Community Outreach

“What if your church were all of a sudden taken out of your community?”

• Would your community notice? Would your neighbors miss you?
• Would they actually be glad your church was finally gone?
  (the traffic, parking hassles, and frankly being a so-so neighbor.)

We read a book* which surfaced these questions. The questions haunted us as we wrestled with their implications.

Part of what we had done at Hillcrest had always been Community Outreach, but the discussion that ensued took us to a whole new place.

The earlier questions were replaced with a new set and a new vision for Community Outreach:

“What if our church delved more deeply into our community?”

• Could we imagine our community being genuinely thankful for Hillcrest?
• Could we imagine our neighbors talking behind our back about “how good it is” to have our church in the area because of the tangible ways we demonstrate God’s love?
• What if a large number of our church members were actively engaged in some kind of community service, according to their gifts, passions, and proclivities?

The result is that Community Outreach is now a part of the warp and woof of Hillcrest – an integral part of every ministry – as well as individual lives outside of the church setting.

We desire to be a Front-Porch Church in a Privacy-Fence World. We want to move out of what can be an insular world inside the church walls into the wide world of people and their lives, interests, and needs. As we do this, we find we receive much more than we give.

• It might be doing something individually in one’s neighborhood like taking a meal to a young couple with a newborn, helping someone paint a fence, or raking an elderly couple’s leaves.

• It may also take the shape of group service in the community, as when people gather together to do ELL tutoring for a neighborhood school or create a regular summer event in the neighborhood park for our community (Fourth Friday Concerts).

• It might be right on the Hillcrest campus, at a school, a prison, a retirement center, or in someone’s home. The limit is your and God’s imagination! The need is also unlimited!

You will see on this site just some of the opportunities for Community Outreach, most of which rotate throughout the year. Others are through the various other ministries throughout the church. Others are ongoing in your neighborhood or community waiting for you to join them. Still others may be waiting to be birthed by YOU! Community Outreach is led by lay people and staff facilitated. Jump in! You never know what God has in store for you!

*The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis

So…
Join the Discussion!

InterVarsity’s Evangelism blog

Jesus Creed

Missio Lux

N.T. Wright

Email: Dori Brown, Pastor of Community Outreach, 913-901-2338
Janet Hecht, Admin Asst, 913-901-2312

Are you in the Bubble?

…the Christian bubble that is?  Everything you do is with other Christians?  It’s difficult to relate to those with other beliefs when we spend all of our waking hours around other Christians!  And it’s impossible to serve and love others as Jesus did, when we don’t even know anyone outside of the church.

Here are some out-of-the-bubble stories to encourage you to get out there.
Email Dori Brown to share your out-of-the-bubble story. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are the current opportunities at our neighborhood school during the academic year: Read the rest of this entry »

Hillcrest offers Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University! Read the rest of this entry »

Live music and free food will be center stage at the sixth annual Fourth Friday Concerts in the Park series, sponsored by Hillcrest,  HyVee (91st & Metcalf), and Boy Scout Troop 284. Read the rest of this entry »

The vision of The Hope Center is to develop urban youth into world-class Christian leaders. Read the rest of this entry »

Their Mission
To honor God by providing quality, personal health care Read the rest of this entry »

Hillcrest is excited to partner with Hospice Care of Kansas through our very own Sarah Berghaus. Read the rest of this entry »

Several men and women from Hillcrest serve inmates incarcerated in area state and federal prisons and also assist their families in the community. They join with volunteers from other churches to serve together through various prison ministries. You are welcome to join with us: Read the rest of this entry »

Welcoming Our Guests!  Take a second on Sunday mornings to grab a nametag Read the rest of this entry »

Want an easy way to get to know and serve your neighbors?  A Front Porch opportunity?

This may be just the thing for you!

It is no accident that you live where you do next to the particular people you find yourself walking and driving by each day.

Check out the ‘Open House’ Invitation and a Contact Sheet for personalizing and downloading to facilitate in serving those on your block, apartment, or community.

1. First hand deliver the invitation to each residence on your block, in your apartment building, or community.
2. Then host a brief get-together with refreshments to meet and also explain to your neighbors the idea of compiling everyone’s contact information so it is easy to get in touch with each other in case of a need.  Have the contact sheet set out so everyone can fill in their information.
3. Type up the completed contact sheet, make copies, and then hand deliver to each neighbor.
   
4. Hopefully then have another get-together to further develop relationships and just to enjoy one another!

Don’t be a stranger in your neighborhood!  Be a neighbor by knowing and serving those around you!  Who knows where it might lead?!

Back to Community Outreach

A block party is a perfect way for neighbors to share a meal, and spend time building relationships.  Hosting a block party is easy and to help in your efforts we have assembled the Block Party Kit.  Read the rest of this entry »