Community/World Ministry The Hope Church mission statement says, "Hope Church seeks to be a servant to the human community." The Community/World Ministry supports and encourages Christian action and mission, to unleash the gifts that Hope Church can give to others in the community and the world outside of Hope Church. On this page, we'll share information about ways that members of our congregation and others can not only spread the Word, but also can make our world a more loving and caring place. And we'll help you get in contact with local or regional organizations and learn about the people and missions we support as a church. "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say hou have faith but do not have works? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead....I by my works will show you my faith." James 2:14-18

Build a house for a low-income family in our community or other areas of the world through Habitat for Humanity

Bring non-perishable and canned food items to the Gathering Area each week to donate to Community Action House. Canned meat and fish, peanut butter, and infant formula and diapers are among the items most often needed.

Knit a shawl to be given to someone in our community who's ill or in need of comfort. Contact the church office (392-7947) for more information.

Learn about world hunger from Bread for the World.

Sponsor a walker in the annual CROP Walk each April. Crop Walk is sponsored by Church World Service to raise money for disaster relief, refugee assistance, and sustainable self-help and development.

Write to Congress.

Contact the Hope Church office to find out how to get involved. If you'd like to add an activity to this list for the consideration of Hope Church members and friends, forward you information to the Community and World Ministry through the church office.

A good place to start is with Good Samaritan Center’s The Know Book, which contains an extensive list of community resources.  A reference copy is available in the church office.

To learn about more than one hundred community resources, you can call 2-1-1 from a land phone or 1-877-211-LAKE (5253) from a cell or pay phone. Their website is http://www.call-211.org/ .

Community Action House, 345 W. 14th St, provides emergency services.  Their website is http://www.communityactionhouse.org/site/c.gdJIKMNlFkG/b.4416973/k.C9C6/Emergency_Services.htm

Hope Church will be providing space on Commons II windows for posting job opportunities, work wanted, and other pertinent information for dealing with the economic downturn.

The following resources were also submitted by Hope Church members:

Job Search

• Michigan Works! - job counseling and retraining for employment:  http://www.michiganworks.org/
• Hope College postings (check often):   http://www.hope.edu/admin/hr/employment/index.html  
• Spectrum Health has online job postings at www.spectrum-health.org  (Cindi Veldheer DeYoung can assist with job searches here)
• Search for local jobs online at http://www.simplyhired.com
• An extensive list of job search websites is available at http://www.fpcp.net/web/CareerConnectionsOnline.pdf
• Herrick Public library has computers and assistance to learn how to use online job search tools.

New Link: http://www.jobangels.org

Résumé Preparation

These Hope Church members have offered to help with resume preparation: 

• David Klooster (klooster@hope.edu),  
• Judy Parr (parrjtwj@yahoo.com),
• Linda Triemstra (goldleaf554@comcast.net)

Food Assistance

• For details about Christ Memorial Church’s “Angel Food” distributions, check http://www.christmemorial.org/index.php?/category/adults/topic/angel_food_ministry/ 
• For a list of “Feeding America” mobile food pantry sites for the current month, .check http://www.call-211.org/ottawa_foodMobile.htm
• Zeeland’s City on a Hill (site of former Zeeland Hospital. 100 Pine Street) offers free vegetables and fruits in season at His Harvest Stand.
  

Affordable Services

• For very reasonable prices for hair/nail salon, flowers, baked goods, go to Careerline Tech Center on Port Sheldon Street just off US-31 (Limited hours, school year only).
• Holland’s Homecor makes home improvements at low cost.

Physical and Spiritual Health

• Investigate your COBRA or other health insurance choices.
• Contact Faith Christian Reformed Church in Holland for information about free or low-cost medication, dental care and vision care.
• Practice contemplative prayer and stress reduction techniques such as deep breathing.
• Seek help from Anchor Groups, Congregational Care, and Health Ministries at Hope Church.  Call the church office to make a request or offer help.
• Hope Church offers recreational volleyball and softball.  Playing and cheering are both therapeutic!
• Call the Hope Church office, 392-7947, and ask for Gordon Wiersma or Jill Russell for assistance in coping with emotional and spiritual crises.  If you find you are obsessively dwelling on depressed or angry thoughts or denial/avoidance of your situation, they can refer you to people who can help.

Financial Management

• Adults 50+ can check the Evergreen Commons website for available services (taxes, Medicare assistance, etc.) http://www.evergreencommons.org/
• For help with starting your own business, check with SCORE - http://www.scoreholland.org/
• If you have a financial emergency, you can request help from Hope Church’s Deacons’ Fund by contacting one of the pastors.

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