Habitat builds the lives of those families who become homeowners, volunteers and donors. It is a fulfilling partnership and a lasting contribution to our community. Holy Covenant members participated in an Inter Faith Build with members of other church denominations earlier this year.

Founded on a Christian Ministry, Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte works in partnership with God and people from all walks of life to develop community with people in need by building and renovating homes, so that people can live and grow into all that God intended.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Mike Yonkovig or send an email to the church office.

H.E.L.P. is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (I.A.F.), the oldest and largest national, congregation-based, community organizing network in the United States. Founded more than 60 years ago by Saul Alinsky, the I.A.F. works with more than 60 community organizations like H.E.L.P. across the United States, and in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa. These organizations have produced impressive results in training thousands of ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse leaders to take action on community, city, county and state issues.

WHAT DOES H.E.L.P. DO?

• H.E.L.P. is building a base of power so citizens can influence the institutions that affect their lives.
• H.E.L.P. engages congregation leaders in developing an agenda around issues that directly impact their lives, i.e. public schools, housing, youth, day care and transportation.
• H.E.L.P. identifies and trains new leaders in the skills of public life, i.e. identification of issues, meeting facilitation, research skills, techniques to mobilize people, and negotiation.

• Democracy is not merely voting but actively engaging in the public arena to solve challenges in our communities.
• The “Iron Rule”: Never do for others what they can do for themselves.
• Leaders are not born, but made.
• We believe in meeting face to face and developing the public relationships that are the glue of our society.
• We believe in building for power: power that is reciprocal, that is tempered by our religious traditions and power that creates a table that includes more people in the dynamics of public life.

• H.E.L.P. will work with the congregation to identify and develop new leaders.
• H.E.L.P. supports leaders in their efforts to effectively address the common, core issues that are impacting their lives and communities.
• H.E.L.P. will develop a diverse team of leaders to support the congregation’s internal development.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Rebecca MacNair-Semands or send an email to the church office.

At Crisis Assistance Ministry, they respond each week to hundreds of individuals and families who face these crises. For over 25 years, Crisis Assistance Ministry has been dedicated to helping low-income families who are facing a financial emergency and struggling to meet their basic needs.

There, all persons in need are treated with dignity and respect. Crisis Assistance Ministry offers resources and programs to help them get back on their feet again.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Phil Kaveler or send an email to the church office.

In a spirit of oneness with neighbors near and far, individuals, congregations, and community groups support the work of Church World Service in a variety of ways. Holy Covenant members walk each year to help raise awareness and funds to fight hunger--around the block and around the world.

For for further information, go to Carolinas CROP Walk.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Phil Kaveler or send an email to the church office.

Since 1996, the Urban Ministry Center (of Charlotte) has been working with congregations of many faiths and colleges to open their facilities one night a week to provide shelter and food for the homeless during the winter months. Each site offers a warm, safe place to sleep and serves two meals (dinner and breakfast) and returns guests the following morning. The program is a unique way for people of faith to become directly involved with people who are homeless. The simple goal is to keep homeless people from freezing on cold winter nights. A greater goal is to provide a loving relationship to the homeless, at least for a night. RITI is a way to bring alive the Biblical admonition to "Love Thy Neighbor." In fact, we refer to the people we serve as our NEIGHBORS. The program begins each year on December 1 and continues daily through March 31. The Room in the Inn program began with 20 shelter sites. During the 2002-2003 year, it grew to include over 85 congregations and colleges providing more than 13,000 beds for over 900 neighbors and involving greater than 5,000 volunteers. Statistics are incomplete for this year but there were 3392 beds filled in February and to date this year, 854 different neighbors have been placed in 10224 beds.) We are aware of no other homeless service program in our community that enlists so many volunteers.

Holy Covenant has participated in Room in the Inn since 2002. We host on a monthly basis, housing eight neighbors per night. Volunteers are needed for meal preparation (dinner, breakfast and a sack lunch), room set-up and cleanup, transportation and overnight hosting with the neighbors.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Alice Phelan or send an email to the church office.

Jesus and his disciples in the upper room.

Holy Covenant partners with other churches in the Charlotte community to provide Bible study for the men and women who receive lunch & various other services from the uptown Urban Ministry Center, located off Tryon Street. The weekday program, called The Upper Room Ministry, runs from Monday through Friday, 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM. Each partner church staffs the Bible study for one week per quarter or in other words, five days once every three months.

A long-time Holy Covenant member had this to say about her experience:

I had the privilege of leading a Bible study on two different occasions in 2007 and have been blessed much by this outreach. I want to share some insights as a "newbie" and invite others to share their gifts at the Urban Ministry Center in Bible study participation. The only "skills" required are an open heart and a "thought starter" to use at the beginning of the Bible study. Several favorite Bible verses, a song, a story about something important in your life, any perspective that you want to share to begin the conversation is all that is needed. Bringing your Bible to share requested verses is helpful as well. The men and women participating in the Bible study are eager to hear a word of encouragement, meet someone who cares about sharing their time and heart with others, and very grateful for the time shared. So, no special training or experience needed!

To learn more or get involved, speak to Phil Kaveler or send an email to the church office.