to the family, older grandparents on fixed incomes, perhaps having custody of This ministry supports families sent to us through CCHASM - young single mothers earning only minimum wage, fathers who have been laid off from their jobs nowgrandchildren, homeless individuals…and the list goes on. The Food Pantry’s support comes through food items and monetary contributions from our congregation.  Food Pantry volunteers put away grocery donations, prepare the bags with groceries, and are at the church on Thursday evenings to receive the CCHASM families.  Please contact Ed Garrett for more information.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Those who participate in this ministry purchase gifts to send to those who might otherwise be without for Christmas.  For more information, please contact Sharon Buchanon.

Pathways is an inner-city mission in downtown Petersburg that affords youth and young adults the  opportunity to get their GED and acquire training in a skill. Their YouthBuild program requires that all students help build and/or refurbish houses in the Petersburg area. The Pathways center also offers a free cardiac clinic.  Please contact Ed Garrett for more information.

Appalachia Service Project is a mission trip to Appalachia (Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky) to work with economically stressed families to make their homes safer, warmer, and drier. Skilled and non-skilled volunteers are welcomed to participate. Mission trips are generally in the summer for one week.  Please contact Amy Dodd for more information.

This is an exciting ministry in Florida City, Florida.  BRANCHES seeks to reach children, youth, and their families in a very needy area and is led by KIm K. Torres, a United Methodist missionary supported by Chester Church.  Our aim is to have an ongoing  partnership between Branches and Chester Church, with a mission team of youth and adults going to Florida City in 2010.  For more information, please contact Carolyn Landis.

We are vitally interested in being missionaries all across the world, especially in the Sudan, one of the most needy areas in the world.  We want to maintain and grow our mission work to Sudanese, both those in the United States and in the Sudan. We are currently supporting  several of the Lost Boys of Sudan in their pursuit of a college education in the United States with our prayers and financial support. We are also planning to send a mission team within the next 3-5 years to assist in the efforts to rebuild Sudan.  For more information, please contact Elna Mey.

This ministry plans the yearly church picnic which provides fun and fellowship for the congregation.  Please contact Darlene Emerson for more information.

This ministry contacts church members who have experienced a death in the family and provides a meal or funeral reception, as the family requests.  Please contact Darlene Emerson for more information.

Connections sessions are designed to help prospective members learn more about the church, and assist new members in becoming assimilated into the church family.  Please contact Pastor Rita for more information.

This ministry organizes groups of couples and singles who meet monthly for dinner. Each couple or person hosts the dinner once in their home.  This is an excellent opportunity to get to know people within the congregation in a casual and inviting atmosphere.  Please contact Darlene Emerson for more information.

To welcome new people to the church, we provide gift bags containing candy, goodies, and information about the church.  Please contact Mark Swofford if you are interested in helping with this ministry.

Greeters are the first impression many people receive of our church.  They are stationed inside the Atrium and Narthex to welcome guests and members to either of the three Sunday services and for special events of the church.  Please contact Mark Swofford if you are interested in helping with this ministry.

The leisure ministry organizes the church softball and volleyball teams, recruiting coaches and players.  They also organize other recreational activities throughout the year.  Please contact Darlene Emerson for more information.

This ministry recruits volunteers to provides meals to members who are ill or recuperating from surgery.  They also organize volunteers to provide transportation for members who need rides to doctors' appointments.  Please contact Darlene Emerson for more information.

The church maintains basica medical equipment (i.e. crutches, wheelchairs, etc.) to lend to church members.  If you're interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Darlene Emerson.

Prayer requests from church members are sent out to members who provide their e-mail addresses. If you would like to receive prayer chain emails, or if you would like to palce a prayer on the prayer chain, please contact Dee Fisher.

This ministry meets weekly to knit prayer shawls that are given to our high school graduates, ill members, or members in crisis.  For more information, please contact Darlene Emerson.

Trained Stephen Ministers meet regularly and confidentially to provide support to  church members in crisis.  If you would like to receive a Stephen Minister, or are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Marg.

These men and women distribute bulletins for worship services, assist guests and members, and take up the offering at each of our three Sunday worship services.  If you are interested in becoming part of this ministry, please contact Gordon Morris.

This ministry meets weekly under the supervision of the associate pastor or minister of visition to visit members who are "shut-ins' or who are ill. For more information, to receive a visit, or to become part of the visitation team, please contact Pastor Brandon.

This team (usually 1-2 people) visits new babies born in the church and takes them a small welcome gift.  For more information, please contact Louise Ross.

This is a table in the atrium of the church at which guests may gain information about the ministries, activities, and events of the church.  There are also volunteers available to answer any questions people might have about the church.  For more information, please contact Mark Swofford.