The Regional Council for Christian Ministry is a non-profit corporation that was organized in 1965 by local churches. Its purpose is to coordinate programs in Christian education, service, and outreach in the local area.
RCCM PROGRAMS
We have three standing committees that operate the following outreach programs under RCCM’s umbrella:
Island Park Ministry Team
Idaho Falls Community Food Bank
F.I.S.H.—Friends in Service Here
Island Park Ministry Team
The Little Church in the Pines was built as a shared place of worship and was dedicated on July 6, 1941. This is the Regional Council’s oldest continuing program, originally developed as a mission project by the First Lutheran Church with support from the regional Lutheran church in 1965. It came under the administration of the Regional Council in 1968. Various churches support the weekly services from Memorial Day through September each year by attending and providing music, refreshments, etc. The attendance averages about 108 people per week during the summer. The organizational leadership of this Committee rotates among the Regional Council’s member churches. The Little Church in the Pines is now open year round – services are at 11:00 a.m. during the off season.
The Island Park Ministry Team provides weekly ecumenical worship services each Sunday during the summer season at 10 a.m., at the Little Church in the Pines, in Island Park, Idaho. A Christian minister is hired for the summer season. The program is funded through Sunday offerings, donations and member church support.
Should you plan to visit Island Park, please come as you are and worship with us!
Idaho Falls Community Food Bank
In 1979, several families who were members of “Bread for the World” met to determine the need for a food bank in Idaho Falls. By the middle of 1980, the food bank they started came under the sponsorship of the Regional Council. To obtain food, a person or family must be referred by a local service agency or church. There is a limit of six boxes given in any six-month period for each case, and each box provides food for three meals a day for four days.
During 2009, the food bank distributed 8309 food boxes that provided food for 27,800 adults and children. The 2009 total expenses were $121,857. This program is supported by the donations of many caring individuals, churches, civic groups, grants, and significant gifts from the Goodfellow Fund. Many thanks are given for the extraordinary donations of food items. Needed food items are purchased, prepared, and distributed by approximately 30 regular volunteers and 15 substitutes. New volunteers are always needed to collect donated food, stock shelves, pack boxes, distribute food boxes, and enter information into the computer.
The Food Bank is located at 245 N Placer. Space is provided free by First Presbyterian Church. Food distribution hours are Monday through Friday, 4:00—5:00 p.m. A food referral slip is needed. The food bank is closed on all state and federal holidays.
F.I.S.H.—Friends in Service Here
Ministers from First Lutheran Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church (now St. Luke’s Episcopal church) started this outreach program in 1974, to help local people who found themselves in emergency financial situations. F.I.S.H., Friends In Service Here, has become the last resort agency that provides help with personal hygiene items, prescriptions, food, travel, gasoline, temporary lodging, non-food items, and so on, when no one else can help the individuals in need. Clients are referred to FISH from other agencies. FISH works with local elementary schools to provide school supplies to deserving children. Personal hygiene kits are assembled from donated items and distributed to individuals and other agencies. FISH is supported totally by donations from individuals and churches. Volunteers operate FISH.
So far in the 2009-2010 school year, 514 children have received supplies. During 2009, FISH helped 480 familes.
A FISH volunteer can be reached by calling 521-2631 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
The RCCM office is located in the basement of Trinity United Methodist Church. TUMC provides this office space at no cost to RCCM and it is greatly appreciated!!
If you wish to assist with one of our programs or want more information, please contact us at:
Regional Council for Christian Ministry, Inc.
P. O. Box 2236
Idaho Falls, ID 83403
Phone: 524-9935
Email: rccm@tumcif.org
At present, the Regional Council membership consists of the following Christian churches in Idaho Falls:
First Christian Church, 1800 E 12th St, 523-3241
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 270 N Placer, 522-8465
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 455 W Sunnyside, 522-9301
First Presbyterian Church, 325 Elm St, 523-0501
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1730 St. Clair Rd, 522-9076
Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 N Water, 522-7921
Hope Lutheran Church, 2071 E 12th St, 529-8080
St. John Lutheran Church, 290 7th St, 522-5650
Crown of Life Lutheran Church, 3856 E 300 N, Rigby, 745-7191
