Beyond the Walls

Beyond the Walls Update

Over the past two years, Hopewell’s ‘Beyond the Walls’ campaign has raised nearly $400,000 to support the work of our local, national and global mission partners. Our goal for the upcoming third year will be to raise $210,000 and give 90% away to ministries that are actively serving communities in need.

The vision of Beyond the Walls is to share our congregation’s abundance and gifts of service with those less fortunate than we are. Along with the monetary contributions, Hopewell will continue to send hundreds of members of all ages throughout the year to work side-by-side as volunteers with our ministry partners.

Dollars raised during the third year of the campaign will be divided as follows:

•10% for our construction loan

•30% for Local Missions: Good Works, Bridge of Hope, Camp Innabah and Safe Harbor

•10% for National Missions: Katrina Relief

•50% for Global Missions:

South Africa

(including our missionary-in-residence, Jen Lisowski); Haiti earthquake relief

Local

Good Works is a Christian nonprofit organization which exists to improve the living conditions for low-income families in ChesterCounty. Through the efforts of volunteers, substandard housing is renovated and repaired, while homeowners receive a glimpse of the power of God’s unconditional love. The ministry offers its services at no cost to low-income homeowners.

Bridge of Hope is a local non-profit organization with a focus on preventing homelessness for women and children with the help of trained mentoring groups within congregations. Single mothers achieve permanent housing and financial self-sufficiency through employment and attain stability and enhanced self-esteem through ongoing mentoring friendships. “Our goal is to exemplify Christ’s love and to promote physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wholeness.”

Camp Innabah was founded in 1929, and is comprised of 179 acres of meadows and woodlands in historic ChesterCounty. Innabah is one of the oldest church affiliated camps in the Mid-Atlantic Region, owned and operated by the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UnitedMethodistChurch.

Safe Harbor of Greater West Chester is an independent, nonprofit organization providing food, shelter, friendship, counseling and recovery opportunities to homeless men and women in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

National

Hurricane Katrina Relief

Families throughout the Gulf Coast region suffered greatly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and their difficulties are ongoing. Hopewell Youth have traveled to Mississippi the past two summers to re-build homes and bring the Hope of Jesus Christ to those who have suffered great loss. In February 2010 an intergenerational crew of Hopewell members traveled to the Gulf region as well to partner with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in repairing homes damaged by the storm. You can check out photos from their trip here.

Global

South Africa

Over the past decade, Hopewell has increasingly involved itself in the mission field of

South Africa

. Inspired by a friendship with the Rev. Deon Kitching, a Dutch Reform pastor and educator in South Africa, our work has partnered us with many ministries already working to address the enormous problems created by poverty, racism, and the AIDS pandemic in particular. Read more.

As part of our continuing connection with

South Africa

, Hopewell Missionary Jen Lisowski will continue serving in the town of Potchefstroom throughout the year. Her mission includes identifying ministries that Hopewell can partner with on a long-term basis. You can read about Jen's experiences in

South Africa

here. In addition to Jen’s presence, several mission trips including youth and adult members of Hopewell will visit

South Africa

in 2009.

Watch the Video!