A pastor, a bishop, and a priest walk into a meeting…. this sounds like the start to a joke, right? The differences in faith communities are easy to spot, but what unites us?
We also hear this question a lot: HOW can 40+ churches agree on anything?
Well friends, if we are to be good news, maybe we should seek out a common mission that unites us.
This is part 1 of 4, exploring the different elements of our mission statement:
Family Promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence.
Connecting Resources to Needs
Children and families in a homeless circumstance are in need of homes, and also temporary places to stay while they get back on their feet.
Faith communities have buildings, caring volunteers, and passion to care for those in need.
The connection of these two things is the brilliance of the Family Promise model. We are thankful to a growing national movement of communities who have been proving this model for 30 years.
It is a special gift when diverse faith and interest groups work together. Recently, a community member told us, “To see this many churches work together in unity is a God-thing.”
It does seem pretty amazing.
The Faith Community is Key
Using existing resources, we are able to provide services that none of us could do on our own. Here is how this happens:
Host Congregations commit to provide shelter and meals to homeless families for one week, four times per year.
Support Congregations and Groups add in volunteers, supplies, meals, funds, etc. needed to support the program.
Volunteers from these congregations arrange rooms into bedrooms using cots or air mattresses, make homecooked meals, drive guest families back and forth to the Day House each day in a program van, and host families in the evenings with activities, games, and friendship.
This is a big deal! We are so grateful to partner with these Congregations:
Community Partners also help us connect guest families to resources, housing, employment, mentoring, physical and mental health services, and childcare.
Donors provide financial support, supplies, and grants to cover our program costs.
Office Volunteers and Staff cover administrative duties, case management, and daily operational concerns.
What a team!
Coming Together as an Organization
How did this come to be?
Before we opened in October 2016, a team of dedicated volunteers recruited 13 Host Congregations, additional Support Congregations, a Day House for our central hub, and a staff Director.
A project that seemed enormous came together, piece by piece.
Since then, more amazing volunteers have recruited an ADDITIONAL 13 Host Congregations, more Support Congregations, and more funding to expand to 26 Hosts, 20 Supports, and a total network of over 40 Congregations.
This has allowed us to expand our capacity, and we will soon DOUBLE the number of families we serve!
This work to empower families and children is what unites us. This is a chance for the Church as a team to pour love and kindness into our community, in the name of Jesus. You may want to join the work in the name of other faiths or no faith, and we welcome and celebrate that opportunity too.
How You Can Help
We are on the same team on this one: every child and every family should have a home. No matter your religion, creed, or denomination, you can find a way to join in!
- If you haven’t already, please share Family Promise with your church or group. Contact us if you would like a presentation or brochures.
- If your congregation is already involved, keep sharing the stories and the mission of what we do – we all need reminded.
- Join a work team/committee to support the mission. If you have a specific gift or passion to contribute, please let us know! We especially need people with fundraising skills, housing expertise and connections, and public relations/outreach.
THANK YOU for being here, and being on this team. Your effort matters. Let’s stay united as we work together.
For more articles in this series:
Introduction: Homeless Families Need Help — who/why/how
Mission Statement part 2 of 4: Hospitality Fights Homelessness
Katy Penner is our Board Secretary and Communications Team chair. She is also a Marketing and Content Strategist. You can reach her at pr@familypromisewichita.org.
Family Promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
