The Christian Mission

Mission Statement:
The Christian Mission exists to break the cycle of poverty by providing crisis assistance, case management, educational programming, and community engagement.

Vision statement:
Our vision is to create strong individuals and families across all cultures and socioeconomic levels to measurably reduce poverty at its holistic core.

Why Statement:
As the hands and feet of Christ, we believe in showing God’s incredible love, mercy, and compassion to all people, just as they are.

Since 1939, The Christian Mission (TCM) has been a catalyst that empowers the community to become advocates and serve those in need to achieve an improved quality of life. We engage the community to recognize and remove barriers and challenge how society views poverty. Through collaboration with the community, TCM exists to break the cycle of poverty by providing crisis assistance, case management, and educational programming to over 4,000 low-income individuals and families annually. TCM moves clients through three phases of programming designed first to stabilize and then strengthen their ability to change their life circumstances. Our three phases of programming are crisis assistance, ongoing stabilization, and individual betterment. TCM provides food, clothing, shelter, life skills, and educational programming to help individuals move from crisis to stability. 

Crisis Assistance: 

Financial Crisis Assistance - Rent and utility assistance to prevent evictions/homelessness and disconnects.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) - Emergency food for those in need who fall within the self-reported income guidelines. 

Client Choice Food Pantry - TCM clients receive access to our full pantry twice a month that offers nutritious, fresh produce, meat, bread, deli items, and shelf-stable foods. Clients can make selections that best meet their family and grocery needs. 

Free Resource Store - TCM clients receive access to free clothing, shoes, furniture, and household goods in our Resource Store. This service is made available to clients by the generous donations of our community. 

Ongoing Stabilization: 

Case Management - TCM employs a full-time Licensed Social Worker (LSW) to provide case management services. The role of the Case Manager is to form trust-built relationships with clients, get to know their needs, help them set and achieve goals, and provide appropriate referrals to community resources and partners. 

Senior Companion Program - Seniors in need of assistance are paired with volunteer companions who check in on their overall well-being and get to know their grocery needs. Companions shop for seniors in our food pantry and deliver groceries to them. Many of our companions build long-lasting relationships with our seniors and check in with them regularly. It is a fulfilling program for our volunteers and seniors alike. 

Individual Betterment Programming: 

NETworX (holistic poverty alleviation) - NETworX exists to reduce poverty at its holistic core by providing support, resources, and tools to help individuals achieve their goals. Participants are people from all walks of life interested in building reciprocal friendships of support through education, love of neighbor, and love of self. This three-phase program starts with education and moves to leadership skills and group projects to strengthen our community and reduce the rate of poverty.

Substance Use Support Program - Provides treatment scholarships, on-site Peer Support, harm reduction resources, free naloxone for those at risk, Narcan training, 12-step recovery program referrals, and grief and mental health support as it relates to substance use.