Missions - Engagement in Fort Worth

 

Community Crossroads Outreach Center

Address:1516 Hemphill, Fort Worth, TX 76104 | Map
Phone: 817.921.3955
Center Director: Dori Al Hammami

Community Crossroads is First Presbyterian Church's mission outreach center in Fort Worth's near South neighborhood. Located at 1516 Hemphill (near the corner of Allen), the building houses Worship on Wednesdays (WOW), the church's First HAND Food and Clothing ministry, Formula and Diapers ministry, the Salt & Light Dental Clinic, the Listening Post and English as a Second Language.

For more information about Community Crossroads, click here. 

Academy 4 Mentor Ministry

First Presbyterian is excited to partner with Academy 4 at Edward Briscoe Elementary (2751 Yuma Ave, 76104) beginning in the fall of 2022. Academy 4 partners mentors from congregations with fourth graders who meet together one Friday afternoon a month for 90 minutes. Mentors express love and care and provide the students with a positive relationship with a dependable adult. To apply to become a mentor, click here.

Room in the Inn

Room in the Inn (RITI) is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church, in partnership with other local faith communities and the Day Resource Center. RITI provides overnight shelter for homeless in downtown Fort Worth during the months of harshest Texas weather: July/August and December/January/February. Every Monday evening during these months, FPC provides 14 homeless guests with a space to relax, a family-style dinner, games/cards/books, hot shower, bed for undisturbed sleeping, hot breakfast, and a sandwich lunch to take with them. Above all, FPC RITI volunteers provide a warm welcome, friendly conversation, and service with dignity.

To volunteer, or learn more about serving with RITI at FPC, click here.

Trinity Habitat for Humanity

2019 marked the 30th anniversary of Trinity Habitat for Humanity (Trinity Habitat). First Presbyterian Church (FPC) has been a partner with Trinity Habitat from the beginning. FPC built our 25th and 50th houses on our parking lot and we even built a few houses at Mayfest. In May of 2019, we celebrated the 90th house that we have partnered with Habitat to build. In 2022, we built our 100th house with Trinity Habitat.

Since Trinity Habitat’s inception in 1989, 1,891 families have been served – 697 homes built, 1,150 Preserve a Home projects and 44 Disaster Relief projects. It is important to remember Habitat Humanity is a Hand Up, not a Hand Out, is a foundation for a better life and is community driven. Last year Trinity Habitat homes paid a total of $720,000 to the City of Fort Worth in property taxes.

There are many steps and criteria that a prospective homeowner needs to meet and agree to become a Habitat homeowner. So how does someone become a homeowner of a Habitat home?

  • They must first prove a need for shelter. They might live in an overcrowded situation or live in a home with structural, electric and plumbing problems, no heat, etc. They cannot already own a home.
  • They must demonstrate an ability to pay for the house. Habitat sells the house to them at market rates with a 30 year no interest mortgage and Habitat holds the mortgage. The average house payment is $650. The prospective homeowner must demonstrate a stable and consistent employment history for the last 12 months as well as a stable and consistent residence for also the last 12 months. They must verify their ability to make the house payments, pay utility bills and budget for maintenance and repairs. Their credit history is also reviewed.
  • The prospective homeowner must also show a willingness to partner with Habitat. They must commit to work 250 hours of sweat equity working alongside volunteers, sponsors, staff and other homebuyers building other homes and their house and volunteering in their new community. They go to Homeowners College where they learn about credit, budgeting, conflict resolution, city codes, home repairs, insurance etc.

If you want to learn more about Trinity Habitat, you can go to their website: https://trinityhabitat.org/or you can attend a HabiTour at the Trinity Habitat offices where you can tour their model home.  

VOLUNTEER TODAY!

Samaritan House Supper Club

For decades our church has hosted a monthly supper at the Samaritan House on Hemphill Street on the first Tuesday of the month from 5 - 7 p.m.

The mission of Samaritan House is to create a supportive community providing housing and resources for positive change in the lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS and other special needs. Volunteers are needed to provide and serve a meal for about 40 residents the first Tuesday of every month. This is a wonderful way to provide hospitality and compassion for those in our community who appreciate not only a meal but especially a friendly face.

If you are able to participate in this ministry, please contact Robyn Michalove for more details. 

Refugee Services of Texas Welcome Team

Occasionally, our congregation forms a welcome team to greet newly arrived refugees who move to our community through Refugee Services of Texas. An orientation and background check are required for volunteers. To learn more about this ministry, contact Robyn Michalove.

Mentor 2.0

Mentors are needed for High School Students for 2022-23 School Year: Trade an hour of mindless screen time scrolling for making a meaningful difference in the life of a student. The Mentor 2.0 program through Big Brothers Big Sisters connects a high school student from three area high schools (Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Young Men’s Leadership Academy, and the Collegiate Academy of Grapevine Colleyville ISD) with a mentor that meets virtually each week and monthly in person. Weekly written online communications and once-per-month in-person group events follow an established curriculum focused on helping the 9th-12th grader do well in school, college preparation, and career exploration.  Much of the interaction is via a secured, proprietary email system monitored by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff to ensure safety and provide relationship support. A once-a-month in-person time commitment makes it easy to work into a volunteer’s schedule! All volunteers must complete a background check and interview. 

  • Mentors exchange weekly emails with their mentees through a securely monitored web platform. 
  • Mentors will also attend in-person group events run by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff at the mentee’s high school once a month after work hours.
  • The mentor2.0 program gives you the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a high school student while giving you the flexibility needed in today’s busy culture.

Ready to get started?

Click HERE to watch a short video about mentor2.0.

  1. Apply for our mentor2.0 Program here: www.bbbstx.imentor.org
  2. After submitting your application, complete your Consent Forms here: mentor2.0 Consent Forms
  3. Register here so we know which FPC members are involved in Mentor 2.0.

Kairos Prison Ministry

Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. (Kairos) is a Christian faith based ministry which addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, youth, and their families. By sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Kairos hopes to change hearts, transform lives and impact the world. To learn more about ways to participate, contact Robyn Michalove.