IMPACTING STUDENTS
School ‘Wraparound Specialists’ Thank Mission Centers of Houston 
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Partnering with wraparound specialists and students from four elementary schools is time well spent.

In recent months, shrinking budgets have students at a disadvantage in several inner-city schools near the Gano Mission Center. According to Cheryl Chadwick, who directs the volunteer and kids' ministries for MCH, this critical need created a unique ministry opportunity. “Our school outreach program started a year ago when we met with wraparound specialists from Sherman, Looscan, Martinez, and Ketelsen elementary schools within a 2-mile radius of Gano,” she explains. 

“I was particularly touched to learn that our supplies enabled some of the children to paint for the first time in their lives,” adds Cheryl. Greater Northside Area Missionary Juan Ayala, sees the potential unfolding. "We know that the best way to impact families and the culture is by investing in the lives of children. Our time spent in these schools is bridging entire families to the mission center and Jesus Christ."

Thanks to donated food and other supplies – and the help of volunteers, Mission Centers of Houston has been able to: 
  • Host a "Pastries with Parents" breakfast to provide food, fellowship, and fun to help strengthen families and an Appreciation Luncheon for the staff and volunteers of Looscan Elementary 
  • Provide prizes (from our Walmart connection) for monthly Coffee with the Principal meetings, which significantly boosted otherwise low parental attendance 
  • Supply hot dogs and s’mores for several field day events 
  • Conduct three summer school outreach events thanks to 15-20 volunteers from our summer youth groups (SNY, New Hope, and Kingsland Baptist).  
  • Encourage teachers with breakfast items (from our Panera connection) and gift bags to all four schools

God-Size Results
“While we cannot share the gospel on the school campuses,” notes Cheryl, ”we can build trust and new relationships with these students and invite them to our MCH programs geared to kids and parents alike.” Adds Cheryl, “We even had a mom follow our MCH van back to Gano Center to find out how to register her son. He has been a regular attendee ever since and could not wait to buy one of our T-shirts and wear it that day! And, his mom joined our ladies Bible study!” 

These outreach efforts have boosted the Gano Mission Center's attendance with over 90 new kids, youth, and ladies attending mission-focused programs.  Getting parents to attend any event has been challenging says Ketelsen Elementary school wraparound specialist Jesus Fulgencio. "When MCH hosted a Pastries for Parents it boosted our parental involvement to a new level," he shares. "For the same reasons, we are so grateful to MCH for hosting the volunteer banquet," adds Diana Paco with Clemente Martinez. Alejandra Amero expresses her gratitude saying. "We are so lucky to have such a great organization offering such a variety of services that benefit our families."

First Ever Great Critter Reunion
What's a Critter?

Back in the early 1960s Director Mildred McWhorter mastered the skill of recruiting volunteers of all ages to help minister to Houston's inner city residents.

She affectionately called the college student summer missionaries "Critters," and the nickname has been a badge of honor for each new group each summer for decades.

"We are excited to invite all of our previous student missionaries back to Houston in October to help us celebrate our 60th anniversary," shares Cheryl Chadwick, "because they have a special role in our 60-year history."

Mission Centers of Houston has been blessed with an estimated 2000 summer missionary 'critters' over the years.

The MCH office walls feature Critter group photos and window art (see photos) and each Center uses wooden dividers painted by former Critter groups.
FUN FACT: Former Critters Noe and Vanessa Met at MCH, Married and Now Serve as Joy Center Directors
Critter Flashback: Then (2003) and Now (2022)

Noe Ortiz first got involved with Mission Centers in 2001 as a way to serve in his hometown during college, and his soon-to-be wife, Vanessa, first served as a summer missionary in 2003. That summer, the two fell in love while serving the Lord and the community. In the process of growing closer to God, they grew closer to each other and married in 2005.
 
Flashing back, Noe says, “My favorite ministry was working with the teens at Fletcher. We connected as basketball fanatics and hip hop junkies, and. I got to share the gospel through those things, by building relationships that continued long after that summer.”
 
When Vanessa came to Houston to serve at what was then known as Baptist Mission Centers (MCH) in 2003, she shares, “It was the first time I had ever been in a big city. I could see the downtown skyscrapers from the girls' dorm room, and I remember staring at them in wonder like someone might do when they see mountains for the first time. I loved working with the babies in the Fletcher nursery and with the children during Kids Club.”
 
With two kiddos in tow, they began serving full-time in 2009 at the Fletcher Mission Center. 

Vanessa shares, “Our children have spent most of their lives at Fletcher Mission Center and Joy Mission Center. They are the first to welcome new children into our ministries, and they’ve inspired friends from JOY to join our church as well.” The young Ortiz ‘missionaries,’ like their son Enoch, learned to stock and pack groceries around age two! Adds Noe, “We have been blessed to raise our children in an atmosphere that teaches them to put others before themselves.” 
 
2022 and Beyond
Now, Noe (Area Missionary) and Vanessa (Center Director) are modeling servant leadership for their six children by serving full-time in the JOY Mission Center, focusing on Magnolia Park and the Greater East End of Houston.
 
Together, they are helping address food insecurity and other critical community needs via partner organizations that facilitate other local resources.
 
Adds Vanessa, “We are intentional to create an atmosphere of hospitality, peace, and JOY at our center. When anything disrupts the ambience, the community works to correct it before we have to. Our community loves to be at JOY and each one knows that it is THEIR center where they are loved and valued.”
 
Vanessa is blessed to look back and see God’s faithfulness. “In 2003 we could have never imagined that God would have us living and serving with Mission Centers of Houston for 10+ years while we raise six children. God has tethered us here and our hearts are fully committed. Even when ministry is difficult or spiritual attacks abound, we know we are exactly where God wants us, and it's the only place we want to be.” 


MINISTRY MOMENTS UP CLOSE
Fun + Faithfulness: Have you made your RSVP to our inspirational party October 15? Only 6 more weeks until the 60th Anniversary and the Great Critter Reunion (both at 1st BC Houston, 5-8pm). That morning, come tour the Joy, Gano, Fletcher, and Mildred McWhorter Missionary Buildings between 10-noon!  Don't miss out -- sign up here. It won't be the same without you.
While adults with Woodlands First Crossroads volunteer group bagged groceries and helped with other projects, several of the children visibly enjoyed organizing the kids library.
Joy Center Mission Market set for
November 19
MCH celebrates volunteers and community participants like Delia, a member of the women's Bible study at the Joy Center.
Thank you for your support and encouragement as we continue to meet the physical and spiritual needs of people living in Houston's inner city with the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.