Local Matters Listening Sessions
August 10–24, 2025
Our Zip Codes Are No Accident... In fact, God's plan for people, families, and communities to flourish lands right here—at our doorstep—in the greater Ames area. Browse the teaching, events, and service opportunities below.
What Good is Good? - Coming Sunday 8/3
Missed our kick-off Sunday for Local Matters? Catch Pastor Wayne's teaching on the heart behind our initiative here.
Let's Jump In!
There's Something for Everyone...
Caring Fund
We have the privilege of serving hundreds in our community through the Caring Fund ministry. Residents of Ames who qualify can receive financial assistance with rent, utilities and related living expenses. This fund allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the community. We encourage you to partner with this ministry today!
When giving online, simply select "Caring Fund". When writing a check, please include "Caring Fund" in the memo line. Special envelopes can also be found at the Welcome Center.
Community Partner Volunteer Opportunities
Maintenance Volunteer for Wings of Refuge
Brief Role Description: Volunteer opportunities are available such as landscaping, doing preventative maintenance as well as doing last minute repairs. Background checks are required. Contact Brenda at brendab@wingsofrefugeia.net for more information!
Primary Ministry Area: Serve
Primary Leader and Contact: Wayne Stewart (wstewart@ccames.org)
In-House Volunteers for Wings of Refuge
Brief Role Description: Volunteer opportunities are available such as providing transportation, covering the house during staff meetings, leading women in activities such as crafts and baking, leading a Bible study, providing meals. What do YOU like to do? Background checks and training is required. Contact Brenda at brendab@wingsofrefugeia.net for more information.
Primary Ministry Area: Serve
Primary Leader and Contact: Wayne Stewart (wstewart@ccames.org)
Overflow Thrift Store Volunteer
Brief Role Description: Overflow Thrift Store accepts the abundance of our community, resells gently-used goods, and gives proceeds to organizations caring for those in need, locally and abroad. Volunteers support these efforts by receiving, processing and stocking goods, testing electronics, driving truck for merchandise transport, and serving customers at our registers. Volunteers can serve anytime during Overflow’s business hours – Mondays through Saturdays 10 AM to 6 PM. Volunteers typically serve in 2 hour shifts; service can be weekly, monthly, quarterly.
A 30-minute orientation is required.
Primary Ministry Area: Serve
Primary Leader and Contact: Wayne Stewart (wstewart@ccames.org)
Together for Good Support Volunteer
Brief Role Description: Together for Good creates pathways for the local church to come alongside vulnerable children and families in Christ-centered ministry. We have host families and advocates that come alongside these families to meet direct needs in their lives. Our support volunteers make this work possible by meeting physical needs for the participant families and/or volunteers.
Some opportunities to support are: rides to medical appointments, providing meals, bringing diapers or other supplies or providing gift baskets around holidays.
Together for Good provides training and oversight for our volunteers and we are with you every step of the way.
Onboarding includes: background checks if you will be interacting directly with participants.
Primary Ministry Area: Serve
Primary Leader and Contact: Wayne Stewart (wstewart@ccames.org)
Together for Good Advocate
Brief Role Description: Together for Good Advocates serve parents as a mentor or intentional friend. Together for Good creates pathways for the local church to come alongside vulnerable children and families in Christ-centered ministry. Our Advocates are volunteers who would like to come alongside a mom or dad directly to encourage them. This can vary depending on the volunteer and participant, but mostly it is meeting for coffee or having a phone call, or taking a meal over to see how the participant is doing, and when possible, help encourage and disciple them. We ask for a minimum of two connections per month when possible.
Together for Good provides training and oversight for our volunteers and we are with you every step of the way.
Onboarding includes: background checks, references, and training.
Primary Ministry Area: Serve
Primary Leader and Contact: Wayne Stewart (wstewart@ccames.org)
Together for Good Host Parent
Brief Role Description: Together for Good Host Families serve by welcoming children into their home for short-term stays. Each host family looks a bit different, picking and choosing which opportunities to help with. Most of the hostings (95%) are short-term respite hostings, one or two days or a weekend a month. Every once in awhile there will be a crisis hosting, helping during a medical emergency or something similar, for those host families willing to host kids for a longer period. Caring for children through these hostings allows the parents to get the short break they need, catch up on things or endure a crisis. This helps these families endure longer and stay together as a family for the long-term.
Together for Good provides training and oversight for our volunteers and we are with you every step of the way.
Onboarding includes: background checks, references, training, and a one-hour home visit.
Primary Ministry Area: Serve
Primary Leader and Contact: Wayne Stewart (wstewart@ccames.org)