Outreach Ministries
Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 … whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40)
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is a global Christian relief and evangelism project operated by Samaritan’s Purse. It uses gift-filled shoeboxes to demonstrate God’s love and share the Christian gospel with children in need worldwide.
NHCC, under the leadership of Jayne Francisco, is sending the message of Jesus around the world, one shoe box at a time. Growing from 35 boxes in 2001 to 800 boxes in 2025, a goal of 1000 boxes has been set for 2026.
NHCC is the collection sight for local area churches and individual shoe boxes going to Operation Christmas Child. NHCC delivers these boxes to the Regional Packing Center in Baltimore, MD where they assist packing boxes for shipment to different parts of the world.
Young at Heart
Psalm 93:14-15 says: “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.”
Older adults (senior citizens) are a valuable resource to any church. They have served the Lord well and much of our success comes through their years of generosity, prayers and encouragement. Age is not a barrier to serving Jesus. Pauline Scherer, saw a ministry need and answered God’s call to organize and mobilize the senior citizens among us. Mary Charles, currently leads the group. There are 20+ senior citizens actively participating.
The group was named “Young at Heart.” They took their biblical instruction seriously. Their scriptural model comes from Caleb (Joshua 14:10-12): “So here I am today, eighty five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out. I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then”. The Young at Heart group have had small group Bible Studies, times of prayer, food and fellowship events, support the Pancake Tent, coordinates trips to Sight and Sound Theatre and serves in so many other ways. They also have a special outreach to patients in the local UHS Hospital with baskets, blankets and gifts. The Young at Heart keep us all going!
Global-Local Church
Over the years, the church has become a servant-driven congregation. It became our DNA. The 2023 State of the Work summarized the global-local ministries of the church.
Locally NHCC Supports: Weekend Food Backpack Ministry to HS/MS Students, Soup-It-Up, Young at Heart, Helping Hands, Men’s Ministry (Mother’s Day Meal); Women’s Ministry events (St. Patrick’s Day, Tea Party, Craft Fair, Women’s Conference), Prayer Shawl Ministry, Prayer Chain Ministry, Funeral Ministry, Food to the Sick, Church Social Events, Refreshment Ministry, Pancake Tent Ministry, Trustees’ Ministry, Attendance Ministry, Tellers, Food Bank, Card Ministry, Cookie Ministry, Christmas Food Baskets, Sound Booth, Life Groups, Welcome Center, Communion Team, Stewards Ministry, Church Calendar Coordinator, XP3, 252 Kids, Adult Classes, Veteran’s Meal, Cleaning Ministry; Touchpoint Ministries, Use of Pavilion, Supporting the Pregnancy Center in Liberty, Operation Christmas Child Christmas Breakfast, National Day of Prayer Breakfast, Angel Tree, supporting sister churches. In addition, the church hosted Narcotics Anonymous, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, showers, birthday parties, training events, Alternative to Violence Program (AVP), fundraising events, Football Meals as well as the Command Center for the IRT Military Event.
Pancake Tent
Around 2008, the Treadwell United Methodist Church approached NHCC about taking over the Pancake Tent at the Delaware County Fair. They had blessed the fair by doing this for over 40 years, but over time it was harder and harder to find workers. The NHCC board prayed over this opportunity. While we didn’t have experience running a pancake tent of this size, a decision was made to pursue it.
In August of 2008, the Treadwell United Methodist Church and the New Hope Community Church did the tent together. They were gracious in showing us how to do it. Beginning in 2009 through 2023, NHCC did the tent by itself. From 2009 – 2023 is 15 years. There was no fair in 2021 due to Covid, so the church has been doing it for 14 years.
It is a ministry opportunity for the church to represent God’s “presence” on the fairgrounds. There are usually around 110 volunteers (some from outside the church) each year. It takes three shifts of approximately 15 people each shift to staff it. All tips go toward youth events (usually around $3,000). A good year is over $15,000 in profits, which goes to different global or local ministries. The above picture is a celebration event after the fair of some of the volunteers.
Soup-It-Up
Soup-It-Up has been a weekly ministry between Labor Day and Memorial Day for many years at the church. It’s a free meal offered to the community on Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. For some who attend the meal is truly needed. For others, it’s a great time of social connection. It is staffed by volunteers of the church on a rotating basis
IRT
Community partnerships have always been an integral part of the mission of New Hope Community Church. The church is alive and at its best when it lives outside the walls of the actual building structure. God has called us to be the hands and feet of Jesus whenever and however that happens. In July of 2023, God gave us the opportunity to serve Delaware County through what was called “Innovative Readiness Training”, a military sponsored program that provides military members hands on medical experiences (dental, vision, health screenings) including veterinary services. NHCC, along with other community partners, was asked to support Delaware County staff in serving the military members participating in the Innovative Readiness Training. The 9 day event was hosted at Walton Central School; therefore, our church was in a strategic location to assist. The church served as the Command Center for volunteer planning and check-in. NHCC also hosted the entire military entourage and community members for an outdoor “thank you” meal under our newly constructed pavilion. What a wonderful way to show kindness and gratitude to those who serve and defend our country!
Mommy and Me
The Mommy and Me Ministry took gift baskets to mothers of new babies at Delaware Valley Hospital when they provided a maternity ward.
Diakoneo Day
On different occasions, the church comes together to serve the community. Teams of people would go to an assigned home to help do yard work, paint or other tasks. It was called Diakoneo Day. Diakoneo means “to serve”.
Upcoming Events …
New Hope Community Church hosts many events. Please contact the church if you do not see an event listing, need updated information, or wish to schedule an event.