Mission Abilene is showing the surrounding community love and compassion with Home Front, its apartment ministry.
According to their website, “one of Mission Abilene’s deepest passions is not only to serve the entire city of Abilene, but most especially the area that surrounds our church within a half a mile radius.”
Heath Henderson, pastor of the young adult ministry at Mission Abilene, heads up the group that ventures out to apartment complexes and government housing in the area every Wednesday night.
“It helps give them consistency and something to look forward to,” Henderson said. “Their living conditions aren’t very good, and we don’t know exactly what their home situation looks like.”
While visiting each week, the group plays with children and gets to know the families who live in the area.
Jeff Johnston, junior Ad/PR major from Coppell has been involved with the Home Front ministry for the last two years.
“I believe that it’s beneficial, and it doesn’t take a lot of time,” Johnston said.
Johnston recalls one specific child, Michael, that he encountered during his time with Home Front. After spending some time with Michael, Johnston knew there was something more to Michael’s story.
Eventually, Michael opened up to Johnston and explained his home situation.
“It’s sad, but it was a good opportunity for me to talk to him and explain to him that there’s more out there for him than what he has right now,” Johnston said.
The ministry is one of the longest running ministries that the church has participated in.
“Basically the whole point is to go over there and let them know that we care about them,” Henderson said.
Each Wednesday night the Home Front Team visits local residents in apartment complexes. The outreach begins at 5:45 pm.
“It’s just the kind of church we are, getting out there and serving our community and this is just one way that we do it,” Henderson said.
Mission Abilene is located at 3001 N. Third St.
For more information, visit www.missionabilene.com or call the church office at 325-232-8258.
