Local Ministries
Go into all the world and preach to all creation
"Here is the way I want you to fast.
Set free those who are held by chains without any reason. Untie the ropes that hold people as slaves. Set free those who are crushed. Break every evil chain. Share your food with hungry people. Provide homeless people with a place to stay. Give naked people clothes to wear. Provide for the needs of your own family.
Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun. I will heal you quickly. I will march out ahead of you. And my glory will follow behind you and guard you. That is because I always do what is right. "
Isaiah 58:6-8
Local Ministries that we as a church body are involved in and/or support
Embassy of Hope Center (eohc) is a 501(c)3, faith-based, non-profit organization that advocates, educates, and connects community resources for individuals affected by experiences of trauma, abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation, or slavery.
Our services include advocacy for survivors and family reintegration assistance for exploited men, women and children who are victims of crime such as forced prostitution, pornography, stripping, and other types of human trafficking.
Our programs:
* Training and technical assistance to the general public, churches, law enforcement, counselors, and social service providers.
* Shelter referrals, professional counseling, medical and dental assistance from our community partners.
Haven for Hope's mission is to transform and save lives of the homeless.
Our purpose is to provide homeless individuals and families with the training, skills and assistance needed to help them become self-sufficient.
Combining the national best practices found at over 150 facilities throughout the USA, we set a vision for Haven for Hope to provide a wide range of social services in order to meet the needs of San Antonio’s homeless community in a “single-multiservice-campus” setting. Far beyond shelter, food and clothing, Haven for Hope’s services are designed to address the root causes of homelessness, with over 70 Partner agencies providing a wide-array of critical services.
The Campus has already helped transform and save lives in Bexar County. The centralized and integrated Campus has created a much more effective and efficient way to help homeless families and individuals. Effective treatment reduces the number of homeless individuals in the criminal justice and public medical systems.
Daily Bread Ministries is Christian based food bank, which all food is given away free of charge. It is operated by dedicated staff and volunteers that run daily routes to collect surplus goods from food suppliers and catering companies throughout San Antonio. The collected goods are then brought to our 20,000 square foot warehouse at 700 W. Houston street. Typically the food is redistributed to non-profit organizations and ministries within 48 hours. We are supported through the prayers and financial donations of businesses, individuals, churches and grants.
5.7% of Texans experience hunger on a regular basis - more than one million people. USDA/Economic Research Service
The rate of children living in poverty in Texas is 22.5% and in Bexar County, the rate is 23.5%. USDA/ Economic Research Service, U.S. Census – 2008 Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Data
Three million Texans, or one in eight, including 1.2 million children were forced to visit a soup kitchen or food pantry to feed themselves in 2009. The Texas Food Bank Network, Feeding America - Hunger in America 2010 and Mathematica research
Texas has the highest rate of childhood hunger – 22.1%. In Bexar County, 23.5% of children are living in poverty. Hunger in America 2010: San Antonio and Southwest Texas, U.S. Census – 2008 Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Data
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is a vibrant campus ministry that establishes and advances witnessing communities of students and faculty. We minister to students and faculty through small group Bible studies, large gatherings on campus, leadership training, thoughtful discipleship and life-changing conferences and events. In South Texas, InterVarsity is on 6 campuses, including UT-San Antonio & Trinity University. They have the goal to expand campuses with little to no Christian ministry influence, specifically praying to see growth from 6 campuses to 10 campuses by 2015. In the last year alone, the South Texas area has seen at least 60 students make first time decisions to follow Jesus.
Ana Graves has served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship since 2004. As the South Texas Area
Director, she coaches and trains staff and students in order to see students' lives transformed,
campuses renewed, and world changers developed. She has a passion to see students encounter
Christ through His Word and His Spirit to be ambassadors of hope on campus and beyond. She enjoys
developing leaders who depend on the Lord and follow Him faithfully for a lifetime. The South Texas
staff team is working hard to plant new work on underserved campuses so that every student in
South Texas has the opportunity to respond to the Gospel.
If you’d like to learn more about the ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, please visit their website at www.intervarsity.org.
