This is how we carry out the work of being the hands and feet of Jesus within the local communities of our campuses located in Jerseyville, IL and Columbia, IL.
First, we ask God to open our eyes to the needs of people around us and to cause our hearts to hurt for them the way His does. We continue by partnering with local community officials to best understand the greatest needs and to ensure we’re not overlapping other established efforts. Then, we deploy eXtreme Service teams throughout the year to effectively serve and love those people. We believe the pains in our community should be our pains, and, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will be led to answers and solutions for them.
Additionally, we form strategic partnerships with local organizations to help advance the work God is doing through them. We come alongside them and strive to be a strength to them through financial and volunteer support. This allows us to eXtend our reach further into the community as well as provide great inroads for the passions and gifts of many in our church to find eXpression through a variety of volunteer opportunities.,
World missions are how we bring aid to the hurting around the globe and help to fight against the injustices they are oppressed by. We partner with missionaries and mission organizations by giving financial support, sending missionary teams, and bringing awareness. Additionally, we endeavor to recognize those within our local church whom have a call to become missionaries so we may serve them by training and equipping them to be sent into the mission field.
In addition to serving the practical needs of the hurting in our community, we also seek to eXtend and meet the spiritual needs by sharing the Gospel. We want to ensure we are offering both bread for practical living as well as the bread of life for their souls. The ultimate objective is always to win people to Christ and grow His Kingdom. In both Local and Global eXtensions, we maintain a Gospel centered focus.
We believe God has called us to eXtend by seeking to serve other churches. We strive to be a catalyst and ongoing advocate for church unity within the communities of every campus. We look for ways to serve and support other churches. Our leadership intentionally creates space for building relationships with other pastors and church leaders so we may cultivate strong bonds organically that lead to greater Kingdom impact in our areas.
Crisis Aid started by providing 2-pound bags of rice to people in South Sudan. The work quickly evolved to serve people in crisis living in 11 different countries. Together with partners, they have provided more than 17.8 million pounds of food, served 2.6 million adults & malnourished children, & 1,378 sex trafficking victims helped, the youngest being 4 years of age. In the U.S they have provided a safe home for 190 girls rescued from sex trafficking & 107 children have received crisis intervention services through our office in coordination with law enforcement since November of 2018. Today Crisis Aid concentrates efforts in East Africa & the United States serving children & families who are in crisis situations. Whether it be famine, disease, natural disaster, or sex trafficking, Crisis Aid is there. Crisis Aid is committed to “helping the helpless” with relief efforts both locally & globally. They equip those who are beyond the crisis to take responsibility by providing programs that train, inspire, & move them to independent, self-sustained living.
Global Messenger Service is a missions organization focused on reaching unreached people groups with the message of Jesus Christ; empowering leaders to help them reach their cities & nations; & providing humanitarian aid across the globe. Through the years, they have established children’s homes, clinics, & a full-service hospital; planted wells & numerous churches; adopted an entire slum; and provided food, vitamins, & medical treatment to thousands in need, including those affected by tsunamis, hurricanes, & floods.
Life Network of Southern Illinois is a pregnancy resource center committed to providing accurate information & reliable resources to women & men facing an unexpected pregnancy, issues related to parenting/health education. Since 1995, our trained staff & volunteers have provided loving, non-judgmental support to thousands of clients.
HNS offers a variety of services to Monroe County residents. HNS’s mission is help for today, hope for tomorrow, hand up for life! A few of the services they offer include: Holiday outreach, Emergency Food Pantry, Case-by-case financial assistance, Financial Counseling, Emergency backpacks for the homeless, Job searches, & Resume writing.
The startUP program is a community partnership between local high school students & area businesses that transforms the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. This partnership is designed to encourage young people to come back to our community to build businesses & inspire future generations of entrepreneurs to follow their dreams.