Friendship Center

Friendship Center is an outreach ministry of RCF that assists people with long-term financial and spiritual needs. Friendship Center is primarily, though not exclusively, for single moms. Read about our Vision and Values.

Summer Camp: No Need is too Big for God!
Every summer the Lord gives us an opportunity to send the children of our single parents to camp. It is one of the highlights of the year for the Riverside family because this is what the Church is all about – helping one another in the name of Christ! It is a great comfort to know that these moms will not have to worry (as much!) about where their children are during the day as they are out of school for the summer. This project is just one of the many organized by Friendship Center, which is the “mercy” ministry of Riverside. We are so grateful for Mary Ann Kuhn, our Executive Director, and for Ministry Coordinator Linda Wittenmyer. These ladies work full time to help Riverside excel in areas of showing God’s kindness to one another.The Summer Camp project captures the heart of our desire as we care for one another.

Some would consider this project simply “too much”. The cost is over $100 per child each week for the entire summer. But you, Riverside, respond generously every year to meet the need. Because of the sacrificial giving and participation of all the Riverside family we are able to say that no need is “too much”.

Pantry
What a joy it is to share food with so many. Thanks to people like you, our RCF family, and our partnership with First Presbyterian Church of Coral Springs, our pantry is used to meet the needs of many families in our area and in our church. No one has ever been turned away because our shelves were empty. We are grateful to our Lord for His constant provision.

The Best Day of the Week: Wednesday!
Each Wednesday evening there is a class for the single moms, which has become a very special part of our week. It is a time for talking, sharing, crying, learning, and seeking God’s plan through studying His word. Maggie Laurenceau, one of our moms says, “The support we get from other single moms and that we give each other, along with the lessons studied on a weekly basis, are all good and all reinforcing. When I walk out from class on Wednesday evening, I feel truly blessed. It is an hour I do not want to miss. I thank God for Friendship Center. We are all blessed by the atmosphere that is there for all of us each week – it is our ‘little home’.”

The Thrift Store
The Thrift Store opened in August 1998, after many years of praying through a vision. It has accomplished several purposes. First, the Store meets the needs of people coming to Friendship Center for help by providing clothes and other items at a very low cost. Second, it helps us to facilitate the abundance of donations, and third, the Store provides much needed financial support to the ministry. Donations come not just from our church, but from several other churches, from local businesses, and from the community. Charo Rhoads, our intake manager, is assisted by many faithful volunteers. They help maintain a friendly, helpful atmosphere and are ready to share the gospel and the love of Christ.

Vision and Values
The ministry of Friendship Center is to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of people in distress. This comprehensive ministry provides crisis intervention, counseling and help with a full range of family needs including food, clothing, childcare, education, legal services and shelter. Our goal is to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ and give them the support they need to develop a rock solid relationship with God which will be the foundation to rebuild their lives. We are committed to:

• A belief that the Bible is the inerrant and unchanging authority for life. The Bible will be the source of guidance and instruction in counseling.

• A belief that only marriage or remaining single are God’s basic structures for men and women. Any other situation or lifestyle is not of God.

• A belief in the sanctity of life. Life begins at conception and should not be terminated for any reason. We further believe that children are a gift from God and their well being, spiritual and emotional development are a responsibility of the parents.

• Knowledge that God expects us to work to provide for ourselves and our family. Friendship Center will encourage, help find, and in some cases require working or seeking employment.

• Acknowledging that Friendship Center is under the authority of Riverside Christian Fellowship.

• A belief that church membership and relationships are important. Each person needs to be involved in church life and a home group.• A hope that people ministered to will ultimately minister to others.