27 respond to H.I.M.
On June 12, 26 Webster Hills United Methodist Church members and visiting Mozambican pastor Rev. Salvador Bacar Catine went outside walls on their first 2010 Hands In Mission (H.I.M.) project. After a time of devotion and send-off, the group traveled in car-pools 15 minutes to Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House in East St. Louis. The “Neighborhood House” is a United Methodist supported organization that serves the East St. Louis community in a multitude of programs and services. The “tasks” for the morning were sanitizing chairs and toys, painting doorways and a stage, landscaping, and moving gravel in the playground in preparation of a new rubberized surface. The group divided into teams and went to work.
When the tasks were completed, the group gathered in the conference room for the “purpose” of the visit. Bill Kreeb, Director, told the group how the Neighborhood House serves those in need: infants to senior citizen daycare, pre-kindergarten, youth services, a food pantry, a work program, and programs to get gang members and prostitutes off the streets. It is an amazing example of Christian service, and both the Neighborhood House and Webster Hills UMC benefited from the mission. It is the beginning of what is hoped to become a continuing relationship.
A variety of participants serve in H.I.M. and this day included children about 10 years old, youth, adults and seniors age 83 and 85 manning the water station outside. Tasks were available for all ages and many abilities. Special visitor from Mozambique, Salvador Bacar, worked hard with the team shoveling gravel but said he felt good about what was accomplished. Bacar is a current member and previous pastor of Webster Hills’ partner church, Matola UMC in Mozambique.
During the advance visit scouting the opportunity, Kreeb commented, “This is just what we need here. We have teams come for extended periods, but the short-term mission allows more people to serve and learn about the ministry.” He went on to comment that the short-term nature of the mission is a refreshing difference. It does not include the complications of preparing food and lodging, and people taking off of work during weekdays.
Webster Hills UMC learned that studies by The Willow Creek Association reveal that “Serving is the most catalytic experience offered by churches.” Serving builds community. This kind of meaningful service is a matter of the heart, and H.I.M. is an opportunity for that.
The H.I.M. model of shortterm mission was birthed at Webster Hills in 1995 when teams went out monthly from March through October. A leader scouts and plans the mission and the church publishes notice of the project. Then people just show up at 8 am on the scheduled Saturday morning. They are sent off with a devotion to focus their spirit in service. Mission projects are sought in locations where the group can travel there and back by noon, and still accomplish significant tasks for the ministry served. Before departure, the group learns about that ministry with the hope of building long-term relationships that include more than the single “HIM” day.
To learn more about this short-term mission model contact Bill Kreamer at cwkreamer@hughes.net or call 636-271-7080.
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