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Ministry Overview
• REACH ACROSS HOUSTON MINISTRY OVERVIEW
I. Purpose
A. Mission Statement
Reach Across Houston (RAH), a Christ-centered organization, was founded in 1992 to work with low-income members of the Greater Houston Community. RAH mission is to share the Gospel with these individuals and help them gain skills needed to secure meaningful employment.
It is our mission to provide practical assistance to people who want to change their lives. We do not provide cash assistance for rent or utilities. We do not distribute clothing or food, nor do we give food to the hungry, though all of these are noble callings. We help people help themselves by offering job training, employment placement assistance, spiritual guidance, and other tools that lead to self-sufficiency.
B. Facilities
RAH is located at 9808 Bauman Road, Houston, Texas 77076, a mile north of Loop 610E and I-45. RAH calls home an 18,500 square-foot facility with eight class rooms, a computer lab, several offices and an area that seats 100 for the church on-site. . RAH leased the property from 2003 to August of 2005, at which time, God enabled Benny Sanders, RAH’s Executive Director, to purchase the facility.
C. Programming
RAH was created with the understanding that people, usually through a series of poorly made decisions, and at times through no fault of their own, occasionally need help. Certain members of this community periodically may require assistance in paying bills or feeding their family, as they attempt to recover from a temporary set-back. However, when faced with long-term challenges, this type of assistance does not strike at the root of the problem.
RAH was founded to intervene in the lives of Houstonians to provide other answers to negative societal paradigms through basic and technical education in a wholesome atmosphere. RAH provides long-term solution by providing employment skills and spiritual guidance. RAH combats the difficulties created by a lack of education, and, sometimes, a lack of direction and purpose in one’s life with its programming.
Five different objectives form the foundation underlying programs and services offered by RAH:
· Focus on low-income individuals in multi-family communities,
· Share the Good News of Jesus Christ,
· Procure job development opportunities that foster economic success,
· Provide a holistic approach to addressing an individual's needs, and
· Stimulate public and private partnerships in the achievement of these goals.
1. Educational Development
General Education Development (GED) Certification Reach Across Houston provides a comfortable environment for students who are preparing for their GED. In order to meet a greater need, RAH offers GED instruction via computers in its computer labs. This allows students to choose when to study and how frequently to study for the GED. Our computer labs are open to them 12 hours a day, and our staff is also available to assist these individuals with questions that arise during their studies.
English as a Second Language (ESL)/EL/Civics Classes Through our partnership with the Texas Education Agency, who funds the literacy program, we have been offering ESL classes for the past 5 years. During this time, we have taught over 2500 students how to speak English. We have managed to share Christ with these students when there was a clear opportunity to do so without compromising our integrity with TEA.
Cisco Regional Academy RAH has partnered with Cisco Systems, Inc., the nation's top supplier of networking hardware, to address the acute shortage of qualified professionals available to perform networking tasks required by Twenty-first Century businesses. RAH is able to offer Networking Essentials Certification Courses as well as Panduit Cabling Certification Courses. These certifications will enable an individual to either become self employed or work for some of the industry leaders with a good income.
The main purpose of our involvement in the Cisco training program currently is to make this training available to low-income individuals. The Houston Endowment has already funded this exciting work at Cleme Manor, a HUD property. RAH hopes to expand its reach into other multi-family communities with similar needs.
After School Tutoring RAH has been very successful in assisting students with their homework assignments by providing them with free internet access to assist them with school research and projects. Though after school tutoring is not currently provided, RAH is always prepared to respond to the needs of the community that it serves.
2. Spiritual Development
Church Services Through our partnership and relationship with Iglesia Pentecostes Rey de Reyes Church, we provide opportunities for our students to hear a clear presentation of the gospel in Spanish. We work closely with Pastor Daniel Zuniga, who is fluent in both Spanish and English, to conduct church services four times per week. Services are held on Sunday morning and evening. Sunday school is offered for different age groups, as well as a one mid-week service on Wednesday. RAH’s Director, Benny Sanders, shares the pulpit with Pastor Zuniga. In 2006, ten new believers were baptized.
Ministerial Counseling Our Directors, Benny Sanders, also provides spiritual counseling to those who cross our path at Reach Across Houston. For example, he offered counsel to a young couple who were not yet married, but had parented a newborn child. They came to RAH looking for a GED course, but also found a person interested in the welfare of their relationship and the child’s. Benny asked them if they knew the LORD. She did, but he did not. Mr. Sanders spent time with this young couple talking with them about God’s word and encouraged them to marry. They were married at Reach Across Houston shortly thereafter.
Gospel Lakes Ranch RAH are also partners with Gospel Lakes Ranch. Gospel Lakes Ranch is a wonderful opportunity for children and their parents to hear God’s word and play with others in a natural environment. We have participated with this program for the past 6 years.
Angel Tree Angel Tree is another opportunity for us to demonstrate God’s love by the giving of gifts to those with so little. This past Christmas we sponsored 154 children with the help of Champion Forest Baptist Church. The church provided all of the adult leadership, food, and service. It was clear that the Holy Spirit was with us on that great day of sharing.
II. Financial Accountability and Reporting Reach Across Houston is a financially sound organization. To insure that RAH’s financial activities have been properly recorded, audits are periodically performed by a certified accountant. A copy of the 2005 financial audit statement is attached. III. Board of Directors and Officers
Reach Across Houston currently has four active Members of the Board of Directors and one Executive Officer. These are:
Alisha Clester Campos, Chairperson Alisha is a member of Berean Baptist Church, Comunidad Cristiana. She works as an attorney with Morley & Morley, P.C.
Robert “Butch” Carpenter, Treasurer Butch is a member of Champion Forest Baptist Church. He is Chief Financial Officer at Four Seasons Equipment, Inc.
Maggy Wooden, Secretary Maggy is a member of Champions Forest Baptist Church. She works as a ___________ for LexMark International.
John Yahmed, Webmaster John Yahmed is a Christian business man currently doing project management on commercial construction projects around the country. John supports Reach by creating and maintaining their website.
Benny Sanders, Director Benny is a member of Champions Forest Baptist Church. He was previously employed as a Service Manager with IBM. He is currently working Full-Time with Reach Across Houston. He manages and directs all of our daily activities and programs.
IV. Accomplishments
Since 1993, RAH has served about 6,000 people. Many of them have gained skills to make them more competitive in the job market. Several of them have heard the truth that is Jesus Christ and have been born again as children of God.
V. Opportunities to Serve
Reach Across Houston needs volunteers to carry-out its mission and to reach more lives. Opportunities to serve include, but are not limited to the following:
· Board Members, 8-10 hours per month · Web Developer, 5-10 hours per month · Office Manager, 10-20 hours per month · Administrative Assistants, 10-20 hours per month · Fundraiser, 10-20 hours per month · Community Relations Director, 10-20 hours per month · Teachers, 20 hours per week · Architect, project specific · Proposal Writer, project specific · Certified Public Accountant, project specific
VI. On-Going Needs
Our organization has taken on a large endeavor in an effort to reach so many lives. This endeavor requires significant resources to accomplish our goals.
A. Human Resources
As the focus of our programs is education, our primary human resource need is teachers. In order to reach more people, RAH offers both day and night classes. In addition, we offer several types of courses as well as levels of instruction within those courses.
The administrative needs of our organization are also quite large as a result of the size of our facility, the number of students enrolled, and the high level of accountability we desire to maintain. Thus, RAH requires a Director, Office Manager, and Administrative Assistants.
RAH wishes to decrease its dependence on government funding to allow a greater focus on teaching the Gospel. In order to achieve this goal, we need assistance from religious organizations as well as members of the community. To reach these individuals, RAH needs a Proposal Writer, Fundraiser, and Community Relations Director.
In addition, an Architect is needed to assist RAH in improving its facility. Currently, our location has a large warehouse space which we hope to convert into more classrooms and meeting areas. An architect is the first-step in making this happen.
B. Material Goods
Reach Across Houston has the same needs as most schools. We need books, paper, pencils, pens, ink, visual aids, dry erase boards and markers, staples, paperclips, toilet paper, hand towels, soap, and cleaning supplies. Our special needs are printers, computers, bulletin boards, bulletin board materials, tables, chairs, and building materials for our construction project when it gets underway.
C. Monetary Assistance
Our monetary needs are highly dependent upon our ability to secure volunteers and donations of material goods. Clearly, our monetary needs decrease as volunteers and donations increase. However, certain expenses are constant, such as, facility rents and utilities.
D. Prayer Partners
Reach Across Houston touches many lives in the community we serve. Our hope is that those lives will hear the word of God and see his work in their lives in the gifts they receive through Reach Across Houston. RAH needs prayer partners to assist us in doing God’s work in our classrooms and community relationships.
VII. Regular Updates
Reach Across Houston currently provides regular updates to the TEA in conjunction with their sponsorship of our literacy program. We are prepared and able to produce quarterly or monthly reports as needed.
VIII. Sponsors’ Time Commitment
It is our hope that this endeavor will be a continuing one. Reach will continue to look for community assistance and other avenues to supplement its income without compromising our goals.
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