A Christian non-profit organization established in 1913

MISSION STATEMENT

Star of Hope Ministries, Inc. (SOHM) works in partnership with pastors and community leaders of Greater Paterson by providing them with tools and resources to strengthen their capacities to address pain and poverty in the truth and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

VISION STATEMENT

Residents of the Greater Paterson area are part of a transformed community and possess the hope, skills and relationships necessary to help them become self-sufficient, resolve their own problems, and control the destiny of their communities honoring the Lord Jesus Christ.

CORE VALUES

• The Local Church.  We support the local church, believing it to be God’s chosen agent to nurture people and transform society.
• Unity.  We seek the unity that God desires in the Body of Christ.
• Partnership.  We promote positive partnerships among Greater Paterson’s churches, organizations, pastors and community leaders.
• The Whole Person.  We serve the whole person - body, mind, and soul - in keeping with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.
• Dignity and Compassion.  We treat all people with dignity and compassion because they were created in the image of God.
• Empowerment.  We partner and equip pastors and community leaders in practical ways.

STAR OF HOPE MINISTRIES IS:

1.         An intermediary organization that gathers from the wider Greater Paterson community and provides to over 60 SOHM member churches and non-profit organizations a wide range of resources which are needed to help serve and develop the lives of people in their community.

2.         A capacity-building consulting organization that helps church pastors and direct service organization leaders improve the quality and impact of their plans, activities,  and relationships so that the people they serve become more whole and holy as image bearers of God and citizens of the Greater Paterson area.

3.         A networking organization that builds relationships among diverse groups of pastors and leaders for mutual support and the promotion of Christian unity and so that resources and energies can be combined to address pain and poverty.

STRATEGIC FOCUS AND RELATIONSHIPS:

The more than 60 local churches and grassroots organizations that make up SOHM Member Network are strategically located and positioned to lead their neighborhoods in the steps that are necessary to bring about community transformation.  Churches and organizations that are part of the SOHM Member Network have agreed to work in partnership with Star of Hope as we together address pain and poverty.  All Members of the Network complete a formal application process that includes presentation of the 501(c)(3) document which validates their status as a not for profit.  In addition, Members must be in agreement with the Core Values, Mission and Vision of Star of Hope.  Finally, a list of mutual expectations is agreed upon by Star of Hope and each member.  This defines exactly how we will work together in the community for the Glory of God and the greater good of those in need.  SOHM Member Network leaders that serve under-resourced communities are impacting their neighborhoods in profound ways.  The additional support provided through Star of Hope is designed to build upon the tangible and intangible assets that already exist in local leaders and in local neighborhoods. 

KEY PROGRAMS INITIATIVES:

The Department of Christian Community Development serves as the programmatic arm of Star of Hope providing the leadership for its two key outcome-based program initiatives.  They are:

     I.     Leadership Development Initiative (LDI).  Through a range of services such as seminars, one-on-one mentoring, and fostering of strategic relationships, SOHM offers tools and resources including technical knowledge and skills relative to mission-vision, outcome-based planning, processes, and evaluation.

  II.     Resource Support Initiative (RSI).  Provides pastors and community leaders of SOHM member churches and organizations with a range of resources. These provisions help them enhance the quality of life for those that they serve.

These two program initiatives are designed to be inextricably tied together.  In essence the strength of the RS Initiative is directly related to the strength of the LD Initiative and vice versa.  Listed below are the activities and projects of each of SOHM’s program initiatives along with the desired project outcomes.

I.  Leadership Development Initiative (LDI)

Seminar and Institute Training.  Star of Hope provides the Member Network access to “cutting edge” thinking and “best practices” for Christian leaders that are taught in conferences and seminars by the leaders of  renowned national organizations.  Two of the seminars that are currently part of Star of Hope’s Leadership Development annual calendar are:

CCDA Insititute.  Star of Hope Ministries serves as a host site for the Christian Community Development Institute (CCDI) and is provided exclusively for the SOHM Member Network.  CCDI, a ministry of the Christian Community Development Association, is a school for Christian community leaders and pastors established to teach the key components of Christian Community Development.  As leaders working with the poor understand and embrace these foundational principles, they are equipped to effect change by mobilizing their church and community to the end of transformation.  Star of Hope provides ongoing follow-up including small group discussion, consultations, and other opportunities to support what is taught in the Institute.

Willow Creek Leadership Summit.  The Leadership Summit is an annual event hosted by the Willow Creek Association of Chicago, Illinois.  The Summit is a three-day conference providing helpful information on “best practices” in leadership issues confronting the church.  Topics such as “How to develop and sustain vision as a leader” and “How to care for yourself and your family as a leader” are examples of the kinds of important topics that pastors and church leaders need to revisit regularly in their intensive roles as spiritual and community leaders.  Member Network leaders are offered scholarships to attend by paying a nominal fee which is a fraction of the total cost for attendance.  The Summit is followed up with discussion sessions for the Network at Star of Hope.  In addition DVD showings of the conference are scheduled for the Network to reinforce what was learned and are made available through Star of Hope’s Resource Library (see below). 

W. Glen Erickson Memorial Fund - Leadership Development Scholarship Program (WGEMF-LDSP).  The WGEMF is steered by a committee that is approved by the Board of Trustees of Star of Hope.  The purpose of the WGEMF is to provide interest income from a set principal for special projects that will undergird the Member Network churches.  In keeping with Star of Hope’s Leadership Development Initiative, the WGEMF-LDSP provides six leaders with an annual intensive training program including underwriting the cost for attendance at the Christian Community Development Association Annual Conference and 10 one-day intensive training sessions with the Executive Director and Director of Christian Community Development.  The six leaders are chosen from a pool of applicants from the Member Network churches.  A formal competitive application process that includes an outcome-based project is submitted to the WGEMF committee for approval.

Member Network Planning Meetings.  Every other month Star of Hope convenes the Member Network to inform them of the administrative details of the various resources and tools that are made available to them.  This is followed by an open and honest discussion concerning the issues and topics that are important to the community leaders and pastors in their respective ministries locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.  Essentially this is a forum for creative thinking and planning, heartfelt concerns to be shared, and support and mutual accountability to be fostered.

Resource Library.  In addition to the Bookstore which carries a variety of helpful resources for pastors and community leaders, the Resource Library is a handpicked selection of materials including DVDs, tapes, books, workbooks and self-help material that cover a wide range of topics such as Leadership Development, Community Development, Asset Mapping, Social Justice and Racial Reconciliation.  These resources are made available exclusively to the Member Network pastors and SOHM liaisons for use in Star of Hope’s Conference Room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Resources can be checked out on a limited basis for use within the local church in Sunday School, Deacon and Elder Board Meetings, and Community Planning Sessions.

Consultations.  Star of Hope’s Director of Christian Community Development and Executive Director make regular site visits to the Member Network churches and organizations.  During the site visit, emphasis is given to the development and execution of the unique and specific ministry plan of the local church in ushering in transformation in the community.  Consultations are geared to the needs of the Member Network church and what strengths and assets exist in the church and neighborhood that the local church must harness and direct if change is to come about.

Technical Assistance Workshops.  Star of Hope is in the community with its Member Network churches and understands the issues and challenges that they are confronting, working in an urban environment.  Through small focused technical assistance workshops, Star of Hope is able to provide training in areas such as program development, Board of Trustee development, budget and finance training, grant writing training, etc.  Attention is given to using the train a trainer approach.  This is particularly helpful to the smaller entities that have big visions but have limited resource and staff. 

Summer Bible Camp.  Star of Hope Ministries provides its Member Network Scholarship for children ages 7-13 to attend one week of residential camp each summer at Camp Streamside in Pennsylvania.  Member Network leaders are encouraged to select children from their ministry programs such as Sunday School, After-School programs, or other Leadership Development programs within the church that otherwise might not have an opportunity to attend camp.  Member Network leaders are encouraged to build the Streamside camping experience into the program of the church so that young people are provided with continuity.

Pastors Prayer Fellowship (PPF).  PPF builds meaningful relationships and coalitions of pastors and community leaders from diverse theological, racial, and social backgrounds by:

1. Providing them with opportunities to promote unity with the Body of Christ.
2. Joining each other in prayer.
3. Laying groundwork for shared Kingdom of God work in Greater Paterson.

II.  Resource Support Initiative (RSI)

Christian Bookstore and Library.  The Bookstore and Library provide Paterson area pastors, leaders and residents with a range of Christian literature including Bibles, bible helps, pastoral and ministry aids, worship accoutrements, etc.  Key Bookstore and Library project outcome opportunities include:

A.   Short-term equipping opportunities for pastors and community leaders.

B.    Books, videos, DVDs and tapes for community and ministry leaders including theology, community development, leadership development, etc.

C.    Enhancements to congregational worship environments.

D.   Enrichments to readers’ own libraries.

Thrift Store.  The store is one of SOHM’s most visible intermediary functions. The store has three key project outcomes.

A.   Provides meaningful income-producing jobs for Paterson residents.

B.    Strengthens the service capacities of SOHM member churches and organizations by providing them with quality clothing, furniture, etc. for distribution to people in need.

C.    Increases management and retail knowledge and opportunities for those employed at the store.

Church and Community Resource Center.  This service provides resources including clothing, furniture, household items (silverware, dishes bed linens, etc.) food, computers, and vehicles to Member Network churches and organizations that serve those in need in their respective communities.  In addition to staple items such as food and clothing, Member Network churches can request specific items to meet specific needs of those in need.  At Thanksgiving Boxes of Love (includes the ingredients for a Thanksgiving dinner and a turkey) are provided for Member Network church families in need, and at Christmas, toys are provided for the children.  Resources are solicited through Star of Hope’s network of donors and friends in and around Paterson and Northern New Jersey.  This service has three key project outcomes.

1. Strengthens the service capacities of SOHM Member Network churches and organizations by providing them with resources for distribution to people in need.
2. Provides encouragement to mobilize Member Network congregations that serve under-resourced communities.
3. Serves to increase awareness in the Christian community and beyond of hunger and of those in our region that are the most vulnerable.  

06/04, updated 7/07