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Safe Families for Children

March 6, 2025
in Community Partner, Food Backpack Program, HCC, Local, Ministry Partner, Outreach, packapack, Safe Families for Children, School Outreach, Serve Teams
by cefiggins
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Is Your Small Group Ready To Serve?

With winter finally melting away and Daylight Savings time just around the corner many of us are also coming back to life! I have heard that many small groups have been on hold since the holidays with the onslaught of rough weather and long weeks of illness. Is your small group coming back to life? Are they starting to talk about how they can serve their community? Here are a few ideas to get them going!

1. The HCC Food Backpack Ministry serves about 100-120 local students every week. Your small group can help these children who experience food insecurity by hosting a food drive. This is an easy way to get neighbors involved near your host home as well. Collect canned ravioli, individual mac n cheese, nut-free snacks such as granola bars, beef jerky, and healthy fruit snacks. Plan a special time to pray over these students and families hit with hard times.

2. In the same vein, on average the HCC Food Pantry provides groceries for 130 clients. Could your small group consider hosting a canned food drive to help keep the pantry shelves stocked?

3. Does your small group enjoy being outdoors? Could they consider weeding and mulching at one of our local schools on a weeknight? Would they enjoy helping to keep the Journey Trails free of weeds and trash?

4. Does your small group have the gift of hospitality? Could they consider hosting one of our teacher appreciation breakfasts or lunches? Could they stock and deliver our WOOT WOOT cart, a snack and drink cart, to one of our local school partners?

5. Does your small group love shopping? Could they consider collecting 24 packed backpacks this summer for Pack A Pack? Could they purchase children’s socks and underwear for HCC Back To School events?

6. Is your small group packed with Prayer Warriors? Could they consider joining our monthly School Outreach Pray and Prep where we pray over local schools, administrators, teachers, and students?

7. Does your small group like to plan and host parties and fun events? Could they consider helping to organize community breakfasts or dinners for our community and ministry partners to come to HCC to be encouraged? Or help plan a teacher appreciation dinner?

8. Does your small group love children? Could they consider becoming a Family Friend or a Host Family with Safe Families for Children?

9. Does your small group have a heart for individuals living with disabilities? Could they consider connecting with our ministry partner Joni & Friends and serving at summer camps or family retreats this summer?

10. Does your small group’s heartbreak for our unhoused neighbors? Could they consider serving at a cooling center this summer or a warming center in the winter?

BONUS option: Does your small group want to serve but is not sure where to start? Consider inviting Carissa Figgins, our local Outreach Pastor to visit your small group and learn more about how your small group can lead others to find and follow Jesus!

Make sure each of your small group members subscribes to this blog and is following the HCC Outreach- St Charles Campus Facebook page to stay up to date on serving opportunities and more!

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March 3, 2025
in Church, Community Partner, HCC, Local, Ministry Partner, Outreach, Safe Families for Children, School Outreach, Serve Teams, The Sharing Shed, Uncategorized
by cefiggins
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March 2025 Edition: What’s Coming in HCC Local Outreach & Beyond

March 2025 Edition: What’s Coming in HCC Local Outreach & Beyond
Thank You Father

On Sunday Nikomas preached on Gratitude. I had the vantage point of sitting up top during the third service. As I looked down I saw two of our warming center guests praising God with all of their might during a sermon on gratitude I saw one of our members who I know is battling harsh health issues praising with all their might during a sermon on gratitude. I saw one of our Local Outreach volunteers who I know is going through a rough family season praising with all of their might during a sermon on gratitude. That was one of the “Thank You Fathers” I wrote down in my phone. Thank you Father for examples of spiritual giants who praise you and thank you and keep a laser focus on you no matter what life throws their way.” I would love for you to share one of your “Thank You Fathers” in the comments of the blog!

Local Outreach Updates:
In order to focus on the For The One Campaign we had very few events in February. But if you attended one of the vision nights I know you got a piece of the momentum and excitement. I personally loved when we turned to our neighbors and prayed with 3-4 people seated around us for courage and for our One. Be sure to sign up for a time slot for the 24 Hours of Prayer. Commitment Sunday is coming up on March 9th. Continue praying about how God wants you to share his gifts to go above and beyond your normal giving.

I have been working hard to build out this blog with useful information. You can now find an overview of all current serving opportunities as well as many specific volunteer descriptions. Make it a goal to share those links with people in your small group this month.

Continue reading
February 27, 2025
in Child Welfare, HCC, Local, Ministry Partner, Outreach, Safe Families for Children, Serve Teams, Volunteer Spotlight
by cefiggins
2 Comments

Volunteer Job Description: Family Friend

Volunteer Job Description: Family Friend

Purpose:

  • Ephesians 4:11-12: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
  • Harvester Christian Church is dedicated to caring for the least of these. One of the ways we do this is by providing support and encouragement to Harvester Christians who have made the decision to be Safe Families, Foster Families, or Adoptive Families. Safe Family Friends play a crucial role in encouraging and strengthening these families through various means of support.

Key Responsibilities:

Prayer Support: Commit to praying regularly for Safe Families, Foster Families, and Adoptive Families within the Harvester community.

Practical Support: Provide practical assistance such as:

  • Dropping off diapers or essential supplies.
  • Preparing and delivering occasional meals.
  • Offering babysitting services for a few hours to give parents a break.
  • Providing transportation to appointments or school.

Emotional Support: Offer encouragement and a listening ear to families, providing a sense of community and understanding.

Flexible Assistance: Be available for other support tasks as needed, ensuring families feel supported and valued.

 

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to the mission and values of Harvester Christian Church through membership.
  • Completion of Belong and/or Discover Harvester class (highly recommended, though not required).
  • A heart for serving and supporting Safe Families host families, foster or adoptive families in need.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to handle sensitive situations with confidentiality and compassion.

 Time Commitment:

  • Flexible and variable based on the needs of the families and the availability of the volunteer.
  • Regular check-ins with the Safe Family/Foster/Adopt Crew Leader to ensure families’ needs are being met effectively.

Training and Support:

  • Initial orientation and training will be provided to familiarize volunteers with the role and responsibilities.
  • Complete Core Training and Sexual Abuse Prevention Training through Safe Families for Children
  • Ongoing support and resources will be available through Harvester Christian Church.

Benefits:

Spiritual Growth: Deepen your faith through acts of service and prayer, fulfilling the call to love and support others as Christ loves us.

Community Connection: Build meaningful relationships with other volunteers and families within the Harvester Christian Church community.

Personal Fulfillment: Experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from making a positive impact on families who are caring for children in need.

Skill Development: Enhance your skills in areas such as caregiving, communication, and organization.

Flexibility: Enjoy a role that offers flexible hours and tasks that can fit into your personal schedule.

 

Reporting To: Crew Leader for Safe Families/Foster/Adopt

By serving as a Family Friend, you will be making a tangible difference in the lives of families who have opened their hearts and homes to children in need. Your support, whether through prayer, practical assistance, or emotional encouragement, helps to build up the body of Christ and strengthens our community.

 

Contact:

For more information or to sign up, please contact

Carissa Figgins

Local Outreach Pastor

cfiggins@harvester.cc

 

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January 30, 2025
in Church, Food Backpack Program, HCC, Jesus, Local, Outreach, Safe Families for Children, School Outreach, Serve Teams, The Sharing Shed
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Local Outreach Updates:
God was glorified when HCC hosted the (EWR) Warming Center on January 19-25. We were activated four nights and provided a total of 115 beds to our unhoused neighbors. I couldn’t believe it when I saw three of them on Sunday morning in services and chatting with Warming Center volunteers! We will start planning to provide a cooling center this summer when the temperatures are not safe for humans to be outside for extended periods of time. Let me know if you would like to be a part of that planning.

Our Safe Families/Foster/Adopt Serving Group is really coming together. This group is made up of HCC families who already serve as Host Families with Bethany Christian Safe Families or who are Foster/Adoptive Families. The group also includes Family Friends who may provide physical needs such as formula or clothing but they can also help provide meals, transportation, or babysitting to our HCC families.

Food Pantry and Food Backpack Volunteers are just beasts! They have continued to serve in ridiculous weather situations. Talk about discipleship at the cost of comfort. Thank you so much for your dedication and commitment!

 

FOR THE ONE VISON NIGHTS: We’re just over two weeks away from launching our FOR THE ONE Campaign, and we want to make sure you’re in the loop about this!! This campaign is all about boldly reaching the lost in our region through our third campus in O’Fallon and updates at our Troy Campus. To help everyone catch the vision and understand how we can all be part of it, we’re hosting three identical Vision Nights in February:

  • Tuesday, February 11th @ 6:30 PM (STC)
  • Wednesday, February 12th @ 6:30 PM (Troy)
  • Sunday, February 23rd @ 6:30 PM (STC)

Childcare will be provided for all three nights, and you only need to attend one. Please take a moment to sign up for the Vision Night that works best for you by clicking the link.

 Upcoming Service Opportunities

School Outreach Monthly Pray & Prep
Monday 2/3/25 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. HCC St Charles Campus Annex Door 10
Join us each month to pray for our local schools, teachers, staff, families, and children. We also use this time to assemble simple appreciation gifts and write thank you notes to local school staff. Click  to RSVP here


The Sharing Shed
Saturday 2/15/25 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. 923 East Terra Ln. O’Fallon, MO 63366
Our HCC Sharing Shed crew serves every 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Volunteers are needed to receive donations, clean them. and occasionally help deliver the items or serve as personal shoppers to Sharing Shed Clients. Volunteers are especially needed who can lift and deliver heavy household items. Sign up Here

LO/GS Spring Training
Thursday 3/13/25 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Cafe
This training is for anyone serving in Local Outreach, Food Pantry, or Guest Services. We will be focusing on safety. SCAAD will be here to demonstrate basic lifesaver CPR. We will have a brief training from our Security Team on what to do in the event of an emergency. We will also have tips and tricks on how to de-escalate and manage difficult conversations. RSVP here

Safe Families Training #1 & #2
Safe Families Core Training Monday 3/24/25 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Cafe
Host Family Training Monday 3/31/25 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Cafe

Bethany Christian- Safe Families is hosting two in-person trainings at HCC on March 24th and March 31st from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Mission Cafe.
For anyone wanting to serve as a Family Friend either for Safe Families or to support HCC families, you need to complete Safe Families Core Training on March 24th. Click this link to sign up for Core Training. For anyone wanting to serve as a Host Family for Safe Families, you will need to complete the Core Training on March 24th and the Host Family training on March 31st. Click the previous link to sign up for Core Training. In addition click this link to sign up for Host Family Training.
The Sexual Abuse Prevention Training for Family Friends and Host Families will need to be completed online. Email Madison Witte to enroll in the Sexual Abuse Prevention Training.  Feel free to email Madison Witte from Safe Families, mwitte@bethany.org, for any additional information about what Safe Families is, what a Host Family does, or the critical importance of a Family Friend.

Prayers
Pray for one specific neighbor to be curious about your faith.
Pray for God to provide an opportunity for you to share a message of hope and love.
Pray for God to raise up a HCC member to serve as the Hackmann Rd Early Childhood Crew Leader.
Pray for HCC members to form a consister serving crew at Hackmann Rd Early Childhood.
Pray for God to raise up a HCC member to serve as the Becky David Crew Leader.
Pray for the health and healing of so many of our Local Outreach and Food Pantry volunteers.
Pray Local Outreach volunteers will not slip into humanitarian tasks but will boldly unleash the hope of Jesus through justice and generosity.

Resources for you to grow in your faith and Become more and more like Jesus through service

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More Ways to Stay in the Loop

  1. Like and Share posts from HCC Outreach- St Charles Campus Facebook Page
  2. Like and Share posts from HCC Food Pantry
  3. Subscribe and follow HarvesterCC Outreach Blog
  4. In the Harvester app: Log into the app. At the bottom right hand corner click “More.” On the next screen click “Groups.” Click on any group you are assigned to see the calendar, and messaging about needs, events, or serving opportunities. If you would like to be added to any group such as Food Pantry, School Outreach, EWR Warming Center, Safe Families/Foster/Adopt, Natural Disaster Food Backpack Ministry, Elections, or Sharing Shed, please email our Ministry Coordinator Jillian Hohensee at jhohensee@harvester.cc

 

 

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April 3, 2024
in Child Welfare, Guest Services, Local, Outreach, Safe Families for Children, Uncategorized
by cefiggins
0 Comments

April 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to our April 2024 newsletter!

We are thrilled to share with you the latest developments in HCC’s Local Outreach ministry and our mission to unleash hope in St Charles County. Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude to all of our volunteers who continue to serve consistently to build relationships with our neighbors in St. Charles County. Continue to share information, opportunities, and prayers with your friends and family. You all are GREAT ambassadors.

In terms of our recent activities, Local Outreach volunteers have been BI-ZEEEE! We cooked and served hundreds of pancakes at Harvest Ridge Elementary, we served at The Sharing Shed, we assembled gifts and wrote thank you cards to local school teachers, and we served at Barnwell Middle during their Kona Ice Days.

With more and more people finding their way to Harvester we need more and more Guest Services volunteers. In particular, more Parking Lot volunteers would be great! Check-in with Brendon to see what that would look like. Local Outreach and Guest Services had their first fellowship meal in March. It was just a nice time to come together over a fabulous potluck meal and get to know each other better with no other agenda. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. Thank you for your continued support! Enjoy this month’s newsletter!

 

DID YOU KNOW? April is Child Abuse Prevention Month & Foster Care Awareness Month

The zip code 63376 which runs through the cities of St. Peters, Cottleville, and parts of St. Charles has the highest substantiated rate of of child sexual abuse. This is one of the reasons we are partnering with the Child Advocacy Center to bring the free Stewards of Children: Darkness to Light Training. EVERY adult needs to protect all children. As the saying goes, knowledge is power and eliminates fear. Join us on April 11th 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room in the lower level of the Offices to learn how to prevent and protect children from experiencing abuse.

We are also excited to announce that we will be hosting an informational meeting for Safe Families for Children on April 23rd from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the FLC. Safe Families for Children hosts vulnerable children and creates extended family–like supports for families through a community of devoted volunteers meeting is for families that would like to learn more about becoming a host family. This meeting is also for those who want to support host families with things like babysitting, transportation, meals, and resources. Register for one or both of these events on the HCC website or email Carissa at cfiggins@harvester.cc

Safe Families for Children

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Matthew 18:6

A Few Ways You Can Prevent Child Abuse

  • Know the signs: Consider attending the free Stewards of Children Darkness to Light Training on April 11th in the Large Conference Room in the lower level of the Offices from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Join millions around the world for the 30th anniversary of Blue Sunday, April 28th, a day of prayer for child abuse victims. Wear blue to church to show your love and advocacy for child abuse victims. 
  • Invest in the lives of at-risk children
  • Speak up! If something doesn’t feel right – SAY something
  • Join us on April 23rd at 6 p.m. to learn more about Safe Families for Children– an intervention for families before foster care gets involved.
  • Join our HCC group that provides meals, transportation, or babysitting to HCC Safe Families, foster families, and adoptive families.

Ready to unleash hope in St. Charles County?

Click here to sign up for upcoming April information meetings, trainings, and serving opportunities! 

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From the HCC Outreach Team:

Thanks so much for stopping by the Harvester Christian Church Outreach Team’s blog! We hope you find this resource helpful, insightful and encouraging as we strive to Unleash the Hope of Jesus back into our world!

This resource belongs to Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Mo.