Time and again, members of our church and staff have recognized a need in our community, responded with creativity and compassion, and then watched those efforts grow beyond what our congregation alone could sustain. That’s exactly the story of HoSEA!
HoSEA was launched by First Baptist under the leadership of our former Minister of Community Engagement, Matt Rollins. Matt noticed a troubling trend: a significant increase in requests for rental assistance. He recognized that while many congregations were eager to help, the few hundred dollars they could typically provide was not enough to prevent an eviction. Families needed a more coordinated and comprehensive response. Out of that vision, HoSEA was born.
Four congregations came together to create a collaborative ministry that intervened in the eviction process for families who needed help stabilizing their housing. Volunteers from the partner congregations walked applicants through the process, while professional case managers at Triune Mercy Center and United Ministries provided assessments and recommendations, ensuring that the assistance was both compassionate and effective.
As word about HoSEA spread, the number of people reaching out for assistance grew, as did community interest in the program. As a result, this summer the HoSEA steering committee decided to transition the program to United Ministries. That’s something worth celebrating.
First Baptist helped imagine, launch, and nurture a ministry that has become so impactful it now has the capacity to serve our community through an established nonprofit partner! Moving forward, churches, including First Baptist, will continue to sustain HoSEA through dedicated fundraising and volunteer support. To date, our congregation has contributed $40,000 to the HoSEA fund to help keep local families housed, with $13,000 of those funds raised directly through our church yard sale! In 2025 alone, HoSEA helped 60 families stay housed!
So, today, I am celebrating our church’s history of compassionate care, Matt Rollins’s initial vision, our faithful volunteers, and the ongoing impact we will continue to make alongside United Ministries.
Carol McEntyre, Senior Minister