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.
There's been an awesome opportunity given to me, both to get my life set and to be able to go on and provide for my son and give him an awesome place to call home ...
Join us as we visit this Faithwalking Mission Community as part of our Community Gathering on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, from 9am to 1pm. We will gather at the Mission Houston offices and ride together to and from Tomball. Registration is required. Register for the upcoming Community Gathering.
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!
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
BAY AREA COMMUNITY SEMINAR ON INSURANCE, FEMA AND HOUSING Grace Community Church Senior Pastor, Steve Riggle, announced today that his church will be hosting a community seminar with Houston City Council Member Mike Sullivan at their South Campus location on the Gulf Freeway at Dixie Farm Road Monday, September 22 from 7PM-8PM to cover issues with insurance, FEMA and housing. This seminar is open to anyone and everyone.
Presentations will be given about temporary and long term housing issues for those affected by Hurricane Ike; insurance and insurance claims processes; Texas Windstorm insurance; as well as FEMA related issues. "We have to begin answering people's questions and providing a vision of the future," said Pastor Riggle. "We will start with this seminar and try to alleviate some of the stress associated with the unknowns that come with a disaster of this magnitude."
The goal of this seminar is to answer questions many have but are unable to get answered. This seminar again, is free to anyone and will begin promptly at 7pm in the main sanctuary of Grace Community Church at 14505 Gulf Freeway, just south of Beltway 8 on the east side of the freeway.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Dillard 832-526-5823 tim@globalimb.com
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...)
This Saturday, August 16th, is the date set aside for our Community Compassion Project at Stafford Primary. We will assemble as a team that morning around 9 at the school and will partner with Lowe's, many of the teachers, some scout troops, and each other. In fact, many of you have signed on and will be a part of this team of volunteers. I am so appreciative of your prayers and support as we serve together to TRANSFORM our community to look more and more as HIS KINGDOM!
Would you also join with me in praying this week and as you gather for prayer Saturday morning for this opportunity and specifically for the following:
Pray that each volunteer would come with a servant heart and that lasting relationships will be built and enlarged- between the business community, the schools and churches.
Pray for the weather- that it would be nice so that we can accomplish everything put forward on the list.
Pray that this would be much more than just a day of physical labor and that as we work His Name would be glorified, exalted, and that His LOVE will permeate every action taken that day!
That each would do all as unto Him and not unto man.
Pray that no volunteer be injured or harmed.
Pray for the abundant supply of every need for this good work!
This year we have been given an open door to supply each teacher with a devotional book- "A Collection of Love Gifts" by Helen Steiner Rice. It is a small book loosely written from I Corinthians 13. Please pray that no one take offense.
Thanks to the generous gifts that have come in, we will be supplying each teacher with a gift bag with assorted personal items for each of them. Pray that they are blessed to know that we care.
Also, as a sidebar, please pray for the Catholic Vietnamese community in our area- of which the principal at Stafford Primary belongs- As I spoke to her this morning, she shared with me that many of those killed in the tragic bus wreck this past weekend, were personal friends, mentors, etc. of her's and her family's. She shared from her heart concerning this tragedy and I have promised that we will each lift the churches and their members up to the TRUE COMFORTER! Once again, I truly thank you for your prayerful support!
Blessings to each of you!
Vickie Dalton Stafford Rise 4211 Creek Hollow Missouri City, TX 77459 832-439-9545
Every now and then an opportunity comes along that is clearly from God. in my estimation, the chance for Willow Meadows Baptist Church to partner with Mission Houston in the adoption of Shearn Elementary is a great opportunity. Through our long-time ministry partner, Mission Houston, we will work with other churches to meet various needs among the students, often mentoring and tutoring and work to beautify the campus of Shearn. This is all under the umbrella of "The Whole and Healthy Children Initiative."
The school's administration, headed by Principal Bill Buck, is excited to have us on campus to get involved by mentoring kids beginning this fall. To take part in that, you simply need to call or visit Shearn and see Ms. Sylvia Healy to complete background checks and be paired with a teacher for the fall. The commitment is one hour per week for the course of the year, and you'll be spending time with two children. Ms. Healy can be reached at 713-2955236 or at shealy@houstonisd.org.
We are asking God for nothing less that the spiritual and social transformation and revitalization of the Sugar Land/Stafford (SL/S) area – each person, congregation, neighborhood and community. We are asking to see God’s influence established and expanding in and through every facet of the SL/S community. We are asking for a unified Church that together employs spiritual and human resources to change our community through Jesus Christ for good. 1. Celebrations and Giving Thanks “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.” Psalm 105:1-2
• God is drawing congregations and Christians together in the SL/S area for His united purposes in fresh new way by His Spirit. Praise Him! Thank You that over the past few months You have brought together a tithe of the congregations in this CSA as a loving, praying, serving family and army to impact our community with God and for His purposes! • God is uniting His children in a fresh new way to pray for and care for the SL/S area. Praise Him! • God is building relationships with the educational sector of SL/S area – especially with the school district to bless and strengthen our lives and the community. Praise Him!
2. For the Reversal of and Healing in areas of Brokenness in the SL/S Community “And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.” Revelation 22:2-3
• Move Holy Spirit to stop the rate of criminal activity in our community. Reverse the plague of crime in ways that will cause Your light and redemption to grow brighter and brighter every day! Cause those captured by the snares of addiction to find their true purpose in life in You – in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
3. For the Unity of and Collaborative Actions by the Body of Christ. “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” John 17:23
• Pour Your Spirit upon the Body of Christ in the SL/S area. We pray for renewal and revitalization of every member of Your Church. Make us one! • Bless and anoint leadership to serve both in the local church as well as those leading Kingdom of God initiatives in the marketplace. Make us one! • A united, informed, and engaged praying people are critical to transformation in this community and in the public schools. We pray that You would help us identify and enlist 50 believers in SL/S who will commit to regular intercessions for the spiritual and social transformation and revitalization of this area. May this number grow to 100 by September 1, 2008 – in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
4. For the Prospering of Greater Houston and for Church-Civic Partnerships: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15
• That leaders from local businesses would come together in the SL/S CSA and community initiatives to provide leadership and resources to help meet the immediate needs and transform our community by God’s grace and power.
5. For the Whole and Healthy Children efforts in the SL/S public schools: “Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them to pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said: ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:13-14
• Pray that God would call a minimum of 100 Christians in 2008-2009 to commit to mentoring a child needing one-to-one mentoring at Stafford Primary and Stafford Middle school. Pray that these relationships will be sovereignly arranged impacting children, families and schools. • Pray for $10,000 to be raised by May 2009 to assist these schools help with needs above and beyond the regular school budget. • Pray for schools all across the SL/S community. May God pour His love and presence upon all administrators, teachers, board members and students. Pray that God would give favor to those leading bible clubs and prayer meetings on campus.
For several months, the CSA 2 (Missouri City) team has been praying about the elementary “Title 1” school they should adopt. Also, after learning about last year’s Compassion Project held in conjunction with the Global Day of Prayer 2007 at another school, the newly hired Campus Improvement Specialist at Ridgemont Elementary contacted that project coordinator seeking help. At the March meeting, a map of the area showing the location of “Title 1” schools was discussed and prayed over. Suddenly a Spiritual connection was made!...
Pastor Kevin Barber’s church, Baca Christian Center, has a connection with the same school – one of his members is also a teacher there! The Missouri City/Fresno CSA group quickly agreed that Ridgemont was the school to adopt.As we prayed that day, the Spirit spoke to Pastor Barber that we should respond immediately to the Macedonian call.Several of us agreed to go to visit the school at the end of our meeting. On the way there, the Compassion coordinator from last year called the CIS teacher who had cried out for help and for the first time EVER, she answered her phone!When told of the plan to adopt the school and the request to drop by right away for a visit, the teacher said, “I don’t have time right now”. The coordinator was prepared to re-schedule another day.BUT GOD HAD ANOTHER PLAN!
Suddenly, she said, “BUT- I am going to make time for you today!And when you are here, you all can lay hands on me and PRAY for ME!I am in a lot of pain!”Needless to say, everyone on the team was quite excited to visit the school after that!Upon arrival, Pastors Barber, Allen Rice, David Carter, and Vickie Dalton along with a school counselor and this teacher sat for a while around a table.They listened while the teachers shared their needs and frustrations....THEN THEY ALL STOOD right in the center of the school building IN A CIRCLE HOLDING HANDS, PRAYING FOR THE NEEDS EXPRESSED, and FINALLY they gathered around this teacher, laid hands on her and prayed for healing of muscle spasms! After that, the counselor took everyone on a tour of the school where they watched the kids interact with teachers, interviewed teachers, met students and saw an incredible demonstration of the ever popular “Smart board”- computer generated chalk board of the new millennium!
The Lord IS building relationships between the community and the school; and our schools AND our community are being TRANSFORMED!! Praise God!
Freed Park Sixty plus volunteers showed up at Freed Park on April 5th to lend a helping hand to the community. Some were so eager, they began to clean up even before the parks project start time! I was inspired by the their passion for outreach. We all worked together with enthusiasm to help out. People from all over the community came out and thanked the volunteers for cleaning up their park. The fellowship with volunteers, churches and the community was priceless. Alvin Godwin Freed Park Captain
Memorial Park The volunteers that participated were inspired by helping the community. Many of the volunteers who were students at Lone Star College Cyfair were so excited that they inspired the dean of the college to consider a community service project for next year.
Corinne Patrick Memorial Park Captain
It was an awesome experience to see Mayor White take time away from his morning bike ride to stop and thank us personally for participating in the cleanup. The Parks and Recreation Department representatives also thanked us because the area we cleaned was typically not a part of the routine cleanup, but was much needed.
Israel Silva Memorial Park Captain
Edgewood Park Working with Mission Houston was a great experience. It allowed an opportunity for a group of young volunteers, many of which were first time volunteers, to get beyond their walls and reach a community. We cleaned, shoveled and worked together to make Edgewood Park a friendly place for children and their families. All of the volunteers enjoyed their time and were glad to see the hard work pay off!
Mason Park The Texas Youth Commission, the East Lawndale Civic Association, Lakewood Church volunteers, and local community members came out to restore part of the park back to a beautiful picnic area.
The Parks and Recreation Department also assisted us in removing several loads of debris that hadn't been cleaned since the days of Tropical Storm Allison.
The two pictures show a before and after ... a restoration to recreation.
