The Home Missions Team is commissioned by the Vestry to discern, communicate and organize the parish’s local mission and outreach efforts. We partner with local Christian organizations and strive to give members of the congregation a “leg up” in participating in their efforts. We organize supply drives, offer tours of our partner ministries, and promote opportunities for on-site participation.
Mission Statement
To empower St. Philip’s to be the salt and light of Christ in our community by partnering with frontline Christian ministries to bless those in need.
Philosophy of Ministry
In order to bear the greatest fruit, we must focus our prayers, financial support, and volunteer efforts on a small number of mission partners. Doing so will allow us to form meaningful relationships with both the mission organizations we support as well as the persons we serve. Each year, we hold an annual retreat where we prayerfully discern the 3-4 organizations with whom we will join in partnership for the coming year.
Jesus commissioned His church to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Therefore, we partner with Christian organizations whose ministry is grounded in, and flows forth from, this Great Commission. We use the term “missions” to refer to efforts to help nonbelievers find the saving grace of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). We use the term “outreach” to refer to acts of merciful service, reaching out to those in need, as described by our Lord in his teaching on the Final Judgement in Matthew 25:34-46 (“…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me”). While we are grateful for all persons and organizations who seek to relieve suffering in our community, we focus our outreach partnerships and contributions on those organizations who undertake such efforts in the name of Jesus. However, we may, from time to time, partner with a secular organization for a specific, one-time event (e.g. hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross).
Members of the team help to organize and implement several initiatives during the year, including 2-3 supply drives and tours of partner ministries (sometimes coinciding with "Saturday Serves"). They also help the parish celebrate these efforts by submitting articles and photographs to the parish newsletter for publication.
Partner Organizations
The Home Missions Team has prayerfully discerned that St. Philip’s will partner with the following organizations in 2024:
Star Gospel Mission Star Gospel Informational Video
Water Mission Hope to Home Ministries
Lowcountry Fellowship of Christian Athletes
2023-2024 Team Members
- Sandra Anderson
- Amanda Ayers
- Becky Barber
- Ashley Davis
- Gantt Folline (Co-Chair)
- Guv Gottshalk
- Briggs Huddleston
- Jennifer Kimbler (Recording Secretary)
- Will Kimbler (Treasurer)
- The Rev. Andrew O’Dell (Clergy Advisor)
- Jennie Richardson
- Connie Rink
- Jill Settle (Chair)
The Team typically meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and annually on a Saturday for a half-day retreat (typically in January).
Volunteer Opportunities
Hope to Home Ministry (H2H)
Home Mission Liason
Sandra Anderson: (843) 345-4188 or sanderson727@gmail.com
H2H is a Christian-based ministry whose mission is to collect new or gently used donated home goods and to purchase items such as mattresses and pillows, and then deliver these essential home furnishings to displaced or formerly homeless individuals and families who have recently secured housing. H2H transforms their empty living space into a comfortable “home,” extending the love and hope of Jesus through delivering provisions, praying with recipients before leaving, and personally giving them a Bible. H2H follows up after delivery to be sure recipients are already connected to a church or, if they are not, offering contact information on nearby churches.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Furniture and Home Good Deliveries
First 3 Saturdays of the month (excluding holidays): 8:45 a.m.–noon
Help load home furnishings then deliver to families. (Need volunteers that can lift heavy furniture as well as those that can help with the lighter furnishing and pray with families.)
Individual signup: hopetohomesc.org/volunteer
Group signup: Email Stacey Daffin
Warehouse Organization
Second Saturday of the month: 9:00 a.m.–noon
Unload boxes of donated items and place them in designated areas within the warehouse; make kitchen, linen, or cleaning supplies kits from warehouse items in preparation for future deliveries.
Individual and group signup: hopetohomesc.org/volunteer
Furniture Repair/Refinishing: “Tinker Tuesdays”
Every Tuesday and first three Saturdays of the month : 9:00 a.m.–noon
Individual and group signup: hopetohomesc.org/volunteer
“Staging” for Upcoming Deliveries
First Thursday evening: 5:30 –7:00 p.m.
and/or Second Friday morning : 10:00–11:30 a.m.
If you like shopping and interiors, this is a super fun way to get involved. Go around the warehouse and pick out furniture, home goods, etc. for the upcoming delivery based on the list provided.
Individual signup: Stephanie Shuster (704) 654-5332
Lowcountry Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Home Missions Liaison
Jill Settle: jillasettle@gmail.com or (843) 697-0818
The Lowcountry FCA’s mission is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Adopt a Huddle (serve an active FCA campus ministry by sharing and/or providing resources)
- Join the Empowering Coaches Program (be matched with a local coach to encourage and empower his/her ability to lead students)
- Be a Character Coach (FCA-trained and empowered volunteer that becomes a helpful extension of FCA’s campus ministry by working in conjunction with a specific team to give FCA-resourced character talks, lend support, and be a great role model to players)
- Volunteer to help with the All Abilities Camp on Saturday, June1. Opportunities available for ages 15 and over.
- Volunteer on the Board (add counsel and direction in advancing key areas of the ministry: communications, development, events, talent)
Further details are available at lowcountryfca.org/volunteer.
Ready to volunteer? Complete the Ministry Leader/Volunteer application.
Lowcountry Pregnancy Center (LPC)
Home Missions Team Liaisons
Jennie Richardson: jmerr3975@aol.com or (843) 364-2912
Ashley Davis: adavis414@hotmail.com or (843) 813-0853
LPC provides life-affirming reproductive health and family services in a compassionate Christian environment. Upon arrival, clients are met by client advocates, who navigate them through the first appointment. A nurse consultation provides free pregnancy and STI testing, and a viability ultrasound is performed by a trained RN. Each client receives a follow-up phone call from LPC after the visit. Clients are offered resources, including prenatal information, parenting and fatherhood classes, and free infant car seats (after completion of a child safety classes). Completion of classes earns clients points to purchase items in the LPC baby boutique. Other services include fatherhood mentoring, the Because We Care Program (free diapers, wipes, and formula), and the Mother Goose Program, which gets clients reading to their babies and receiving a Jesus Storybook Bible in return. Clients can also receive information for adoption referral, and LPC facilitates a Bible study for those seeking post-abortion healing and forgiveness.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
- Client advocates
- Licensed RN to administer pregnancy and STI testing
- Licensed RN to administer viability ultrasound (additional training program provided)
- Teachers for parenting, fatherhood, and infant safety classes. No degree is required as training is provided and class content is on video.
- Spanish interpreters (highly needed)
- Knitters/crocheters for baby booties (offered after pregnancy testing) and baby blankets (offered after ultrasound)
OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
- Distribute diaper/wipes/formula donations
- Research possibility of implementing an Embrace Grace program (support group for expectant moms) at St. Philip’s. Program includes a 10-week Bible study.
Volunteers go through an interview and training program prior to serving.
Interested? Contact Cheryl Lewis, LPC Volunteer Coordinator:
cheryl@lowcountrypregnancycenter.com or (843) 553-3505.
Home Missions Team Liaisons
Gantt Folline: gantt@follinecommercialappraisal.com or (843) 991-9418
Briggs Huddleston: briggshuddleston@gmail.com or (864) 906-8498
Star Gospel Mission, founded in 1904, is Charleston’s oldest independent faith-based charity, and today it continues to extend a hand up through Christ’s love to people struggling with economic, emotional, spiritual, and physical hardships. Star Gospel provides transitional housing options for men facing homelessness and strives to prove that a man’s worst moment is not the sum of his life. They provide counseling, training, and other services to equip guests to become productive, interdependent members of the Charleston community. Star Gospel also offers emergency assistance to individuals and families struggling to survive in our community. Most importantly, Star Gospel offers hope through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who is seeking spiritual transformation.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Help with “handyman” projects: painting, refinishing doors, and other repairs/projects for 30-year-old building and transitional apartments
- Help prepare and plate meals for residents (food provided)
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 2:00–4:00 p.m.
- Donate leftover food from dinner parties (immediately refrigerated) or assist with pickup
- Assist with December Good Cheer event (greet or interview gift card recipients needing emergency assistance, make follow-up phone calls from prayer requests, handwrite postcards thanking donors)
- Volunteer as an instructors for classes such as financial management, job interviews, etc.
- Organize donated items and assist in distributing to places of need
- Volunteer for administrative/office help
Ready to volunteer? Email Hope Wells or call her at (843) 722-2473.
Home Missions Team Liaisons
Susan Harp: seharp@hotmail.com or (843) 224-3054
Jill Settle: jillasettle@gmail.com or (843) 697-0818
Water Mission builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing nations and disaster areas. Water Mission’s goal is to eradicate the Global Water Crisis with safe and accessible water for all people around the world.
Guided by love, excellence, and integrity, Water Mission is driven to share clean, safe water and the Good News of Jesus Christ with all. This ministry empowers communities to encourage ownership and sustainability of safe water solutions.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Sign up for an individual or group tour: watermission.org/tour-more/
- Tuesdays 10:00–11:00 a.m.
- Volunteer with annual Walk for Water event (usually third Saturday in March). Duties include helping with T-shirt mail-outs as well as assisting the day of the Walk.
- Join the Water Mission prayer team and receive weekly requests and praises from national and international staff. Sign up online.
- Be a National or Charleston advocate and represent Water Mission by sharing with individuals, schools, churches, businesses, and more.
- With your family, have a lemonade stand to raise money for Water Mission with brochures about Water Missions and the Global Water Crisis for your children to enjoy telling others.
Email volunteer@watermission.org with questions or to sign up.