Go Forth Ministries' History
 

Go Forth Ministries was founded by DeeDee Hook Brogan in 1988, when she was only 16 years old. She is the daughter of Mary Gale and I.D. Hook and sister of Jamie Hook (former members of Mt. Hebron UMC). With a strong desire to keep the homeless in our area warm for the winter, DeeDee asked Mt. Hebron UMC to help her fulfill God’s plan. Supported by her church, each consecutive year since, around Christmastime, over 250 men and women were given a tote bag filled with warm clothing, a hygiene kit, a blanket and a warm coat, if needed. 

DeeDee’s heart for the homeless was driven because she saw her Great-Great Uncle Frank Goforth become homeless. At one time, he lived at the Oliver Gospel Mission in downtown Columbia. Later, he lived out of his car where he eventually died in 1988.  Go Forth Ministries was started in his memory. 

Today, DeeDee resides in Knoxville, TN, with her husband, Jim, and their two children, Mary Caroline and Elizabeth Grace. Since DeeDee married and moved out of state, Go Forth Ministries has continued on through Mt. Hebron UMC. The project was first held in the parking lot of Taylor Street Pharmacy, then at the Bethlehem Center and later moved to Washington Street UMC. For many years, homemade vegetable soup, cornbread, coffee and hot chocolate were served to the homeless as they received their warm clothing.

In January 2015, Go Forth Ministries moved into Mt. Hebron UMC's parsonage since it was sitting vacant. It started with a food pantry where approximately 30 needy families were serviced in the West Columbia community each month. In June 2015, Mt. Hebron added a clothes closet to this ministry.   

Today, Go Forth Ministries is blessed with around 25 volunteers to help with the ministry. The ministry now services around 75 families a month with food, clothes and a time of prayer. If you would like to donate to this ministry, you may make a check payable to Mt. Hebron UMC and designate “Go Forth Ministries” in the memo section.