The Bible says that “for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” God is eagerly calling His Church to serve people, neighborhoods, and cultures — right here in Bell County and beyond our local reach. Jesus calls us to, “love your neighbor as yourself,” and our desire to serve comes from the overflow of Christ’s love for us and then from our Christ-like love for those we meet in our daily lives. By faith, we are committed to walking alongside each other on mission using our own unique God-given abilities to serve whomever we meet in our daily lives.
Our prayer is that as people connect to Jesus through His church at ILM one question will always be on their minds: “How is Jesus asking me to join Him on His mission today?” Our hope is that answer will come in many different missional opportunities for everyone connected to ILM each and every day. As a church body there are a handful of ministries we could create for mission that sadly, limits our reach to only a certain segment of people. However, when all of our members bring the goodness of Jesus with them into their lives every day — eyes open to where Jesus is asking them to join Him — we expect to reach all kinds of different people with the goodness of Jesus.
Below are a few of the missional organizations that we believe in and support, that might be a good place for you to begin. One way you can help out is by donating to our Elder’s Alms Fund. Alms are collected the last Sunday of each month and are used to help not only our members who are in need but are allocated to the following missions as well. You may also contact these organizations directly to learn other ways you might be able to serve. Additionally, we never know where Jesus will lead and so we encourage those connected to ILM to find new ways to serve on mission every day.
Bell County Community Involvement And Beyond
American Heritage Girls
AHG “is the premier national character development organization for girls ages 5-18 that embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement” by providing a “Christ-centered, faith-based, scouting-type program” that teaches values, hard work and community service.
American Heritage Girls. “Home Page.” “History.” www.americanheritagegirls.org 2015. Web. 20 Aug. 2015.
Family Promise
“The mission of Family Promise is to provide services to homeless families through community partnerships and interfaith congregations. Families face homelessness for many reasons and they often need a hand-up to help lift them from defeat to hope. Family Promise helps homeless families address both external circumstances and personal choices as they work toward self-sufficiency. Family Promise of East Bell County, Texas is part of a national organization, mobilizing 125,000 volunteers in affiliates across the nation by building communities and strengthening lives. Family Promise responds to the needs of homeless families by integrating educational outreach, smart programming, food, shelter, and support services.”
Family Promise Inc. “Family Promise.” www.familypromisebellcounty.com 2015. Web. 12 Aug. 2015.
Helping Hands Ministry
“As an interdenominational ministry, Helping Hands Ministry’s vision and mission are to share Christ with those who are hurting and in need in the community. Helping Hands Ministry is open to serve all low-income families who live in the Belton ISD & Academy ISD limits. The Belton and Academy Independent School Districts encompass 53,000+ people living in Academy, Belton, Little River, Moffat, Morgans Point, and areas of Nolanville, and Temple.”
Helping Hands Ministry, Belton. “Who We Are.” www.helpinghandsbelton.org 2013. Web. 04 Aug. 2015.
Hope Pregnancy Center
“Hope Pregnancy Center was established in 1980 originally as Alternatives to Abortion in Temple, Texas to meet the emotional, spiritual and practical needs of women experiencing unplanned pregnancies. A satellite center in Killeen, Texas was established in 1999, and since then, we’ve opened an additional center in Killeen and one in Copperas Cove.”
Hope Pregnancy Centers, INC. “About Hope.” www.hopepc.com 2015. Web. 04 Aug. 2015.
Trail Life USA
“Trail Life USA is a Christian Outdoor Adventure, Character, and Leadership Program for boys and young men” that operates “Troops that are chartered through churches in 48 states.” Their “K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as a role model and leader for his peers. Living the Trail Life is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.”
Trail Life USA. “Who We Are.” www.traillifeusa.org 2015. Web. 20 Aug. 2015.
Christian Tree Farms
“Christian Farms-Treehouse, Inc. is an intensive substance abuse residential treatment facility for adult men and women. CFTH is licensed with the Texas Department of State Health Services. Our treatment program consists of counseling, chemical dependency education, and structured activities such as AA and NA meetings, life skills classes, parenting, anger management, goal setting and relapse prevention.”
Christian Tree Farms. “About Us” www.cfth.org. Web. 2021.
LINC Austin
“LINC Austin Outreach provides feet-on-the-ground mobile outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness. Our mobile outreach team provides friendship, hope and mentorship along with much needed basic needs and Case Management. Our Outreach Team focuses primarily on the Highway 183/Highway 290/Interstate 35 Corridor Hwy 183: North to Burnet Road and South to Manor Road and I-35: 51st Street north to Travis County/Williamson County line.”
LINC Austin. “About” www.lincaustin.org. Web. 2021.
Texas Ramp Project
“The Texas Ramp Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free wheelchair ramps to low-income older adults and people with disabilities identified by local health care providers. Ramps are built exclusively with volunteer labor, keeping costs to a minimum. Ramps are built without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, age or gender.”
Texas Ramp Project. “About Us” www.texasramps.org. Web. 2021.
Driving Hope Texas
Driving Hope of Texas provides safe, timely, comfortable, and affordable transportation to cancer patients* (and their caregiver) in making a round trip from select Texas counties to treatment centers within the state.
Driving Hope Texas. “About Us” www.drivinghopetexas.org Web. 2022.