St. Albans Ministry Alliance

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

Have you ever wondered about who our town is named after? Who was St. Alban anyway?

We invite you to an inter-denominational worship service observing the Feast Day of St. Alban on Monday, June 22, at 6:00 PM at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Worship will be led by our local church and ministry leaders and the St.
Albans Festival Chorus, bringing together voices from across our community in praise and
thanksgiving. A time of refreshments will follow, provided by the volunteers of Christ’s Kitchen.

This special service will offer a meaningful time of worship, fellowship among members of our various churches, and shared encouragement as we celebrate the ministries that unite us in service to our neighbors. Those attending will also have the opportunity to hear from and learn more about the benevolences supported through SAMA and the ways we are working together to care for our community. Join us!

05/28/2026

Thank you to the St. Albans Post Office, the mail carriers, the volunteers, and all the gracious citizens of St. Albans for making the annual Post Office Food Drive such a success!!! The SA Food Pantry received 14,200 pounds of food! This food is such a blessing to a multitude of families in the St. Albans area. St. Albans is truly a great community!

05/01/2026

Join us behind the Mound on Monday.

04/21/2026

MINUTES St. Albans Ministry Alliance April 21, 2026 | 11:30am | Community Bridge

Present: Chris Kimbro, John Nelson, Chris Kilbert, Jack Rogers, Darick Biondi, Beth Sturgill, Wayne Kersey, Jeb Brady, Jamie Albert

Excused: Jason Robbins, Will Ford, Carla Kay Hoskins

Opening Prayer offered by: Chris Kimbro

Officer Reports

- Review of the Minutes (included). Received

- Treasurer’s Reports (included). Verbally presented by John Nelson. Inquired of distribution of Lenten offerings. Motion made by Beth S, seconded by Jeb B, to divide 7 ways (CK, FP, JEA, JH, CB, SPCEDC/HH, GP). Motion carried. Also mentioned that a piece of silver was given in one of the offerings. Motion was made for John to take silver to Randy Thomas to convert to cash, to be added to Lenten total, then distribute total evenly to the 7 benevolences. Motion seconded and approved. Motion to receive treasurer’s report made, seconded, approved.

Benevolence Reports

- Christ’s Kitchen / Food Pantry (Send donations to P.O. Box 248) (Report included). Beth Sturgill gave verbal report. Stamp Out Hunger P.O. Food Drive will be Saturday, May 9. Volunteers needed from 1:00-5:00 PM to sort and stock food. Please also promote donations for food drive in your churches. Top 5 pantry needs: Tuna, canned meat (chicken, Spam), cake mix, frosting, and pudding. For Christ’s Kitchen, Mary McCoy is doing well and has hired a part-time helper named Hannah.

- Community Bridge (Send donations to P.O. Box 625) (Report included). www.wvcommunitybridge.org. Chris Kimbro gave verbal report and handed out written report, detailing people and programs – those served has doubled from first quarter last year. Had Bless You Day last Saturday, broke the record again (2500 in attendance). Served 13 WV counties, 1 in KY, and 2 in OH. Volunteers from 8 different churches, as well as recovery & charitable organizations. Huge success. Yesterday, CB opened hub in Huntington two blocks from Pullman Square. Renovating bowling alley to become teen recovery center and permanent location for the CB hub. Another opening in Eastbank. Toyota donated bicycles; will be given to those without other forms of transportation. Received large shipment of new mattress. Greatest needs are SPACE and FOOD. Working with Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation – received a grant to put in a commercial walk-in freezer & walk-in fridge, as well as for purchase of protein food to address food insecurity in our surrounding counties. On Wed. May 6 – Prepped and Polished career opp. event and community giveaway on Main St in So. Chas. – haircuts, resume assistance, mobile career closet, attorneys on site to help get records expunged; Tues. May 5 at So. Chas. Rec Center, 50 employers on site for job interviews.

- Gabriel Project (Report included). John gave verbal report. Met with United Way to get assistance/approval.

- Hezekiah House – No report submitted. Jack R. gave verbal report. Tyrone has stepped down. Down to 4 house residents. New drainage system has been put in. Working with mayor to secure funds for gravel lot.

- SPCEDC – No report submitted. No rep present.

- Jericho House – No report submitted. No rep present.

- Jubilee Emergency Assistance (Send donations to P.O. Box 204) (Report included). Chris Kimbro gave verbal presentation. Have been able to help 17 families this past month.

- St. Albans Chamber of Commerce – No rep present.

Old Business

1. Preparation of SAMA promotional video. Will Ford will film. TABLED. Chris Kimbro will have conversation with Jason R. and Will F. to determine when and how to film in a timely way.

2. Brother’s Keeper St. Albans – need director, attend/shadow at Parchment Valley in June. Chris Kimbro explained necessity for a director and their legwork/responsibilities. Pray and brainstorm who might be a good fit. If you have someone in your church who may be a good fit, invite them to May SAMA meeting. Jamie Albert asked for a 1-page job description that can be shared with our churches. Chris Kimbro will ask Jason R. to prepare and send to Chris Kilbert to share with our churches.

New Business – None

Matters of Attention/Upcoming Events

1. Feast of St. Albans – Monday, June 22 – St. Mark’s Episcopal. Community-wide worship event highlighting our united St Albans work. Service at 6pm. Dinner to follow at approx. 7pm in Christ’s Kitchen. Darick Biondi stated that Rev. Cheryl Winter, Rector of St. Mark’s, said St. Mark’s will happily host it. She offered to help with liturgy, suggesting specific to St Alban. Darick will get Jason R. and Cheryl in contact with each other to make preparations. Beth will confirm with Mary McCoy. Recommended that those in attendance be encouraged to make a suggested donation of $8 for dinner to support Christ’s Kitchen.

2. St. Albans Festivals – Main St. stage utilized on Sundays – Yak Fast (June 21); Mountaineer Main St. (Aug. 23); Fall Y’All Cook Off (Oct. 18) – Party Planning Team: Adam Bryan, Jeb Brady, Jake Henley, Jason Robbins. Jeb Brady will touch base with Adam Bryan regarding these efforts.

3. Documentation Committee – 501c3 nonprofit. Jason Robbins & John Nelson to serve. Churches: Ask your members with any such experience to please contact Jason R. John said that Beth and Jason have some info that may help in the process of becoming an official nonprofit.

4. SAMA on your church website – add a link on your church website to SAMA page. For an example, visit St. Andrew UMC’s website www.sasaumc.org (under Outreach tab, as well as bottom of homepage). If you have questions about adding a link to your church’s webpage, contact Ernie Downey for assistance.

5. Jeb Brady shared about End of School Carnival – passed out flyers. Jeb will send flyer to Chris Kilbert to share with churches.

6. Jeb said $7500 in donations have been received for the SA FCA hub to continue to offer the Good News.

7. Race Against Hunger date set for September 26, 2026. Mark your calendars! Wayne K. and Steve H. will continue to serve as the organizers. Overhead expense will be less this year.

State of the Heart

- Next SAMA meeting: Tuesday May 19, 11:30 AM at Community Bridge

Closing Prayer offered by: Chris Kilbert

04/15/2026

St. Albans Ministry Alliance Minutes
March 17, 2026

Present:
Jason Robbins, Chris Kimbro, John Nelson, Chris Kilbert, Dr. Michael Poke, Jack Rogers, Beth Sturgill, Jean Wallace, Jeb Brady, Adam Bryan, Darick Biondi, Carla Kay Hoskins, Jake Henley

Benevolence Reports

- Christ’s Kitchen / Food Pantry (Send donations to P.O. Box 248). Beth Sturgill gave verbal report. Beth has asked to speak with City Council on April 6. The Stamp Out Hunger PO Food Drive will be Saturday, May 9. Top 5 pantry needs: hamburger helper, pasta sides, cake mix, pudding, and tuna.

- Community Bridge (Send donations to P.O. Box 625). Chris Kimbro gave verbal report. 963 individuals helped last month. Healthy Family Program partnered WVSU going well. WVSU has assisted in providing/building additional storage space and space for classes. Hiring a permanent part time program coordinator to help with Healthy Families program. Cooking, sewing, and crafting classes have been successful; working on starting financial classes. Items needed most: body wash and woman’s underwear. Bless You Day will be on April 18. Printed flyers can be picked up at CB. Will also be on Facebook. CB hosted
​first-ever mission team – group of college students came and volunteered with projects.

- Gabriel Project John Nelson presented verbal report, directed to printed report. John offered to obtain and share year-end report for all GP locations, detailing number served, etc.

- Hezekiah House – Dr. Poke gave verbal report. Every 3rd Monday the men celebrate sobriety. Only three men currently in the house; lost two recently. Raising money to put in parking lot. HH. Gave thanks for the Lord’s amazing provision with grants received.

- SPCEDC – Jack Rogers gave verbal report. Some SPCEDC volunteers helped with work needed at Jericho House for the living areas for the women.

- Jericho House – Carla extended a thank you to SPCEDC for their restoration work at JH.

- Jubilee Emergency Assistance (Send donations to P.O. Box 204) Chris Kimbro presented verbal report.

- St. Albans Chamber of Commerce – Adam Bryan represented the Chamber at the meeting.

Old Business

1. Feast of St. Albans – Monday, June 22 – St. Marks Episcopal, dinner at Christ’s Kitchen. Community-wide worship event with SA Festival Chorus. Display tables for each benevolence at dinner. To incorporate fundraising for benevolences. Promotion to highlight our united Saint Albans shared work. Darick Biondi offered to reach out to the Rector at St. Mark’s. Beth S. said Christ Kitchen should be able to host. Jason suggested service at 6pm. Dinner immediately following at approx. 7pm.

2. Preparation of SAMA promotional video. To be finalized before the Feast of St Albans event.
​Will Ford will film at the April SAMA meeting at Community Bridge.

3. Appoint 5 volunteers for Documentation Committee – prepare documentation to become 501c3 nonprofit. Accounting background preferred. Jason Robbins and John Nelson agreed to serve. Jason asked church reps to please take back to your congregation and ask members with any such experience to please connect with Jason by next meeting.

Matters of Attention/Upcoming Events

1. Easter Sunrise – April 5, 7:00 AM, Cunningham Memorial Upper Mausoleum – Preacher: Chris Kilbert
Carla Kay offered to lead music

2. Buzz B. invites churches to share their church happenings and seasonal events for him to promote on radio.

3. Jeb Brady reported that FCA at SAHS has hit over 200 students – over a quarter of the HS attends lunches. Offered every Thursday at both lunches. Largest huddle in the state.
​Jeb agreed to serve as FCA SA rep to SAMA. Pray for students’ hearts and lives; need for donations for lunches.

4. Adam Bryan organizes the SA yearly festivals. There’s a stage on Main Street on the Sundays of these festivals being unused; opportunity to utilize. Adam will coordinate with the city to keep streets clear.
​June 21 – Yak Fast (Also Father’s Day; and Feast of St. Albans will be Mon. June 22)
​August 23 – Mountaineer Main St.
​October 18 – Fall Y’All Chili Cook Off
Jake Henley has connections with the band Render the Hearts and will inquire; possibly SA Festival Chorus, Church Praise bands … Our local churches invited to come and set up tables at these festivals.

Established a SAMA Party Planning Committee – Adam Bryan, Jeb Brady, Jake Henley, and Jason Robbins agreed to serve on this. Darick Biondi also expressed interest if available.

- Next SAMA meeting: Tuesday April 21, 11:30am at Community Bridge.

Closing Prayer offered by: Jason Robbins

Meeting was followed by lunch catered by Bartlett Nichols Funeral Home, with our thanks.