A drive through Houston’s inner city reveals a world very different from that in which most Houston suburbanites live. Five out of ten families are single-parent households. Four out of ten households live at or below the poverty line. In the predominantly African-American neighborhoods nearly one in four boys will not complete high school. While there are a lot of Christians who want to serve in urban Houston, most are not sure where to start or how to be effective.
Hope House is a 1.5 acre campus in Houston's 5th Ward/Kashmere Gardens urban neighborhood. Thirteen small houses exist on this property. Nine houses are in usable condition and four are awaiting restoration. The long term goals of Dave Dozier and the Faithwalking missional community at Hope House are to use the property in a residential ministry to transform the lives of ex-offenders and those in recovery, and for Hope House to bring transformation to the surrounding neighborhood.
There are three phases to our Hope House strategy:
Phase One- Make Hope House a sustainable non-profit entity. This involves:
Fully restoring the Hope House campus to provide a secure, drug-free, alcohol-free environment for residents who are in recovery/or on a fixed income
Mentoring the residents of Hope House in life skills (household budgeting, job search, anger management, communication skills, etc.)
Providing social and spiritual services to the residents of Hope House
Raising supplementary donations to maintain affordable housing and services
Begin developing relationships within the community
Phase Two- Continue to expand our sphere of relationships in the neighborhood, thus bringing residents of the neighborhood into our Faithwalkng missional community. This will involve:
Building relationships with the indigenous residents of the neighborhood
Intentional, missional outreach into the community
Coordinating volunteers and assets from both those who live outside and within the neighborhood to meet needs identified and supported by neighborhood residents
As Hope House residents grow spiritually, emotionally, and economically able, they will be encouraged to move out of Hope House and into the immediate community, thus continuing to be salt and light in the neighborhood
Phase Three- Having become a partner in the neighborhood and allowing members of that neighborhood to take ownership and leadership, the Hope House Faithwalking missional community will assist the residents in that community in restoring Kingdom living to the neighborhood.
How this will unfold is uncertain, but it may involve ministries such as:
Addressing needs in the local schools (mentoring, tutoring, etc.)
Providing assistance to residents of the neighborhood in areas such as completing their education; vocational training, business start-ups, and first-time home purchases
Planting churches that are both culturally relevant and missional in nature.
We are currently transitioning from phase one to phase two. We are seeing lives transformed, both in the Hope House residents and the families who live in the neighborhood. Long-term residents of the neighborhood are excited about the visible changes on their streets. We still have a long way to go and are inviting Faithwalking partners to journey with us. Opportunities exist to serve in a variety of ways, from interacting with residents of the Hope House neighborhood to behind-the-scenes administrative duties. To get involved or for more information, contact Dave Dozier.
With more than 230 people representing numerous churches, ministries, and organizations from Greater Houston, Mission Houston celebrated its Annual Fundraiser Luncheon "Greater Things Have Yet to Come" on May 8, 2009.
Dr. J. Doug Stringer from Somebody Cares was presented with the 2009 Mission Houston Nehemiah Award in recognition of his years of servant-leadership in building and restoring Houston for good.
Providing an inspiring "year in review", Jim Herrington highlighted the Whole & Healthy Children Initiative alive in 8 communities across the city, 7 beautification projects that have taken place, $35,000 raised for school improvements, and more than 110 mentors serving children at risk in elementary schools.
Continuing to cast the vision of Mission Houston forward was Randy Schroeder as he shared from his heart the value and significance of the vision to him and to Greater Houston. Closing of the program, hosted at the well-appointed Junior League of Houston, was Rick Figueroa, as he, too, shared his like-heartedness in casting and embracing the vision of "a Greater Houston for good."
As true servant-leaders, Randy and Staci Schroeder served as Event Chairs, providing wisdom, guidance, and practical advice and involvement for this pivotal annual event. Kyle and Barbara Vann served as Honorary Event Chairs. Kim Kossie added her natural flair to the event as Mistress of Ceremonies, and Elizabeth Wareing served as Event Sponsor.
A spirited finale was led by Russell Thompson II as the audience worshipped to a medley of "Greater Things Have Yet to Come", “How Great is our God”, and “How Great Thou Art”.
This annual fundraiser raised over $70,000 in net proceeds for Mission Houston, and the Lord has provided even more in gifts and relationships since the close of the event.
Included is the video presented at the May 8, 2009 luncheon.
If you participated in the luncheon, your comments are welcome!
Read what people is saying about Whole & Healthy Children Initiative, click here.
Hurricane Ike may have knocked out the lights for a few weeks, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of dozens of local volunteers from Mission Houston, who came together on October 18 to give Charles Shearn Elementary School a “face-lift.”
Approximately 75 people from area churches—in conjunction with teachers, staff members, parents, and students—participated in the effort to beautify the campus by landscaping, painting, pruning, and mulching.
“Principal Buck was very supportive of our efforts,” said Mission Houston Project Coordinator Jeff Peters. “I was pleased to see our faith-based community members gathering together and extending themselves to support our students.”
Peters worked closely with Principal Bill Buck to identify and prioritize projects at the school, and started with the ones that would have the most impact. “Due to Hurricane Ike, we did limited promotion of this event and were planning on a reduced work day with only 40 people,” explained Peters, “but the commitment was so strong that we wound up with 75 volunteers. We will tackle the rest of the projects in spring.”
Mission Houston also began a mentoring program in October 2008 at Shearn. Entitled the “Whole and Healthy Children” initiative, it is a 10-year commitment to assist local elementary schools with high percentages of at-risk students.
... referring to the Bellaire-SW Loop project day at Shearn Elementary:
Friends from Mission Houston,
I want to thank everyone for all their hard work today. The school has really been transformed by your efforts into a place with so much more beauty. I know it is difficult to give up your Saturday, but it sure was a wonderful day to be outside. I can not wait until we get our new electronic marquee so that we can honor you. Thank you again for all that you've done!
Bill Buck, MBA, M.Ed. Principal Shearn ES Houston ISD cbuck@houstonisd.org 713-295-5236 fax 713-295-5253
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Dear Gary and all the members of Mission Houston,
I will send this properly in paper form but I wanted to tell you and your congregation a couple of things about your work here at Shearn.
On Monday when I got out of the car I smelled the mulch. The wonderful smell of working with hands, gardening, growing. Everything here feels softer, gentler. Most of our students have relatively hard lives. They live in apartments without yards, plants, and nature. All the greenery you put in has shifted the color of our place, and the “People” you put in are shifting the color also. The volunteer mentors are giving our kids some connection to other adults who are awesome role models, good citizens, good listeners and people of faith. They see that inner strength, that peace that leads us to reach out. We do that because of God at work in our lives. The volunteer who helps me in the Library, Jean, provides me a chance to breathe by helping check out books and restoring books to their shelves. She is a little bit of the “cool waters” He provides. One of my favorite quotes is by St. Francis of Assisi. He said “I always preach the Gospel, sometimes I use words.” What you do for the least of these is surely a blessing. That work for an hour a week reverberates throughout each school day, each school hour and then…….it goes home. It will begin to work in so many ways and so many lives that the ripples will pass our horizon, certainly. I thank you for your dedication, your time, for I know it is precious, your love.
Many blessings, Catherine Nelson Teacher, Shearn Elementary School
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My students and I really appreciate your hard work. What it really counts for me is your initiative and the kindness of youor hearts. Thank you very much. Mr Gomez 3rd Grade Shearn Elem. Luis Gomez lgomez4@houstonisd.org
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I want to thank you for improving the appearnce of Shearn Elementary. It is such a blessing to see the students take great pride in their school with the help of Missoion Houston. I am the science lab teacher and I will be able to have my students explore the different plants when we study life science. Thank you again, Lisa Asi Shearn Elementary Science Lab Teacher lasi@houstonisd.org
Sat, Sep 27th, 8:30am-12:30pm, College of Biblical Studies, Houston.
Sun, Sep 28th, 3-5pm, Community of Faith Church, Fairfield.
Make a Difference in the life of a Child: become a mentor!
Mission Houston is providing Transformational Mentor Training - or "TMT" - over and above what each school district requires and provides for volunteers. The purpose of the TMT is to increase the likelihood that mentors will enjoy a successful relationship with their student and be given skills that insure the quality of the mentoring. The goals of the TMT include equipping mentors to:
Have a clear understanding of what "Success" looks like
Listen well
Relate to, and to earn and maintain the trust of at-risk children
Communicate our faith when God opens the door
Help create and benefit from a learning community of fellow mentors
The TMT will consist of 4 modules over 4 sessions. In the 2008-2009 school year, each session will consist of two parts:
Session 1: "Making & Keeping Promises: your character counts" "Mentoring Orientation" - requirements of your specific school district. Session 2: "Connecting through Understanding: At-Risk Children and their Families" "When the Door Opens: How to respond when asked about your faith" Session 3: "Deepening the Impact: Increased Success through Personal and Relational Skills" Continuing Education: "Celebrating Success and Addressing Issues - #1" Session 4: Continuing Education: "Celebrating Success and Addressing Issues - #2"
Session 1 of the Transformational Mentor Training is required of all who volunteer to mentor. Sessions 2, 3, and 4 are just as pivotal and will be facilitated later in the school year. Commitment to attend to all sessions will be strongly recomended at the end of the initial training session, after the whole vision of the W&HC initiative has been presented. The TMT will be offered at no cost to CSA teams and those who volunteer to mentor at schools within the CSA.
Session 1 Transformational Mentor Training schedule:
Primarily for Sugarland/Stafford, Missouri City, Bellaire-SW Loop, & Alief (but available to all): Sat, Sept 27th ~ 8:30am-12:30pm, Training by Mission Houston and by Ft.Bend ISD, Stafford MSD, Alief ISD College of Biblical Studies of Houston
Primarily for Cy-Fair (but available to all): Sun, Sep 28th ~ 3-5pm, Training by Mission Houston Community of Faith
Tue, Sep 30th ~ 6-8pm, Training by Cy-Fair ISD Berry Center
Primarily North Channel (but available to all): Date & place TBD
Schools in which Whole & Healthy Children mentors can volunteer in 2008-2009:
Alief/Sharpstown -Boone ES Bellaire / SW Loop -Gordon ES Bellaire / SW Loop -Shearn ES Missouri City/Fresno -Ridgemont ES Sugar Land/Stafford -Stafford Primary
Fairfield/Cypress/Copperfield -Bane ES Fairfield/Cypress/Copperfield -Lamkin ES North Shore/Channelview -Cloverleaf ES
In these days after the hurricane, our hearts go out to those affected by the storm, and hope those of you reading this website and your families are safe and healthy. Please be assured of our prayers for you, as we are sure of your prayers for your neighbors and friends, your community, and those in authority serving to restore services throughout greater Houston.
We are reminded of the words of Jesus: "This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other" (John 13:35 The Message) and “They will give glory to your Father in heaven when they see your good works” on their behalf (Matthew 5:16). In light of His observations, we encourage you who were less affected personally by Ike to find practical, helpful ways to ease the burden of others – in your neighborhood, at your local elementary school, or even as a team of folks going on mission to another more devastated part of the city. This is one of the most certain ways we have to demonstrate the love we have been given for our neighbors and communities.
There are many opportunities to serve in these days. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Click here to go to the KSBJ website where opportunities to volunteer are constantly updated.
Call your friends in Christ from your community, and together gather resources and drive through your neighborhood and assist those in need.
Thank you for your willingness to pray and work for the good of others!!
Note: We will soon be making a decision about whether to proceed with our Whole & Healthy Children training of Mentors scheduled for the end of this week. Please check our site over the next few days for more information.
After several months of preparation, we are ready! Now is the time to give ourselves for something bigger than ourselves, for the city... and its children.
Eph 2:10 tells us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We seek to partner with you and your congregation in these good works on behalf of at-risk children, for their sake and for the glory of God.
Volunteers willing to serve as mentors are needed! Training for mentors is required and available.
Please spread the word and recruit volunteers who will help raise a generation of Whole & Healhy Children. Print the brochures available through the link below. And make these life-changing serving opportunities, and the mentor trainings, part of your announcements in word and in print during services for the next few Sundays. We need your help ... and so do our elementary school kids.
Click Here for information about Mentor Training Dates.
Click Here for brochure and more downloadable resources.
Click Here to register as volunteer (mentor, intercessor...)
