serving in our community

Family Promise logo

Family Promise

Family Promise is a faith-based response to homelessness in our community. FPLH is a coalition of local congregations that provides help and guidance to families in transition by providing food, shelter, job assistance and other necessities in a caring, welcoming environment. The main objective of the 60-day program is to keep families together and provide the resources to help them become independent and self-sufficient once again.

How does it work? There are 13 host congregations and four times a year each congregation will welcome guests (no more than three families) to their church for a week to have dinner, enjoy the evening and spend the night. Volunteers are the lifeblood of this program, with opportunities to provide meals and groceries for sack lunches, visit with families in the evening and spend the night so the guests are not alone.

FPLH and ALC. ALC has a long history of participation in this ministry, formerly known as Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN). As we prepare to grow physically, it is imperative that we also grow our ministries, and FPLH is a great ministry to grow! We already have a lot invested in this program, and look forward to additional ways to serve. Presently, ALC member David Berthold is serving as FPLH president and another member, George Brookover, is heading up funds development. As a family of faith, we have donated more than $5,000 to the rebirth of this important outreach ministry in our community.

Progress to date. As of May 2008, FPLH has 12 committed host congregations, as well as three support congregations. Only one more host congregation is needed to be at the optimal operating model. On May 1 FPLH celebrated the blessing of the new day center, where families will go during the day to get children off to school, look for jobs, do laundry, take showers, and work with the program director to get the information and resources they need to secure their success in the program and their return to independence.

Opportunities to Serve. With God's continued grace and ongoing hard work, FPLH hopes to be operational by the end of 2008. At that time, there will be many opportunities to serve during ALC's host week once a quarter. However, prior to that time, there are several very special opportunities to serve for those who feel impassioned to help these families. FPLH is actively seeking candidates to serve on the Board of Directors and ALC is looking for individuals to serve as coordinators. This can be an individual, a duo, trio or family who may wish to serve together to organize ALC volunteers four times a year when it is our turn to host the families. Training will be provided and the rewards are priceless! For more information on how you can get involved, contact David Berthold, Family Promise of Lake Houston - Celebration Committee Coordinator: dberthold@dyad-inc.com or 713-248-5264Special Olympics logo

Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition.

ALC has actively and directly supported the athletes of Special Olympics Texas by providing volunteers at the Greater Houston Area Spring Games for the last 10 years. ALC has also supported Special Olympics Texas through providing volunteers and donations through various fundraisers for Special Olympics for the last 9 years. For example, ALC volunteers have been instrumental in creating and continuing the Annual Sporting Clays Tournament Benefiting Special Olympics Texas, which is the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics in Texas. For more information please contact Renee Klovesnki, the program director for Special Olympics, at 713-290-0049.

HAAM (Humble Area Assistance Ministry)

ALC continues to support the efforts of HAAM through the donation of goods by our members, organized service projects, monetary donations, and prayer for their ministry. Some of HAAM's services to our community include:

For more information about HAAM - visit their website at: http://www.haamministries.org