Hope Lions Hear Program on The Hope ConneXion

The Hope Lions heard from Rev. Amy B. Perry of the Hope ConneXion Church of the Nazarene.  Rev. Perry said when they came to Hope they sold the old church building and decided to “flip the church upside down”.  As such, they moved the church into their home in the former Hempstead County Abstract building across from the old courthouse.  Rev.  Perry said when the Nazarene district asked about Sunday attendance they replied “What does it matter who we have here on Sundays?  What are we doing during the week?  Who are we feeding, who are we clothing….where are the lost?”.  Rev. Perry said they had to go find the lost, the people in the margins.

Rev. Perry said when they first arrived, County Judge Jerry Crane told them there was a need for a jail ministry.  They started there and started a group called “Overcomers In Christ”, an addiction therapy group that is Christ-centered.  Rev. Perry said they also realized people coming out of jail needed clothes, food, mental help, a place to stay, I.D.’s, social security cards, resumes, and jobs.  She noted from there “everything else blew up with our ministry”.

The church’s most visible ministry is their “Blessing Boxes”.  They are in the parole office, across from Super 1, one in front of the Chamber of Commerce, and one in front of their outreach center.  From there, the Hope ConneXion moved to their garden in troughs in front of their outreach center.

Rev. Perry said they’ve realized they needed to team up with other organizations and businesses.  She said they couldn’t make their clothing closet work so instead they teamed up with Rainbow of Challenges “Rock N Reruns”.  Now when people need clothes, they send them down to Rock N Reruns with a voucher and then take care of Rainbow of Challenges after the clients get the clothes they need.   The Hope ConneXion also receives pallets of bottled water from Barry’s at cost.  This water is distributed to people in need, especially when they visit the Hope ConneXion cooling center.  Rev. Perry says they are trying to reach out to people who are “in the margins” and bring them together.

Many of the people the Hope ConneXion serves are in need of a job.  The Hope ConneXion helps them with resumes and applications, even helping them apply online.  The Hope ConneXion often hears from employers when they have jobs.  and also maintains a job board inside their facility.  They also a resource guide and checklist they give people including a list of churches, a guide to legal information, a list of the various food pantries, and other info. The Hope ConneXion also offers information on communication such as if they need a phone or internet.  Rev. Perry said they recently learned homeless people can get a free post office box so they are getting that information out to the homeless.  Also, they help their clients in tasks such as opening bank accounts and applying for student aid.  Rev. Perry said people often know what they want but don’t realized what they need.  Working with other organizations allows them to help people with their varied needs.  They even help people who want to get off drugs get into rehab.

Rev. Perry said the Hope Connextion is distributing 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of food a month.  This is all donated food plus what comes out of their garden.  Rev. Perry told about a donation they received of 750 pounds of raw carrots.  One lady picked up 200 pounds of carrots, canned them, and then put the canned carrots in the Blessing Boxes.

Rev. Perry noted the Lions Club had provided a much-needed cash donation last year and also provided a honey separator they will use when they harvest the honey from their beehives.  Rev. Perry said they are dependent upon the help of organizations from the community.  She told the club they are very appreciative of the help they have provided.

If you’d like to learn more about the organization, visit www.hopeconnexion.org.  She notes persons who would like to help their mission can find out what they need each month.