”
Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least
of these my
brethren, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25:40
The mission of our church, in addition to ministering to the needs of the congregation through worship, adult education, youth programs, music, and other activities, is to minister to the needs of those less fortunate than us. In accordance with Christ's teachings throughout the Gospels, our church has a number of programs to help the needy.
Jones Center
The Jones Center is one of our local missions. A community center in the heart of Chicago Heights, the Jones Center is a safe haven in a very deprived area. Children come for after-school tutoring, activities and dinner. There are many programs for the children and each Friday a meal is served for the homeless. Along with the other Mission Council 8 churches, We have spent many hours at the center painting, cleaning, building a computer room and even assisting in the play lot construction. In past years, we have supported their food pantry and donated scarves, mittens and Christmas gifts for the children's after school program. We also volunteer to serve Thanksgiving dinner to adults and Christmas breakfast with Santa to children.
Our church has been involved in the PADS program for the past several years. One night per month, we provide a meal for the PADS site at Oak Lawn Community Church. One family or any group of people plan, purchase, prepare and sometimes help serve a complete dinner meal for those who are seeking food and shelter that night. Food is also provided for breakfast and sack lunches for the next day.
C.R.E.W.
C.R.E.W. was a new mission for HHPC in 2010. Mission Committee met with the C.R.E.W. sponsors and organized two work teams for the June 2010 “Big Build Weekend” at Peace Memorial Church.
Two HHPC members participated in the team leader work night on Friday evening and then our two teams helped to build sections of the frames of three houses on Saturday.
C.R.E.W. is a local mission that helps to support the work of Habitat for Humanity. The house frames are transported to an area of need and then the remainder of the house is built. C.R.E.W. pays for the lumber and roofing materials for each house they frame.
HHPC sponsored each person who attended at $100 per person through individual and congregation support and donations.
Kids Mission Work
"KIDS HELPING KIDS"
Our Sunday school kids have made a decision to help kids in need. Projects the children are involved in throughout the year include:
Collection of pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, school supplies for underprivileged kids, hats and mittens for children at the Jones Center, Easter gifts prepared and delivered for patients at a local extended care facility, and "One Great Hour of Sharing."
In 1995, three churches from across the country wanted to do a mission trip together and picked the centralized location of eastern Kentucky. The mission was small, with only a handful of participants, but the mustard seed was planted.
Our church had its first member attend in 1999 and after that, word spread as to what an awesome trip it was and still is. As of the trip in 2010, 33 members of HHPC packed up and traveled to Prestonsburg, Kentucky, joining 28 other members of local Presbyterian churches, 12 people from Kentucky and even 4 people from Honduras for a week of doing God’s work.
On Sunday July 18, 2010, during the 2010 Kentucky Mission Trip, the General Assembly of the PC(USA) recognized HHPC for doing Mission Work in Eastern Kentucky for 14 years. It is rare that a group serves one area for so long and it is an honor to have received the recogniton from the General Assembly.
The tasks for the week include everything from holding a Vacation Bible School, building handicap ramps, fixing floors and roofs, and small plumbing jobs all the way up to building an entire room addition to a small house.
The biggest job that is done while on the trip is that the love of God and Jesus Christ is shared with the people of eastern Kentucky. Many members of our church have stepped into leadership roles of planning the Kentucky Mission Trip, and it is one of the most anticipated events for our youth.
The Kentucky Mission Trip planning for the 2011 trip has begun. The dates for the trip are Saturday, July 16 through Saturday, July 23. Contact Jeni Vogl for registration forms.
Our church, through Mission Council 8, has supported Hearts In Motion in various ways. We have done vitamin drives, made diaper bags to hand out at clinics to mothers, made monetary contributions, and even donated time to help out at their Thrift Store. Each year, medical teams help thousands of children in Guatemala and Honduras, and work teams have traveled to build or renovate hospitals, orphanages, schools, nutrition centers, and fire departments. Supplies are also sent to improve health care systems in foreign countries, and there are at least ten mission trips a year.
We have recently become very active in a mission in Honduras. While a member of our church that has gone on a Honduras Mission Trip for the past several years, it was only in December 2008 that we sent a total of 5 members from our church.
Working with the Christian Solidarity Program (CSP) in Honduras, this group consisted of 6 people from Kentucky and 10 from the Chicago area who traveled to Los Ranchos for 10 days of work and spreading the love of Jesus Christ.
Planning has begaun for the next trip for December 2009, when we will return to Honduras and help build a church/school/community center for the families of Los Ranchos.
Keeping in mind of the Mission Statement of our church, the Vision Statement for the Mission Committee is:
The Mission Committee exists to SHARE the concept of Mission with the church community, to involve members with and promote mission opportunities, which are in place to CELEBRATE the gifts that we have been given, through SERVING others and SHARING the Word of God locally, nationally and internationally.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Mission Committee are, to the fullest extent and ability of the committee and its members, to complete the goals as set forth by the Mission Committee.
Goals
The Mission Committee currently has seven goals:
Minutes
Mission Committee meeting minutes:
The first file for each date is a PDF for viewing online. The second is a Microsoft Office Document for downloading onto you computer. To do so, right-click on the file name and select "Save Target As..."
If you have any questions pertaining to the Mission of Hickory Hills Presbyterian Church, please contact the Mission Committee, or Committee Chair, Sue Orsic.
