Community Engagement
our vision
Gospel Ministry
That leaves a lasting impact
As we continue to build partnerships in our local communities, our goal is to be cross-cultural ambassadors who engage the lost with the Gospel that ministers to the soul and body (Mark 12:28-44).
We believe that God has called Mercy Church to minister to at-risk children and their families for a compelling reason – to break the vicious cycle of generational poverty. By directing our efforts towards these vulnerable groups, we believe that we can make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities.
our focus
Families, especially those living in poverty, often face multiple challenges that create barriers to their overall well-being. Lack of education, limited access to healthcare, unemployment, and inadequate social support systems can perpetuate the cycle of poverty, passing it down from one generation to the next. However, by serving families and at-risk children, we aim to interrupt this cycle, offering hope and pathways to a brighter future.
Our efforts aim to address the root causes of poverty by providing at-risk children and families with tools and resources to enhance their well-being, improve their quality of life, and create a more sustainable socioeconomic environment. By fostering strong community connections and promoting family resilience, we are able to create a support system that helps them navigate the challenges they face, empowering them to break free from the cycle of poverty.
THE STRATEGY
Keeping the gospel at the center
Our aim is to involve ourselves within the local community, building meaningful relationships and seeking to understand and address the needs of the people within that community because we believe that the problems of our community are the problems of the church. Therefore, community engagement involves a long-term commitment to being present and invested in the lives of others. Gospel-centered community engagement is driven by the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals as creations of God and the desire to extend love, compassion, and service to others in the name of Christ. We hope to accomplish two main things. First, we believe that our church members learn to be more like Jesus through service to others. Second, our community receives the love of Jesus through our service.
We have outlined our strategy to accomplish these goals:
EQUIP
We train our people to be able to relate well and build relationships across cultural lines. We do this through both our Beyond the Color Barrier Class and Neighborhood to Nations Class which will be offered throughout the year.
ENGAGE
We engage our local communities as we seek to serve them by having a consistent presence in their context through relationships. Over time we will begin to see fruitful relationships form, leading to impactful ministry.
Partner
We seek to intentionally impact our community by consistently meeting verbalized needs by serving, giving financially, praying, and supporting our ministry partners.
Connect
We want to earn the right to be the church for the community. Here, we desire to see people from the communities we serve begin to join our local church and partner with us in our mission.
Our Partners
Sugar Creek Charter School
SCCS’s mission is to eradicate generational poverty in the lives of their students by providing a rigorous education from kindergarten through 12th grade through academic preparation, college and career readiness, and life skills for success.
Dream Center
The Dream Center’s vision is to give hope and bring transformation to Charlotte’s most at-risk neighborhoods through consistent and dedicated home visits, relationship building, and physical acts of service.
Queen City Pregnancy Resource Center
Queen City Pregnancy Resource Center provides free pregnancy services and information for those seeking an abortion. They educate, support and empower women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Alongside Families
Alongside Families exists to connect isolated families in the Carolinas to local church communities that champion family preservation and physical, spiritual, and emotional thriving.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Ready to engage the community you’re in?
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