God calls us to help our neighbor, and through our opportunities to Serve Near, we want to do just that. Many people in the surrounding communities, and even our own, desperately need the love of Christ. Serve with us in spreading the Gospel and necessary resources to the people in our own backyard.
Join us for one of our Serve Near opportunities below:
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DuPage Pads: Lombard Night Site
February 10 | 8:30 p.m. - February 11 | 7:30 a.m.
We are looking for a dozen new faces to join our seasoned volunteers serving the homeless at DuPage Pads. Volunteers from Christ Church serve the homeless in Lombard, IL from Sunday evening to Monday morning six times a year. Our new volunteers will be paired with seasoned volunteers. The only skill needed is a desire to serve and watch over some of God's most vulnerable people.
Shift 1 | Sunday 8:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.: Make lunches and assist with participants' needs (Adults only).
Shift 2 | Monday 12:00 - 4:00 a.m.: Monitor the night site, welcome late arrivals and warm up dinners (Adults only).
Shift 3 | Monday 4:00 - 7:00 a.m.: Wake up participants, prepare and serve breakfast (Adults only).
Shift 4 | Monday 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.: Clean up crew (Open to adults and children 13+).
All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and background check.
Christmas with Pacific Garden Mission
Saturday, December 22 | 9:00 - 1:00 pm
Pacific Garden Mission has been meeting the needs of homeless men, women and children for over 125 years. Today, that mission remains unchanged. In addition to a warm bed and meals, Pacific Garden Mission ministers to the homeless in order to win the lost for Christ. Pacific Garden Mission is located at: 1458 S Canal St, Chicago. Street parking is available. Help the largest shelter in Chicago prepare for the Christmas Day. Come willing to do whatever is needed from prayer, to meal prep, to decorations. Pacific Garden Mission is located at 1458 South Canal St. in Chicago. Transportation is not provided.
Tutors for Adult GED Students | Pacific Garden Mission
Wednesdays or Fridays | 1 - 3 p.m.
Make an impact helping homeless adults succeed by assisting them to study for the GED. Work one on one with adults ages 22 to 69 going over the trouble areas in their studies. Volunteers meet with students Wednesdays or Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3p.m. Secure parking is available. No experience necessary. Volunteers will meet with staff for orientation before serving.
Cary Christian Center Trip: Info Meeting
Sunday | January 13, 2019 | Noon |Christ Church | Oak Brook | Boardroom
Come learn about the 2019 mission trip to our domestic mission partner, Cary Christian Center, located in the Mississippi Delta. The trip — scheduled for June 8-15, 2019 — will focus on serving children in the community with sports camp, Bible lessons and robotics; working on minor home improvement projects and painting of local homes; and providing help in a local thrift store. This is a wonderful chance to bring your children on a mission trip and experience the blessing of serving together as a family! Please bring any questions to the meeting.
Administer Justice | Client Coordinators, Client Advocates & Translators Needed
8:30 am - Noon | 3rd Saturday of Every Month | Christ Church | Oak Brook Location
Administer Justice provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families, as well as strengthening the local community through educational and outreach programs. A variety of volunteers are needed to strengthen the services offered at Administer Justice’s free clinic, here at our Oak Brook campus on the third Saturday of every month. Below is a description of the Client Advocate Position. For more details about the Translator or Client Coordinator positions please register now and an Administer Justice representative will reach out to you to answer your questions. Training is provided.
Purpose of Position: To demonstrate God’s love and compassion for those in need as reflected in the Bible, meeting with clients directly after their legal or financial appointment to provide additional support, encouragement and prayer as they navigate through difficult circumstances. This position also advocates for the work of Administer Justice through prayer for the organization.
Ideal Strengths: *Demonstrates a love for God, his word, and his people regardless of race, ethnicity, religious, economic or any other status.
*Demonstrates a compassionate concern for God’s justice for the poor and needy.
*Demonstrates strong interpersonal and relational skills.
*Demonstrates the spiritual gift of intercessory prayer and an understanding of how prayer can transform lives.
*Demonstrates a high level of discernment and the ability to set boundries.
Scope of Responsibilities
To demonstrate God’s love and compassion for those in need by providing additional support and encouragement to clients.
*Review the client’s Help & Hope plan with them to ensure they are clear on next steps.
*Provide clarification or connect them with the appropriate resource if there are questions or concerns regarding their next steps (reconnect with their attorney if available, if not advise to call main AJ number).
*Listen, showing compassion for their circumstance while helping the client to focus on those things they can now change or do versus dwelling on things they cannot change.
*Listen for other needs of the client and their family outside of those provided by Administer Justice; provide appropriate referrals as needed to other social service providers. This would include referrals for
food, clothing, transportation, etc. as well as counseling or other support groups.
*Recommending a church connection for additional support.
*When appropriate provide client with an RBC booklet specific to their personal circumstance (ie, worry, depression, broken relationships etc.). (Booklets are located in file cabinet outside prayer room).
*Accompany clients back to intake who have been advised to set up a second appointment with an attorney or with an AJ financial counselor or Conflict Coach, or escort the client to the exit.
*Complete the Client Advocate Report on all clients you meet with. Saturday clinics-place the report in the client’s file that is then sent up to Elgin for input. Elgin Advocates-place your report in the tray in the conference room.
To demonstrate God’s love and compassion for those in need through prayer.
*Commit to studying what God’s word says about justice for the poor and needy.
*Offer to pray with the client regarding their circumstance. For clients who do not want to pray with you, let them know you will be in prayer for them.
*Offer specific scripture to the client encouraging them to focus on God’s promises.
*Pray for clients and their families outside of one on one meeting’s.
*Commit to praying for the poor who are trapped by sin and its effects in our broken world.
*Pray the Spirit loose chains of injustice where ever they may be found.
*Pray against the powers of darkness that advance injustice in this world.
*Pray for the work of Administer Justice; our staff, volunteers, various initiatives and needs.
*Two hour initial training session to understand our services and processes.
*3 to 4 hours per week or every other week as agreed to with the Volunteer Services Director or: once a month if serving at a Saturday or evening clinic.
*Group meetings with other Client Advocates on a quarterly basis.
*Updating of volunteer hours in JC on-line after each serve.
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Food Pantry Event | Second Saturday of Every Month
Wednesdays | 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. | Elmhurst
Fridays | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Oak Brook Terrace
Saturdays | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Oak Brook Terrace
Please consider volunteering at the Salvation Army with the Christ Church food pantry team on any or all of the following pantry set up and distribution days.
Please join us the second Saturday of every month at 1 S. 415 Summit Ave in Oak Brook Terrace from 8:00 - 12:00 p.m.. We will distribute food to guests, help carry groceries out to cars and help clean up.
If you are not available on Saturday you can meet us the night before and help set up from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army Oak Brook Terrace.
On the Wednesday before, we meet at Life Storage located at 953 S. State 83 (frontage road on the east) in Elmhurst from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. to load donations into our truck.
Register now and you will be contacted by a Food Pantry team leader to answer any questions you have about the time and date(s) that you are available.
Do you enjoy working on cars? Join fellow auto enthusiasts in a unique serve opportunity: fixing up old cars to be used by people struggling to get to work. Contact the Missions office to learn how you can get involved.
Love Christian Clearinghouse
Call In Center Volunteers Needed | 3 Hours a Week
LOVE Christian Clearinghouse Call in Center Volunteers Needed!
Listen to callers, complete an assessment form and share the LOVE of CHRIST over the phone! This volunteer position also provides the opportunity to learn about area social services and agencies available to assist our callers.
Do you love helping people but are unable to travel? Volunteer with LOVE Christian Clearinghouse just three hours a week helping local families in need by listening to callers, completing anassessment form, providing resource information and sharing the love of Christ over the phone. This weekly commitment gives you room to take time off for vacation and grandkids/childrens soccer practice! Training is provided.
Resilient | High School Men’s Lunch Mentors Needed
Lunch Hour | Thursdays | Willowbrook High School
Men's Lunch Mentors provides a safe place foryoungmen at Willowbrook High School to learn what it means to be a moral man in today's world. Volunteers need to be willing to commit to come weekly for 30 to 45 minutes, engage in listening-filled conversation with 14-17 year old males and to listen for God's will to mentor these young men.
Resilient | Willowbrook High School
Ladies Lunch Squad Volunteers Needed | Fridays
Ladies Lunch Squad provides a welcoming place for young women at Willowbrook High School to come and build relationships with each other and volunteers. Motivational clinics are given as well as other activities to help members gain confidence and realize their true potential. We are looking for volunteers to commit on a weekly basis to come and build relationships with the young women; as well as, guest speakers who are willing to speak on a topic or share their passion with the young women on a one time basis to either one or all lunch periods or several times in the school year.
Kids Hope is a strong nationwide organization dedicated to helping children. Christ Church members Ellen Jurkonis and Ruth Vanderlaan are looking forward to leading a group of volunteers into the important roles of mentoring elementary aged school students or being a prayer partner to a mentor. Additional volunteers are needed for mentoring and being a prayer partner to a mentor. Mentors will meet weekly at either York Center School or Stevenson School. Prayer partners will not meet with students weekly but will provide important spiritual support for their mentor. Both schools are in District 45 and are located near Westmore/Meyers Road and Roosevelt Road. For more information about Resilient go to resilientstrong.com.
