Help us raise $50,000 for our local mission partners.

Our Neighbors

Getting to Know Our Local Mission Partners.

by Jeremiah Hamby, Minister of Youth and Missions

We as a church community are intentional neighbors with several amazing organizations serving different needs in our surrounding communities—specifically, Lilburn Co-op, NETWorks Co-op, Friends of Refugees, Family Heritage Foundation of Clarkston, and Developmental Disabilities Ministries. I have had the opportunity to speak with individuals connected with each of these organizations and they are incredibly grateful for the support they have received over the years from Smoke Rise.

As I have shared before, our youth served with Jackie at Lilburn Co-op where she supports those with economic challenges in the Lilburn area through a food pantry, emergency financial support, and connecting families in need with additional resources in the area. A few months ago, I had the privilege to meet with Stephanie and many of the other staff at NETWorks Co-op in Tucker where they support food needs within their community, including through a hydroponic garden that provides fresh produce for families. Church members Mike and Martha Holt regularly work with the Co-ops to communicate needs with the church staff and missions committee to keep us updated on the needs of the organizations.

In Clarkston, our partners at Friends of Refugees (FoR) and Family Heritage Foundation (FHF) support a community that is often called the most diverse square mile in all of America because of the number of nationalities that exist in the city. I had the privilege to tour the facilities and programs operated by FoR and I left amazed at the work being done. Women from across the world who knew no English are learning English together with other women from similar geographic backgrounds, as well as building skills and creating community. They also provide classes for refugees to learn how to be entrepreneurs to help provide economic stability and support groups for new mothers as they not only navigate the world of motherhood, but do so far from their original home.

Down the street from FoR,  Bennett Ekandem and the Family Heritage Foundation are working to cultivate and support the community by providing afterschool support and mentorship for youth. When I had coffee with Bennett and Rudy and Mary Wilson, Bennett’s passion for this work and his deep love for the community radiated as he told me story after story of youth whose lives had been transformed by the love of God and the community building work being done by FHF. Many weeks, you will find Tom and Gaye Bruce giving their time and talents tutoring and mentoring youth in the community, sharing the love of Christ with each person they meet.

I have also had the privilege to speak with several people connected with Developmental Disability Ministries, including Susan Gilbert, who is a passionate advocate for this amazing organization. Our church has provided space for the annual DDM Christmas party for residents in their home and has sent volunteers to be with residents during their week at camp.  Residents  at their Tucker House have come and shared a meal with church members on Wednesday nights and Sunday school classes have come together to meet other needs with things such as dishes and renovations needed at the homes. These differently-abled individuals have opportunities they would not have had but for the generosity of our church and church members.

Many of you may already give your time, talents or money, and I am grateful. As we approach Missions Sunday, I want to offer a challenge: Learn more about these organizations and how you can get involved! Being good neighbors means staying connected and up to date with each other. Take a few moments and search the organization online to learn more about it; reach out to someone in our congregation who has connections with the organization or talk with me so that can share more about the stories I know and how to connect you with them.

Also, prayerfully consider giving towards our World Missions Offering to support these neighbors in ministry. This year, our goal is to raise $50,000 and split the offering between our five local ministry partners, meaning each would receive $10,000 to further their ministry work. Given the prevalent needs in our area, offering this gift to our partners would be greatly appreciated and help them as they work to meet the needs of many neighbors.

I count myself grateful to serve in a church so committed to missions and to being good neighbors to those around us. This is no accident. We take seriously Jesus’ words: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). Our culture of service is built on many small decisions by each of us to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let’s continue this legacy as we follow in the way of Jesus, actively seeking and taking opportunities to invite others to be neighbors with us and to love and serve these neighbors however we are able.