Frequently Asked Questions

I've heard of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, but what exactly is the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, and what do you do?

The Council of Churches of the Ozarks is a Christian nonprofit service organization with a mission to "improve the quality of life" for some of the most vulnerable people in the Ozarks, "by doing together what can best be done together." We pursue our mission through nine interrelated agencies that provide services for vulnerable children, seniors and people with disabilities.

The Council of Churches of the Ozarks also consists of member churches and ministry partners who share a commitment to serving our neighbors in need. Services include providing new clothing and tutoring for foster children, a food pantry, a clothing bank, rental assistance and other services for households in crisis, a medical model adult daycare facility, therapeutic riding and hippotherapy for children, youth and adults with disabilities, child care training and referrals for families, advocacy for nursing home residents, essential home repair for low-income seniors, reimbursement for food and snacks for children through licensed in-home daycare providers, grocery shopping assistance for the homebound, a reading buddy program for children, and a volunteer support network for seniors.

Many of the service agencies within the Council of Churches of the Ozarks work in multiple counties in the state of Missouri. For example, the Child Care Food Program works in 53 Missouri counties. Other agencies serve only Greene County residents (i.e. Crosslines, Connections Handyman Services and Ambassadors for Children.)

The Council of Churches of the Ozarks is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from 11:30 to 1:00.

Is the Council of Churches of the Ozarks related to the National Council of Churches?

No. The Council of Churches of the Ozarks was originally formed as the Springfield Area Council of Churches in 1969. As the local organization grew, the name was changed to reflect a wider geographic service area. The Council of Churches of the Ozarks is a public charity with an independent volunteer Board of Directors that is not related or affiliated with the National Council of Churches.

Does the Council of Churches of the Ozarks have a doctrinal statement?

As a Christian organization serving some of the most vulnerable people in the Ozarks, we believe that service “in the name of Jesus Christ” is an occasion for working together to “improve the quality of life” for people in need. It is our belief and experience that service unites people, whereas doctrine often divides people. The Council of Churches of the Ozarks welcomes all those who share the core values expressed in our mission statement (see below) and who embrace the teachings of Jesus with regard to serving the poor (especially Matthew 25:31-46) and the significance of unity for Jesus’ followers (especially John 17:20-23).

What does it mean to be a "member church" or "ministry partner" with the Council of Churches?

A Member Church or Ministry Partner is a church or faith community that shares the core values expressed in our mission statement (see below) and embraces the teachings of Jesus with regard to serving the poor (especially Matthew 25:31-46) and the significance of unity for Jesus’ followers (especially John 17:20-23). Such a church or faith community gives expression to their partnership with the Council of Churches of the Ozarks through meaningful support of the work with their prayers, gifts and service. In turn, the Council of Churches of the Ozarks supports its Member Churches and Ministry Partners by creating meaningful service opportunities, providing ministry resources, and raising a voice in our region for social justice and unity in the midst of diversity. Member Churches constitute the “membership” of the organization, meeting annually to review the effectiveness of the Council’s ministry, approve the operating budget, and cast a vision for the future.

Where does the Council of Churches get its funding to operate?

Sources of funding can be identified in these categories: 1) private donations and grants; 2) fees, and 3) contracts.

Together the nine service agencies operated by the Council of Churches of the Ozarks serve vulnerable children, persons of all ages with disabilities, and seniors. Private donations that are undesignated or designated for “area of greatest need” are used to support all nine service agencies.

Each agency has a specialized program of services for the population it serves; therefore the funding sources vary from agency to agency. For example, Crosslines serves the emergency needs of individuals and families in Greene County and is completely dependent on private donations and grants. The Child Care Food Program is a reimbursement program for licensed in-home daycare centers, and it is completely dependent on state and federal contracts for funding. Some agencies like Therapeutic Riding of the Ozarks and Daybreak Adult Daycare are funded by a combination of fees, private donations and grants. Other agencies like Ambassadors for Children and Connections Handyman Services have no fees for their services, and like Crosslines, are completely dependent on private donations and grants. The Long-term Care Ombudsman Program and Child Care Resource & Referral are funded primarily through contracts and grants, and RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) and its programs are funded by a combination of private donations, grants and contracts.

What percentage of funding is used for program purposes?

The leadership of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks is committed to prioritizing program delivery over fundraising and administrative costs. According to our most recent Form 990, 85.5% of total expenses were put to work to deliver program services, 11.5% in support of administration and program management, and 3% in support of fundraising.

In addition, each donated dollar is leveraged 4 times. For every private dollar donated another 4 dollars in support is obtained through public contracts.

Is the Council of Churches related to Ozarks Food Harvest?

Ozarks Food Harvest was originally established under the Council of Churches of the Ozarks in 1983 and was administered by the Council until 2004, when it became part of America’s Second Harvest, now known as Feeding America. Although Ozarks Food Harvest is no longer an agency of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, we enjoy a vital partnership thanks to our shared history and commitment to serving people in need here in the Ozarks.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our region through collaborative outreach in the name of Jesus Christ, by doing together what can best be done together.