Below are listed some mission activities of our local churches. This page is a great way to support the ministries of our local churches as they participate in the transformation of the world by sharing God’s love and grace!
UPDATE ON WILDFIRES IN MAUI
As you know, the toll of death and devastation from last week's wildfires on the island of Maui are increasing. As of August 24th, the death toll was 115 persons and expected to rise. 2,000 buildings, 86% of them residential homes, have been destroyed. The UCC is responding to this disaster, coordinating its efforts with the Hawaii Conference, whose Conference Minister is our friend and colleague, Rev. David Popham. Rev. Popham has asked that contributions go to the national office Disaster and Recovery Response Fund. You may donate toward the recovery effort here.
Among the buildings destroyed by the wildfires is the Waiola UCC, the first congregation organized on the island of Maui, This congregation, more than 200 years ago, has a DNA, in Rev. Popham's words, of resiliency, having survived two fires and wind damage to its building. If you would like to donate specifically to the rebuilding of the church, the congregation has requested that the donation is given through the Hawai'i Conference, which has its own 2023 Wildfires Relief Fund. Your gift must be marked "Waiola Church" or it will be placed in their general fund. You may donate toward the rebuilding of Waiola Church here.
Please keep Rev. David Popham, the churches and members of the Hawai'i Conference, and the people of Hawai'i in your prayers, and thank you in advance for your prayers and generosity.
Rev. Freeman Palmer (Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference
SUPPORT “ACCOMPANY NOW” WORK AT THE REFORMED CHURCH OF HIGHLAND PARK
This summer continues to be a time of rapid arrival of unaccompanied minors from our southern border. Our program, out of RCHP-AHC, called Accompany Now!, will walk alongside 1,000-1,400 children this year as they get resettled in NJ, with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and sometimes one's own parent from whom they were separated for some years. Most of the youth are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, but we also have youth from Turkey and other countries--all youth who cross the southern border.
This program operates quietly, largely because all the work is done with minors. We are not seeking 'host families,' or 'big brother/big sisters' from the community. There is, understandably, a lot of protection in place. We now have close to 30 case managers, working statewide, to come alongside families and to assist them with 1) school enrollment 2) health care enrollment 3) mental health referrals, 4) legal services 5) basic food and material needs 6) safely and cultural orientation .... things of this nature. Sometimes cases call for more intense services, based on the journey that brought a child here--but the above list sums up our supports.
We are always looking for the following things.
1) Twin Mattresses: So many of the families receiving youth come to households where money is tight. We love to be able to bless kids with a new or nearly new mattress. Though we are well funded for personnel we are NOT FUNDED for materially supporting youth. this is a frustration of this program that is rooted in political reasons.
2) Dressers: It's important to 'stop living out of a suitcase' and a dresser helps one feel like they are included in their new home. Our woodshop in Highland Park is about to start producing a simple 'dresser/bookshelf' that we can proudly give to as many kids as have need of them. Would you like to support this project?
We think the dresser will cost about $50 in supplies (wooden shelving from recycled wood, with small plastic 'drawers/bins' on the shelves. We think this might be a good fundraiser/mission project for faith communities.
Also, would your youth group, or other groups at church/mosque/ synagogue/temple, be interested in assembling these dressers? We invite you to consider this. Please reach out to seth@rchp-ahc.org if you are interested in learning more.
3) School Supplies: We want all youth to be 'thinking about school' from the moment they arrive. The urge to work is very strong, as many youth have families struggling 'back home.' While we are not judging that urge to work, we want youth to be thinking about studying and learning. School supplies are a nice way to help set the right tone.
We will soon be putting together a regular 'newsletter' with stories from Accompany Now and asks as well. I expect, sometime in August, to hold an in-person community meeting, where, hopefully, we can share more about this important work.
In FY 2021, 5911 unaccompanied minors came to NJ. In FY 2022, 6,500+ arrived. In FY 2023, we are on track for a similar number.
NJ is the 5th highest resettlement state in the nation for unaccompanied minors. Learn about it. Care about it. These children are a major part of New Jersey's future.