Meet Amanda Smith!

One facet of our Outreach ministry is Missions Grants—a funding program that invites our members to apply for yearly grants of $1,000-2,500 to support specific projects or programs of their personal ministry.

As applications for Missions Grants open soon, we’d love to introduce one of our current recipients. Meet Powdersville member Amanda Smith! This year, Amanda has received a Missions Grant on behalf of the Augustine Literacy Project, a non-profit organization that provides one-on-one tutoring to qualified students in the Upstate. The Augustine Literacy Project relies on volunteer tutors and emphasizes the importance of tutors building relationships with their students. Amanda began tutoring the ALP in the fall of 2022, and she shared with us what God has been teaching her through her time there.

As my boys got close to graduating highschool and became more independent, I found myself with more free time, so I began looking for a meaningful way to serve. Being involved with kids who have needs outside of my typical experience has given me a deeper understanding and empathy for others.

I'm a mom, fortunate to have been very active in the lives of my kids, and to now engage with kids who face challenges that are completely different from my own kids has grown my own sense of gratitude as well as my responsibility. To understand and see the grace and love that's been poured out in my own life, and to be able to take that and say, how can I give to others what’s been given to me? So then God’s love is not just a concept but a tangible thing that has impacted me and that I can share with others.

We are so thankful to have a small part in not only providing a resource to the children in our communities, but in discipling our members. The grant from Grace Church is being used to train new tutors at ALP, so even more children in need have access to free tutoring. If you are a member and part of a non-profit or ministry that would benefit from a Missions Grant, applications are opening on March 21! Click below to visit the webpage where you can learn more and apply.