Serving the Community
Southminster’s Mission Team strives to educate and motivate the congregation to reach out in the name of Jesus Christ, by becoming involved in a variety of mission efforts through the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other worthwhile agencies.
We have volunteer opportunities for service projects throughout the year that help both locally within Arlington Heights as well as Chicago, nationally and internationally.
GEM5 – 2023
GEM5 – our 5th God Energizing Mission project – is about each of us rolling up our sleeves for one day and doing something tangible for neighbors who need our help. Adults and children 9 years and older of all skill levels participated!
The 2023 GEM 5 was a huge success! As reported by participants at the Sunday breakfast celebration, we were all energized by the event. A special thank you to our GEM 5 leadership team and the 98 people from Southminster Presbyterian Church who donated their time and talent to serve our community. We completed work at 12 private homes, 3 group homes belonging to Shelter Inc., the office at Northwest Compass and an apartment building owned by Northwest Compass. We were also able to complete projects at our church. A very special thank you to Jay Haack of Jay Haack Builders, Chick-fil-A of Mt. Prospect, Home Depot Mt. Prospect, and Tortorice’s Pizza for their donations to GEM 5. It was an absolutely beautiful day to be serving God and our neighbors in need.
The book of Matthew tells the Parable of the talents. We believe that God is pleased with how we used our talents this weekend. We believe he is watching proudly saying: “Well done good and faithful servants”. Thank you all!
Click here to watch the video of the weekend activities.
GEM – God Energizing Mission
Southminster is known as the church that loves to serve others. Our premier project for many years has been God Energizing Mission or GEM. Our first GEM project was in 2011. We have done three more in 2013- 2016- 2018. It is a very exciting event and fun for the whole family.
We partner with Wheeling Township to identify people in need, then we organize our entire church to have a service day. We go into people’s homes to do repair projects, painting, window washing, and yard clean up, etc. There is a kick-off meeting with a dinner on Friday night, a breakfast before going to the homes on Saturday, and another breakfast on Sunday morning to celebrate this service to others.
The homeowners are invited to join us for breakfast and worship. God truly does Energize Southminster to do Mission work in His name.
There are assigned church work days and all are welcome!
Mission Trips & Service Projects
We have had many Mission trips to help areas hit by natural disasters including Gulfport Mississippi, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Pensacola Florida after Hurricane Ivan, Washington Illinois after a tornado.
Washington, IL (Tornado)
Washington, IL (Tornado)
Pensacola (Ivan)
Pensacola (Ivan)
New Orleans (Katrina)
New Orleans (Katrina)
We also have worked with local organizations on various service projects like, renovating a Good News Partners Family Shelter, Kids Korna, The Shelter Inc. and our all church GEM (God Energizing Mission) projects that include many local homes in the area that need help with renovations and upkeep.
Helping Hands at GEM 4
Helping Hands at GEM 4
GEM 4 – Lemons of Love
GEM 4 – Lemons of Love
kidz-korner-1024×683
Kidz Korner
Worker at Good News Partners
Worker at Good News Partners
Helping Hands at The Shelter Inc
Helping Hands at The Shelter Inc
Nurse Volunteer at Faith In Practice, Guatemala
Nurse Volunteer at Faith In Practice, Guatemala
Faith in Practice, Guatemala
Faith in Practice, Guatemala
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children
SPC Mission Garden
SPC Mission Garden
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Service Partners
Our mission efforts touch the lives of many people. Projects range in location from Southminster’s own Arlington Heights and surrounding Chicagoland communities, to various locations throughout the United States and across the globe. To learn more about some of our mission partners, click on the blue links below:
Inclusive Collective – Campus Ministry for U.I.C.
C24/7 – Father’s Arms Ministries – C24/7 is a non-profit organization dedicated, through the power of Jesus Christ, to improving the lives of children and young adults in the North of Howard neighborhood by providing them with the necessary tools, security and environment for them to thrive economically, socially and spiritually. We seek these goals through an afterschool program, job training program, and community outreach.
Christopher House – Helps at risk kids through education and supportive services: family centered approach.
Family Forward – Provides temporary housing and a two-year mentoring program for near-homeless employed or employable families living or working in Arlington Heights.
Faith In Practice – Health care professionals form medical mission teams to help improve conditions for people in Guatemala.
Feed My Starving Children – Packages food for distribution to starving children all over the world.
Good News Partners – Provides a continuum of housing from a women’s and children’s shelter, through subsidized housing on to home ownership under a co-op structure.
Journeys The Road Home – Provides shelter along with services, mentoring and temporary housing leading to self-sufficiency for the homeless and near homeless in the Northwest Suburbs.
Kemmerer Village – A church supported home and school in central Illinois for youth with severe emotional and behavioral issues.
Night Ministry – Connect with Chicago homeless through street outreach, youth shelter and support services.
Ronald McDonald House – Provides a place for parents with hospitalized children.
Share Your Soles – Gives shoes to the needy around the world.
Spring of Life Habitat for Humanity – Builds/rehabs homes for low-income families in the northwest suburbs.
The Shelter Inc. – Our mission is to end the cycle of child abuse by ensuring safe, healthy and nurturing environments to children, their families and our community. Our programs include emergency housing, transitional living, foster care, home visiting, and clinical support services. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Wheeling Food Pantry – Distributes food in Northwest Suburbs