Advent Giving 2021
We believe cultivating an annual rhythm of sacrificial giving during our culture's most excessive season speaks to both us and our community as followers of Jesus.
If every member gives 50% extra of what we normally give, we can accomplish the goal of raising $24,000 this December 2021.
With that goal met we will not only fulfill our congregation’s monthly budget but also give away $8,000 to our campaign recipients.
Below are our Advent Giving Campaign recipients for 2021.
Please give to the "General Fund" on our Giving platform when you are ready.
LOCAL INITIATIVE
The Mission of Yahweh - Spring Branch
The Mission of Yahweh is a faith-based women and children's home that empowers, enriches and restores the lives of homeless women and children, and provides outreach services to communities in need, since 1961.
Vision: Restore Hope, Transform Lives, End Homelessness
Goal: The Mission of Yahweh plans to build a new dormitory on land that was acquired 8 years ago. Once completed their daily resident count will increase from 120 to 160 women and children residents.
They just recently celebrated their 60th year of ministry and Sojourn has served them financially and tangibly in various ways over the past two years.
GLOBAL INITIATIVE
The Immigration Coalition - South Texas Border
The immigration Coalition provides clean drinking water and food to Latino, Immigrant, Migrant, and Asylum-Seeking communities along the Southern Border and in Latin America.
Vision: Transform lives along the Southern Border and in Latin America with clean drinking water and food.
Goal: Currently, they are raising funds for asylum-seekers at the Southern Border, delivering water jugs, installing water wells and filtration tanks in areas where these utilities don't exist, and delivering food to them.
The Lighthouse Camp - Albania
The Lighthouse Camp is a ministry of Cru (the name of Campus Crusade for Christ International) that has hosted dozens of summer camps for the past three years, utilizing summer projects to reach out to high school students and discipleship camps to help them grow in their faith. They bring the students they have met along with the new believers to The Lighthouse campground to share the gospel, to teach God’s Word, and to train them how to share their faith with friends and family.
Vision: See The Lighthouse as a center for evangelism, discipleship, and training new generations for Christ who will continue to impact Albania and other Muslim countries. It will be a center to serve the entire body of Christ for church conferences and retreats, along with pastoral and missionary training. With The Lighthouse fully built, they envision their summer ministry doubling in impact and continuing with momentum throughout the year.
Goal: The Lighthouse Camp plans to continue building a permanent building structure to host summer camps for up to 300 people on land that was purchased debt-free a few years ago. Currently, the accommodation capacity is around 100 people in tents and converted shipping containers into rooms.
Despite the difficulties following the Covid-19 outbreak, they have seen God open doors in great ways to develop the property into a campground. The highest peak was reached last summer with 13 camps in total.
CHURCH PLANTING INITIATIVE
The Sojourn Houston Church Planting Residency is designed to equip aspiring church planters with theological training, leadership development, hands on experience, coaching, and financial support. They hope to foster an environment where aspiring church planters can be adequately equipped, encouraged, and empowered to plant churches.
Vision: Sojourn Houston desires for people to encounter the church as a network of relationships. Because Sojourn congregations are built upon the Neighborhood Parish (a smaller community of ordinary people learning to follow Jesus and live on mission together in the context of everyday life), they multiply parishes throughout the city, creating space for new disciples and laying the groundwork for future congregations.
Raph Peters - Sojourn Houston Church Planting Resident
The Peters family recently purchased a home this year in their mission field of Greater Third Ward, rooting themselves in their neighborhood having started their first neighborhood parish in March 2021. He has 17 adults so far confirmed in the core team and plan to multiply into a second parish in April 2022. He hopes to launch and start Sojourn Southside in the Fall of 2022. Currently, Raph and his family are Sojourn Montrose members.
Goal: To build on financial support to go towards next year's church budget.
Demeko Bivens - Sojourn Houston Church Planting Resident
The Bivens family also purchased a home this year in their mission field of Greater Third Ward, rooting themselves in their neighborhood having started the first neighborhood parish in March 2021 that will become Sojourn Southside in the Fall of 2022. He is co-planting with Raph. They have 17 adults so far confirmed in their core team and plan to multiply into a second parish in April 2022. Currently, Demeko and his family are Sojourn Montrose members.
Goal: To build on financial support to go towards next year's church budget.
Chase Woodhouse - Sojourn Houston Church Planting Resident
The Woodhouse family has lived in Southwest Houston for the past 8 years. As the newest resident (July 2021), Chase has a long timeline that spans 3 years before he plants a congregation in the Southwest area of Houston. He will undergo Deacon Training in 2022 with the hope to start a neighborhood parish in 2023. Currently, Chase and his family are Sojourn Montrose members.
Goal: To fully fund his salary as he is a full-time church planting resident of Sojourn Houston.
APPRECIATION GIFT
Caitlin Reyes from KidsMinistry Support
Caitlin Reyes led and grew a children's ministry at Sojourn Heights Church for 8 years. She supported and assisted Sojourn Spring Branch's children's ministry for the past few years at no cost. As a gift of our appreciation, we honor her efforts in helping Sojourn Spring Branch set up our Sojourn Kids ministry over the years.