Get Involved!

*Hillcrest Transitional Housing Partnership - Hope Fellowship has developed a strategic partnership with Hillcrest Transitional Housing, a ministry that helps move individuals and families from homelessness to self-sustainability. The church has adopted one of the organization's apartments, and provides ongoing help and support to the family occupying the apartment during their three month stay. In addition, HFC conducts food drives and other volunteer efforts to help support the organization as a whole. For more info on Hillcrest, visit www.hillcresttransitionalhousing.org

* Cookout Wednesdays (Summer)- During the summer, Hope Fellowship's regular Wednesday night programs take a break and are replaced with "Cookout Wednesdays". Cookout Wednesdays emphasize Hope Fellowship's mission of being a family beyond a family by encouraging members to invite a family or two over to their house for a cookout and fellowship. The goal is to get families and individuals who don't normally interact at church together to begin new relationships and to get to know new people. It's a great chance to get to know other members of "the family."

* Backsnack Program - Hope Fellowship works with Harvesters Food Network to help provide healthy, nutritious snacks for low-income children on the weekends. Volunteers fill backpacks with snacks, which are distributed through a local elementary school to children prequalified for the program. By participating in the Backsnack Program, Hope Fellowship is caring for the community's children who are on the free or reduced lunch program.

*Summer Serve - During the summer months, when normal Wednesday programming is on hiatus, Hope Fellowship has encouraged acts of service. Some of the service projects in the past have included packing emergency relief kits for Heart to Heart International, making gifts for new homeowners at Heartland Habitat for Humanity, community clean-ups, putting together school supply kits for the Don Bosco Centers, and more.

*White Cross - White Cross helps to provide baby blankets, jackets, diapers and other essentials for medical clinics throughout third world countries. HFC has occasional work days to help sew items and wrap bandages. In addition, HFC collects donations of flannel material (in at least 2 yard increments) for these items. Donations can be dropped off in the lobby.

*MANA (Meals As Needed Anytime) - MANA has been a ministry of Hope Fellowship for many years. It provides families of the church with meals when there is a hospitalization or other special need. Individuals interested in participating on an "as needed" basis to provide a meal or two should contact the MANA Ministry Coordinator.

* Missions Teams - Hope Fellowship mission trips can be a life changing, eye opening experience! If you want to grow in your faith while ministering to others, please prayerfully consider participating on a short-term missions team. You must have a willing spirit, a heart for people and the ability to commit for up to a week of travel. In addition, mission teams meet for several months prior to the trip for prayer and preparation. Hope Fellowship missions trips have included both national and international destinations, such as Haiti, Nicaragua, Cameroon, Mexico, Honduras and Columbia, MO.

Prayer and Financial Support

Hope Fellowship sponsors long-term missionaries throughout the world through the North American Baptist Conference and International Missions Office. Hope Fellowship currently supports the following missionaries:

Austin & Beverly McCaskill: Austin and Beverly McCaskill have been serving in Albania since 2005 with Mission to Unreached People (MUPS). Their primary work involves teaching and training Albanian nationals and mentoring church planters through the Center for Christian Leadership in Tirana, Albania. Austin also is the director of the Albanian Encouragement Project, an umbrella organization of 65 mission organizations, representing them to the government, helping with visas, tax issues etc. He also has sponsored several conferences on integrity for businesses and government. Beverly serves on the Board of "Eagles Wings", a transition home for at-risk teenage girls.

Kristi TenClay: Kristi teaches at Rainforest International School (RFIS) located in Yaounde, Cameroon. RFIS is an accredited international school open to students in grades 7 to 12. The school was established to allow missionaries to remain in ministry while their children receive an excellent education. There are now over 100 students, both missionary children and nationals from a variety of countries, as well as an international staff. Hope Fellowship provides support to Kristi through the children's mission fund with a small enhancement.

Doctors Dennis & Nancy Palmer: Dennis and Nancy Palmer are members of Hope Fellowship Church who left for Cameroon in July 2004 to serve as missionaries. The Palmers are involved in medical ministries, administration and teaching. One of Dr. Dennis Palmer's special interests is HIV treatment, as well as humanitarian missions. Dr. Nancy Palmer will spend time teaching at the local Baptist seminary in Cameroon as well as encouraging the missionary wives.

Royce & Sue Baron: The Barons are NAB missionaries who are stationed in Mexico City, and helping to plant a church. As the church grows and is strengthened, they seek to have a national pastor to lead the church.

International Students, Inc. (ISI): Hope Fellowship donates some money to the local ISI office. ISI exists to help provide services to international students studying in the United States. Some of those services "include teaching them about American culture, helping them with problems needing a native speaker, finding an American Christian mentor in their academic discipline, and (if interested) teaching them about our Creator God and the Bible." The team leader for ISI in Kansas City is Carol Douglas, who has been to church a few times to talk about ISI's ministry.

Marek and Ania Marcinowicz: Marek and Ania have been friends of Hope Fellowship for several years. They have visited and been our guests when they are in the Kansas City area several times. They work as Campus Crusade for Christ staff members in Campus Ministry in Poland. Campus Crusade for Christ International is an interdenominational ministry committed to helping take the gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. Marek and Ania rely on the support and cooperation with millions of Christians from churches of many denominations and hundreds of other Christian organizations around the world to help Christians grow in their faith and share the Gospel message with their fellow countrymen.

* Prayer Chain - Do you have a prayer concern you would like our church to pray for? Please share your prayer request with us by calling (816) 587-7400.

* Police Prayer Partners - Hope Fellowship is proud to support the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department by participating in the Police Prayer Partners Program. If you would like to support and officer who has requested prayer, please see Pastor Dewey.

Community Outreach

* Hope 4 Health Food Co-Op - The Hope 4 Health Food Co-Op offers wholesome, chemical-free, natural foods at an affordable cost. By partnering with local farmers and organic food suppliers, Hope 4 Health provides co-op members access to free-range, hormone free and grass-fed meat; grass-fed dairy products; organic dried goods; free range eggs; organic fruits and vegetables; and more! Participation in the Hope 4 Health Food Co-Op is available to anyone in the community who may be interested. Download our flyer for more information.

* Agency Partnerships - Hope Fellowship works with a number of additional agencies throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to help families in need. These projects have included collecting beds and books for the Sleepyhead Project, collecting baby supplies for Rachel House, hosting meals and activities at City Union Mission, and much more.