Outreach

Project Hope is an outreach of Horizons Community Church to support children in India. Through Project Hope, Horizons has been a part of kingdom-building by financially supporting, encouraging, and praying for hundreds of children cared for by 2 children’s homes – Pratheeksha and Bethel.

Project Hope provides children:

· The opportunity to belong to a loving, Christian home where they are safe and cherished

· The chance to know and experience life-change through Jesus Christ

· The empowerment to break out of poverty through education and opportunities

· The ability to focus and thrive because their minds and bellies are both full and nurtured

Ways to be a part of the mission:

· Become a monthly sponsor by setting up regular giving at horizons.church/give

· Make a one-time donation and support annual fundraisers for the children

· Pray faithfully for the children and the directors of Pratheeksha and Bethel children’s homes in India

Horizons has been supporting Pratheeksha since 2005. Pratheeksha means “Hope” and was the founding home of the Project Hope ministry. This home seeks to provide holistic development for children with a particular focus on helping young girls. Pratheeksha was founded by Sister Jessy in 1994 as a response to the neglect, abuse, and abandonment young girls often suffer due to their gender and caste. Thanks to the work of Sister Jessy and her co-director Sister Molly, Pratheeksha has provided hope, education, training, employment, and dowries to many young girls and children in their communities in Tamil Nadu and in Kerala.

Bethel Children’s Home became part of the Project Hope ministry more recently but has been providing a safe and loving home for children since 1998. Prabin and Susama Sipka run the home in Muniguda, India housing, feeding, educating, and worshipping with not only the children who live there – but people across their community. They shine the light of Christ in rural India and are able to continue to do this work thanks to Project Hope supporters.

Horizons has established an ongoing relationship with the Zeman Elementary School community and LPS by providing support and encouragement for the students and staff in various ways.

CARNIVAL HOSTING At Zeman’s carnival, we monitor games and bounce houses. Our carnival support boosts teacher morale and parent-student interaction as teachers and parents can participate in the event.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION Download the Box Tops app and automatically send funds to Zeman when you purchase certain items and scan your receipt.

CLASSROOM TUTOR Assist classroom teachers by listening to students read aloud, helping with spelling words, and practicing math facts.

BACKPACK PROGRAM Horizons supports three schools by packing food in backpacks. In addition, the program seeks to help students who qualify for their school’s Free or Reduced Lunch Programs by providing a food-filled backpack to the child and family over the weekend or during a school break.

Horizons continuously reaches out and helps the community. We’ve rented storage lockers for those fleeing domestic violence, helped cover the cost of heating and electrical expenses for families in need and more. We’ve provided miracle funding for DZ kids to serve and make blankets, Fusion students to package meals for those in need, and Arise students to go on mission trips. We have blessed so many in our community in a multitude of ways. Thank you again for your support and faithful approach. We’re all in this together. You can help be the unexpected blessing for those in need.

Why Solar?

We decided to add solar for a number of reasons, all of which align with our value of impacting the world around us:

Environmental Stewardship: By harnessing clean, renewable energy from the sun, we're reducing our footprint on finite resources and creating a healthier planet for future generations.

Financial Responsibility: Solar panels provide significant cost savings on our energy bills. These savings can then be redirected towards supporting our church ministries and outreach programs, allowing us to reach and help more people in our community and beyond.

Leading by Example: We hope our commitment to solar energy inspires others in our community to consider renewable energy options for their homes and businesses. This can have a ripple effect, creating a broader positive environmental impact.

A Heartfelt Thank You

A special thank you to a dedicated community of donors who made our new solar panel system a reality! Their belief in our mission is truly inspiring. This project was accomplished by special donations outside of our general fund. Thanks to these gifts, Horizons Community Church can continue to shine a bright light in our community for years to come and make a lasting impact on the world around us.

Looking to the Future

Horizons Community Church is committed to being a responsible member of our community and a force for positive change in the world. Our solar panel system is one way we're working to create a brighter future for all.

Interested in Learning More?

If you'd like to learn more about our solar panel system or the benefits of renewable energy, we encourage you to reach out to us Together, we can make a difference!

We’re excited to announce our partnership with ConnectioN Point, a ministry committed to creating purpose-centered missional communities that focus on mercy, justice, and meaningful relationships.

Founded in 2016 as a collaborative effort between Christ United Methodist Church, the Blue River District of the UMC, and Motive—the United Methodist Campus Ministry at UNL—ConnectioN Point began by extending critical services to students and staff on UNL’s East Campus, such as the Open Shelf food and hygiene pantry. Over the years, they’ve grown into a vital organization that partners with churches, organizations, and neighborhoods to support initiatives like the Open Shelf Pantry and Career Closet.

Together with ConnectioN Point, Horizons is stepping into this impactful mission to meet the tangible needs of our community. Stay tuned for ways to get involved and be part of this meaningful work of mercy and justice.