Ministry Partner Update: Save Our Youth

This last Sunday, April 12, we were joined by Dan Frederick of Save Our Youth and Seth, an attendee of Park Church and a Save Our Youth Mentor. Save Our Youth is a nonprofit organization that resources and pairs mentors with at-risk youth seeking mentoring relationships. Park Church has partnered with Save Our Youth for many years!

Watch the video above to hear the latest updates!

To learn more about Save Our Youth or to investigate becoming a mentor, please visit saveouryouth.org or reach out directly to Dan at dan@saveouryouth.org.

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Invitation: End-of-Year Giving

This past Sunday, we heard from Finance Team member Carly Anne Lovett on end-of-year giving.

If you call Park Church home and are contemplating your charitable giving here at the end of the year, we encourage you to consider an end-of-year gift to Park Church that is above and beyond your regular giving.

End-of-year giving has always been an important part of our annual financial plan, helping us to finish the year strong and prepare for the year ahead. This year also finds us in the middle of a meaningful season of preparation—our Two-Year Vision for Park Church, calling each of us into prayer, generosity, and engagement. You can learn more about this initiative or give using the buttons below.

Two-Year Vision for Park Church
Giving

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Help Alleviate a Lack of Resources

As you may have heard, SNAP benefits have been delayed and reduced as of Saturday, November 1. This means that people inside and outside of our church family may begin to experience food insecurity this month. As followers of Jesus, this is an opportunity to step in and help alleviate a lack of resources in our community. Below are a few ways we ask that you step in to help at this time:

Donating Food Resources

On Sunday, November 9, and Sunday, November 16, we will have bins in the lobby that we can fill with items to bring to Metro Caring, a local organization helping with supplemental resources. Below, you will find a list of helpful items to contribute. These bins will be in the Lobby and in the Park Kids check-in space. You can also give directly to Metro Caring here. Often, financial gifts of this kind can go further in purchasing food items at wholesale and bulk prices.

What could you bring?

  • Canned Food (Like Tomato Sauce, Canned Fruit, and Vegetables)
  • Rice, Pasta, Masa Flour, Oatmeal, Nuts
  • Canned Chicken, Tuna, and other forms of Protein
  • Cooking Oils, Spices, Soy Sauce, and other packaged items
  • Diapers, Toiletries, Soap, and Feminine Products

Supporting Our Local Outreach Partners

Two of our local outreach Partners have opportunities for us to support the individuals they serve who benefit from SNAP.

CrossPurpose, a local organization working to alleviate economic and spiritual poverty through development programs, has a fund that will be distributed to participants of its programs to help cover the costs of supplemental benefits in this season. You can contribute to that fund here.

Hope House Colorado, an Arvada-based organization working to empower teen moms, has opportunities to make meals and bags for moms and kids. You can learn more, contribute, and sign up to help here.

Advocacy in Prayer

We want to be advocates for others by both meeting physical needs and by interceding in prayer on behalf of those who may be suffering. Join us in praying for our government, communities, and those who are feeling this ache right now.

If you have questions on ways to help, please contact Calden Scranton, Director of Missions and Outreach, at calden@parkchurch.org. If you need immediate help or care in any way, please visit parkchurch.org/care to request immediate help.

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Ministry Partner Highlight: Scarlet Hope

This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear from Cassidy, the Director of Scarlet Hope Denver, about the work they do in Denver. If you missed her invitation to action and partnership, you can re-watch her announcement above.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbor through the joys of life and through its pains. We are called to be there in times of righteousness and in times of injustice. At Park Church, we encourage everyone who calls Park home to live this mission. As always, we are inviting our community to participate, loving and serving our neighbors by getting involved with one of our Missions Partners. Scarlet Hope is a great example of this kind of opportunity!

Mission and Action:
Scarlet Hope seeks to love and serve those who are in the adult entertainment industry and to share Jesus with those who are exploited and trafficked.

Who is Served:
Scarlet Hope serves those in the adult entertainment industry and often connects with and serves those who are being trafficked.

Why is it Important:
There are 65+ adult entertainment establishments in Denver. Colorado is ranked 15th in the U.S. for highest volume of signals to made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Learn more about trafficking and exploitation in Denver. (Source Scarlet Hope).

Ways to Serve:
There are opportunities to serve with Scarlet Hope’s Outreach (going into clubs to share Jesus and care for the women there) or by providing meals taken to the clubs.

Give:
You can give by visiting Scarlet Hope’s website.

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Introducing CarePortal at Park Church

On Sunday, September 21, Calden Scranton, our Director of Missions and Outreach, announced a new partnership we’re excited to embark on as a church—CarePortal. CarePortal is a resource for viewing and responding to real needs faced by individuals and families in our area.

Watch the video above to learn more about CarePortal, and consider joining us on Monday, November 17 for our Mission & Outreach Night.

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Partner Highlight: Save Our Youth

Last Sunday, June 22, we were joined by Dan Frederick of Save Our Youth. Save Our Youth is a nonprofit organization that resources and pairs mentors with at-risk youth seeking mentoring relationships. Park Church has partnered with Save Our Youth for many years!

Watch the video above to learn more, but here are some highlights:

  • 16 individuals from Park Church are current Save Our Youth Mentors, serving youth in our city.
  • Park Church was able to host Save Our Youth’s graduation celebration for 10 High School and 4 College Graduates.
  • Gospel Communities, individuals, and Park Students provided a total of 25 Christmas boxes to help first-generation college students.

To learn more about Save Our Youth or to investigate becoming a mentor, please visit saveouryouth.org or reach out directly to Dan at dan@saveouryouth.org.

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Partner Highlight: Denver Rescue Mission

Denver Rescue Mission is committed to helping those experiencing homelessness and addiction in the Denver Metro Area and providing opportunities for change and rehabilitation. DRM serves our city by providing emergency housing services, rehabilitation, housing transition, and continued community outreach.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbor through the joys of life and through its pains. We are called to be there in times of righteousness and in times of injustice. As the winter marches on, the needs of those experiencing homelessness become acute. If you or your Gospel Community haven’t considered volunteering with Denver Rescue Mission, now could be a meaningful time to do so.

Who is Served?

Denver Rescue Mission serves those experiencing homelessness and addiction in our city.

Why Is This Work Important

Approximately 9977 people experience homelessness in Denver. 71% of these individuals rely on organizations like Denver Rescue Mission for temporary places to stay safe amidst nights and the weather. (Source: Metro Denver Homeless Initiative). Learn more about the realities of Homelessness in Denver here.

How Can You Serve?

While there are many ways to serve, here are a couple of good starting places for individuals and groups:

How Can You Give?

To give to the mission, visit Denver Rescue Mission’s giving page.

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Partner Highlight: CrossPurpose

On Sunday, January 12, we were joined by Michael Ramsdail and Mark Haug from CrossPurpose, a Denver non-profit organization that seeks to abolish relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through tuition-free career training and community development. If you missed their announcement, you can watch that above to learn more about their work and our opportunity to participate.

As Michael and Mark shared, an important element of CrossPurpose’s work is the cultivation of “Ally” relationships. This Spring Semester, we invite you, your family, or your Gospel Community to join CrossPurpose and its mission by becoming an ally.

What is a Cross Purpose Ally?

An Ally is a volunteer who walks alongside the CrossPurpose community and career development program participants (called “Leaders”) to encourage and build friendships.

On Wednesday nights from 6–8pm, we come together for “Family Gatherings.” Three to four allies share a meal with 10–15 Leaders, play a game or two, and check in on how things are progressing in our Leaders’ lives and careers. Allies help provide Leaders with social capital and community outside their normal circles.

Learn more about becoming an Ally
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Missions Partner Highlight: CrossPurpose

This spring, we want to focus on reflecting the love of Jesus by reaching out to others with compassion, unifying grace, and sacrificial action. Below, you can learn more about one opportunity we would love to invite you to begin thinking and praying about.

Cross Purpose

CrossPurpose is a non-profit organization that seeks to abolish relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through tuition-free career training and community development. An important element of their work is the cultivation of “Ally” relationships. This Spring Semester, we invite you, your family, or your Gospel Community to join CrossPurpose and their mission by becoming an ally.

What is a CrossPurpose Ally?

An Ally is a volunteer who walks alongside the CrossPurpose community and career development program participants (called “Leaders”) to encourage and build friendships.

On Wednesday nights from 6–8pm, we come together for “Family Gatherings.” Three to four allies share a meal with 10–15 Leaders, play a game or two, and check in on how things are progressing in our Leaders’ lives and careers. Allies help provide Leaders with social capital and community outside their normal circles.

Learn more about becoming an Ally
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Holiday Missions Partner Highlight: Hope House Colorado

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbor through the joys of life and through its pains. We are called to be there in times of righteousness and in times of injustice. During this holiday season, we’re inviting our community to engage with and care for our neighbors by actively participating anew with one of our Mission Partners. We will share about several of these partners in our weekly email over the upcoming month, including specific ways to serve.

Hope House Colorado

Mission and Action:

Hope House provides free self-sufficiency programs to parenting teen moms.

Who is Served?

Denver-area teen moms in need.

Why Is This Work Important

The Empower Program provides opportunities for teen moms to achieve personal, educational, and economic self-sufficiency. The Housing Support Program provides metro-Denver’s only residential program for teen moms, as well as additional housing support through various partnerships. The Early Learning & School Age Program focuses on literacy and social-emotional development for children while providing early intervention services, school-age support, and a parenting program for teen moms. All programs are designed to transform the lives of two generations at Hope House.

How Can You Give?

To give to the mission, visit Hope House’s giving page.

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