For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Hershey Free Church’s mission in going beyond our walls has two spheres of focus. The first is our global focus. We have many missionaries that we support in countries throughout the world. We have a partnership with Haiti and STEP Seminary. We have begun a multi-year partnership with Burkina Faso in West Africa. We also have GIFT (Global Impact Fund for Transformation, formally known as the Global Ministry Project Fund). GIFT is a donation-based fund that supports various global projects throughout the year.
We also know that one does not have to go to Africa in order to participate in God’s mission. Each one of us lives in a local community, interacts with neighbors or cashiers at grocery stores, and has the opportunity to serve locally in various ways.
God has equipped and led the people of Hershey Free Church to be involved in many different community organizations throughout our region. It has been said that you replicate what you celebrate. We want to celebrate the involvement of our congregation as they serve in various organizations that seek the flourishing of our communities. Through sharing stories, we want to inspire others to do the same.
Each one of you who serves in your community carries the gospel and the light of Christ with you. We want to celebrate that! We want to encourage you and the organizations that you support. We want to enable you to be agents of change. Our vision is for Hershey Free to be serving not just within the walls of the church but reaching out to our community.
To that end, the elders of Hershey Free Church have established the Local Impact Fund for Transformation (LIFT). This fund exists so that individuals can apply for grants to be distributed to the local, non-profit organization in which they actively serve. Grants will be awarded for $500 to these organizations, if certain criteria are met and funds are still available.