For more than 150 years, American Baptist Home Mission Societies has answered God’s call to meet the needs of those living on the margins across the United States and Puerto Rico. Their work transforms and heals communities dealing with poverty, disaster, and crisis. A network of volunteers, donors, churches, and Christian leaders bring hope to children and families struggling with addiction, incarceration, mental illness, and societal injustice. Programs, publications, and resources encourage, educate, develop, and strengthen Christian leaders. Their home missions include planting churches, schools, children’s homes, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Ministries are divided into three sections: cultivating leaders, equipping disciples, and sponsoring healing communities. Community Outreach Ministries support a network of Christian Centers to address the specific needs of their respective communities. Onsite mission staff work in partnership with local congregations and regional ministries to provide practical assistance that helps people identify and overcome barriers preventing them from becoming all that God intended them to be.

The Outreach Team has chosen the ABHMS outreach ministry, JOYA Scholars in Fullerton, California, for February’s Mission Offering. It prepares low-income junior high, high school and college students to succeed through higher education. Students are primarily from Latinx and immigrant families living in Fullerton, a marginalized community. They participate in mentoring, tutoring, and a Leadership Academy that gives them the resources they need to succeed in high school, graduate from college, build a path to a fulfilling career, and become a community leader. Parents enroll in a Parent Academy. In these troubled times, there is great need for transforming hope and healing which you can provide with your offering for JOYA Scholars.