Mission Houston News

North Channel Churches Change Schools and Minds

Compassion projects often address immediate needs. But sometimes they can even change minds.

In November 2003 a collection of North Channel churches called Renewing Our Community (ROC) published a report stating the condition and perception of the church in that area. Some of the remarks by community leaders in this survey were that churches:

Are not united.
Not getting involved in programs to help the community.
Ignoring the needs of the community.
Not changing to accommodate the community issues.
Arrogant and closed mindedÖinterested only in themselves.
Not educated (or unwilling to be educated) about community problems.

In August 2006, North Channel churches offered evidence that times, people and churches can change. Through Houston Schools Project, ten churches pulled together to provide 3299 meals for summer school children when Galena Park ISD funds were depleted, power washed sidewalks, planted shrubs, and assisted teachers in returning to their classrooms for the fall.

More than $9000 was collected by the churches to fund these efforts and provide school supplies for almost every secondary school in the district.

Launched as a part of CityFest Houston with Luis Palau, the Houston Schools Project provided evidence once again that Houston churches are on mission together. Nearly 2,500 volunteers representing 88 congregations spent the month of August responding to needs at 26 different schools in the Houston metro area. More than $340,000 in labor and financial contributions added to the success of this cooperative citywide effort.

Recounting the impact of the North Channel project, Melanie Ayers of Sterling Wood Baptist noted, "The churches in North Channel through the power of Christ have pulled together and boldly stated, 'We are united, and we do see and care about the needs of our community.' We made this statement not with our words but with our tremendous generosity and acts of service."

Ayers reported that upon the volunteers' arrival at one school, the staff greeted the group with "quiet reserve." However, the growing number of volunteers allowed the churches to go beyond providing meals.

"We volunteered to do anything, the school needed. We helped teachers in the parking lot bring in their many supplies. We handed out water to the landscaping crew. We sorted books for the assistant principal. We combed the neighborhoods and parks each day to invite people to lunch. We offered our services in everyway," she said.

"Those simple acts of service transformed the staff in just a few short days. The changes were evident by the smiles on their faces and the warm greetings. . . . The sweet fragrance of our service to the Lord still lingers even after the events are over."

Evidence mounts that the acts of service didn't go unnoticed. One mother asked if she could volunteer at church to repay the volunteers for feeding her kids. A former teacher from Cimmaron cried as she expressed her gratitude and relayed stories of children who came to her class each morning hungry.

Debbie Trice of Sterling Wood served as the compassion project coordinator. Amanda Brown also at Sterling Wood headed up the "Feed the Children" lunch program that spanned two weeks. Bill Ubernosky, Sterling Wood, organized the Purple Sage Elementary School beautification project. Marcella Willhoite from Christian Tabernacle led the school supplies drive that provided for 500 students in the Galena Park ISD.

"I was surprised at the gratitude of School Superintendent Dr. Mark Henry and his staff as we carted truckloads of materials to their main facilities to be distributed to needy children," said Willhoite, associate pastor of Christian Tabernacle. "I left with the feeling that Christ had truly been exalted in our community. CityFest Houston will come and go, but compassion projects can continually spread the love of Christ to the unsaved of our area."

Churches involved in the project include Sterling Wood, St. Phillippe, Resurrection, Christ Community, Victory Temple, Family Church, Calvary Nazarene, Christian Tabernacle, Family of Joy and FBCJC.