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"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9

We are so thankful to the many churches and church groups who partner with our ministry in a variety of ways! Our goal on this page is to provide a helpful overview of how your church can get involved in Hope Ministries and help us help homeless men, women and children.

Lunch & Learn - We'll Come to You!

Have you heard about our Lunch & Learn opportunity for church leaders? This is an opportunity for your church leadership to learn about outreach opportunities for your congregation. Our community involvement and church relations staff can visit your church over the noon hour to present to church staff and leaders. We have found this to be an efficient, convenient way for church leaders to connect with us. We are flexible and can also offer homeless outreach update presentations during other time slots depending on the schedule of activities at your church.

To schedule a Lunch & Learn, contact us at (515) 265-7272 or info@hopeiowa.org.



Upcoming Outreach Opportunities

Looking for a Vacation Bible School mission project this summer?
We have a variety of opportunities for VBS groups to learn about homelessness and make a difference in the “mission field in their own backyard.” From donation drives to inviting a Hope Ministries speaker to your VBS students, we are available! To partner with Hope Ministries this summer, just call our Church Relations and Group Activities Coordinator at (515) 265-7272. We will coordinate scheduling and activities. 		Tokens for the Broken
Most of the men we serve at our Bethel Mission emergency shelter and Door of Faith long-term recovery center do not have their own vehicles. But they need to be able to get to job interviews, classes at DMACC and other important appointments. How about partnering with Hope Ministries and collecting “Tokens for the Broken” so our men can ride the bus. Tokens are $1.75 each and can be purchased in packs of 10 at most local Hy-Vee and Dahl’s stores in the Des Moines metro area. 		School Supplies
The children at our Hope Family Center, our long-term recovery center for women and children, will need school supplies this fall when they start the new school year! We need items such as pocket folders, pencil boxes and bags, dry erase markers, wide-ruled notebooks and paper, red pens, pencil sharpeners, three-ring binders, calculators and trapper keepers. We can schedule and coordinate a donation drive with your church—just contact us at (515) 265-7272 or info@hopeiowa.org. 		Walk a Mile in Their Shoes!
You’re invited to put together a team for our third annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, our walk-a-thon coming up on Saturday, September 3. Call today to register for a Team Leader meeting and receive all the information you need to put together a team and receive a promotional DVD to share with your congregation! Click here to learn more. Your church – or small groups within your church – can also create a team fundraising webpage where people can sponsor your team members online.
Learn more here.


How to Get Involved

We have so many opportunities for members and groups within your church to get involved at Hope Ministries—whether it's organizing a donation drive or participating in one of our events or becoming a financial partner. Here are some suggested first steps to partnering with us:

Invite your pastor/church leadership to attend our Leadership Lunch & Learns
Leadership Lunch & Learns are held on the first Thursday of each month from 11:30 to 1 p.m. This includes lunch at our Hope Café community dining hall, a facility tour and one-on-one question and answer time!

Resources


Hope for the Homeless DVD
Our six-minute DVD overview of Hope Ministries and our work with those who are homeless. Includes the words of Jesus from Matthew 25.

A Case for Compassion Study Guide
Perfect for both small and large groups. Our three-part study guide facilitates discussion about homelessness and our responsibility as Christians, incorporating Scripture, questions and empathy exercises. Also available in pdf format here.

Hope's Helper e-bulletin
Our monthly e-bulletin includes announcements, outreach opportunities, current needs and prayer requests and more! Register to receive our e-bulletin here.

To order a DVD or A Case for Compassion, just call (515) 265-7272 or e-mail info@hopeiowa.org.
Attend a Community Awareness Tour
Community Awareness Tours are held on the fourth Tuesday evening (6 p.m.) and fourth Wednesday morning (9 a.m.) of the month. During the facility-wide tour, you will have the opportunity to see Hope Ministries in action. If you have a group from your church (i.e. men’s or women’s Bible study, youth group, missions team) that would like to tour, please call us to schedule a tour just for your group!
Invite a Hope Ministries speaker to your church
We are happy to send a representative to speak at your Sunday morning worship or other church functions. Our speakers often invite one of our recovery graduates to attend and share his/her testimony. We can also provide videos, display boards and materials as needed.

Designate a Hope's Ambassador or Ambassador Team
Hope Ambassadors serve as the “voice of Hope Ministries” for their congregation. Ambassadors act as a liaison to coordinate communication between Hope Ministries and your church regarding volunteer, outreach and mission opportunities. Call (515) 265-7272 to learn more.

Schedule a S.A.M. Team experience
Held on Saturdays, our Service and Mission (S.A.M.) Teams allow church groups to experience a little bit of everything: a work project, lunch at our Hope Café, testimonies, a tour of the largest emergency shelter in Iowa, visits to local homeless tent camps and an orientation about homelessness in Iowa. Click here to learn more.



Bulletin/Newsletter Announcements

One easy way to help Hope Ministries is by printing one or more of the following bulletin announcements in your church's bulletin, newsletter or other publication.

Hope Ministries Walk-a-thon: Hope Ministries is hosting its third annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes walk-a-thon on Saturday, September 3, at Copper Creek Lake in Pleasant Hill. This family-friend event generates awareness and funds for Hope Ministries’ services for homeless men, women and children. The walk-a-thon features cardboard testimonies from Hope Ministries’ residents as well as a chance to help “Loop the Lake.” More information, registration and sponsor forms are available at www.hopeiowa.org. Come experience this Walk!

Hope Ministries current needs: Hope Ministries – serving central Iowa's homeless since 1915 – has a number of current needs for both its men's facilities and family center. Donations of items such as deodorant, laundry detergent, twin sheet sets, pillows, towels and more help Hope Ministries help those who are homeless. For an updated list of needs, visit www.hopeiowa.org or call (515) 265-7272.

Opportunities For...
...Youth Groups!
We have many fun ideas that would work well for youth groups such as:
  • Change for a Change: Collect change to help us buy diapers for our kids at Hope Family Center
  • Experience our S.A.M. Team outreach on a Saturday
  • Schedule a G2:10 short-term missions trip for your group
 ...Small Groups!
If your adult small group is looking for an opportunity, consider these options:
  • Schedule a S.A.M. Team experience on a Saturday
  • Sign up for our Sunday Night Sandwich Club
  • Schedule a work project at one of our facilities
  • Coordinate a donation drive
  • Sponsor a birthday party at our Hope Family Center
 ...Confirmation/Sunday School Classes!
Opportunities for confirmation and Sunday School classes:
  • Schedule a work project at one of our facilities
  • Schedule a S.A.M. Team experience on a Saturday
  • Conduct a donation drive
  • Sign up to supplement and serve a meal at our Hope Cafe
  • Schedule a G2:10 short-term missions trip
To sign up for any of the above opportunities for your group—or to ask about other opportunities for your church group—feel free to call us at (515) 265-7272 or send an e-mail to info@hopeiowa.org.


More Ways to Engage with Hope Ministries
  • Remember Hope Ministries, our shelter and recovery residents, staff and volunteers in your prayers. In fact, we hope you will encourage your members to join our Hope Prayer Team.
  • Consider how our ministry to those who are homeless and hungry might fit within your annual church missions budget.
  • Schedule a G2:10 short-term missions trip.
  • Consider adding a link to our Web site (www.hopeiowa.org) on your church's Web site. We can provide icons and wording.
  • Encourage members to join our M25 Network—a network of committed volunteers at Hope Ministries. Click here to learn more.
  • Invite Hope Ministries to bring a display for your church's “Missions Sunday” or other mission-oriented events.
  • Sponsor an annual “Hope Sunday” and invite us to bring a resident to speak about what it means to be homeless.
  • Sponsor a donation drive! You can learn about our many donation drive opportunities here.
  • Ask us about how your church can lead a 30-minute evening chapel at our Bethel Mission facility.