Heritage Presbyterian Church

Heritage Presbyterian Mission Opportunities

Hospital Ministry Team

Would you like to learn how to be more comfortable visiting friends who are in the hospital?  We are putting together a class to teach us how to do just that.  And, for those who want to learn even more about hospital visitation, the class will also give information on how you can be part of Heritage’s Hospital Ministry Team.  The classes are taught periodically, so send an email to the church office hpcadmin@heritagepresbyterian.org and we let you know when the next class will be held.

The Hospital Ministry Team will be working under the guidance of the “Presbyterian Outreach to Patients” (POP).  Here is more info on the POP program:

Your friends in faith

Being in the hospital is often difficult. Presbyterian Outreach to Patients (POP) is a pastoral ministry to support people in the hospital and their families.  When you’re in the hospital, POP is your friend in faith.

A historic ministry

Organized in 1974 by the Rev. Dr. Lawrence W. Johnson, POP was originally directed towards Presbyterians from out-of-town. In 1997, POP Lay Ministers began visiting all known Presbyterians in the hospitals we serve.  The POP team currently serves patients and their families in M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital.  And, with the help of churches like Heritage, POP is now branching out to serve patients in suburban hospitals.

A Biblical call

Our purpose in visiting is to affirm God’s loving, healing presence. Our intentions are to listen and to care, to comfort and to support, to be a spiritual resource for the healing journeys of patients and families.

A mission to fulfill

POP’s mission is to bring hope and comfort through prayer, visits, and other services, expressing Christ’s love to patients and their families.

Trained to serve

All of our Lay Ministers have been trained to serve in this specialized ministry and are credentialed by their hospitals. They work under the supervision of the POP Executive Director, Rev. Steven Spidell, who is a Presbyterian pastor and a Board Certified Chaplain. This ministry is overseen by a Board of Directors who come from Houston area congregations.

Our pledge of confidentiality

We will not release the name of or any information about a patient or family to anyone without the expressed permission of the patient and/or family member.

Supported by

POP is a ministry of the Presbytery of New Covenant. It is supported financially by Presbytery, congregations, and from individual contributions.

Turning Point Center Ministry

St Thomas Presbyterian is working with Turning Point Center to feed needy elderly persons.  St Thomas would like Heritage to consider joining with them as they do ministry to the elderly.  Please contact the church office hpcadmin@heritagepresbyterian.org to become part of the Turning Point Ministy.  Here is a little about the ministry:

The goal of the Turning Point Center is to utilize a variety of supportive services to return the homeless elderly to productive society.  The Turning Point Center is an independent, tax exempt, non-profit organization that offers food, shelter and other rehabilitative services to meet the physical and emotional needs of a neglected segment of society:  underprivileged individuals aged 50 and older who are unable to provide safe and adequate living conditions for themselves.

Through a variety of programs geared to address the unique needs of these individuals, the ultimate goal is to return them to an independent living status.  In addition, they provide other homeless individuals and families with short-term emergency services and referrals to other agencies.

 Mission

The mission of The Turning Point Center is to utilize a variety of supportive services to return the homeless elderly to productive society.

History

In 1988, Isha Salas Deselle founded The Rehab Mission, Inc. 1988.  The mission was incorporated in 1989, and on receiving non-profit status, began providing support services for elderly homeless individuals.  In January of 2003, the name was changed to “Turning Point Center” to better reflect the mission’s goals. Isha sold her home and used her life savings to acquire a dilapidated 34-unit apartment complex and refurbished it into a safe haven for the homeless elderly.   The Turning Point Center has been providing services for residents in Harris County for more than 18 years and houses approximately 180 residents during an average year. 

Why We Are Here

The elderly homeless population – individuals between the ages of 50 and 62 – is a neglected segment of society that has minimal services available to it.  This age group is not eligible for Social Security, has physical limitations that prevent them from working, yet do not receive disability or any other source of income.  Society views this age group as too old for the work force, yet too young for Social Security.  Turning Point Center is the only shelter in Houston that specifically focuses on assisting this clientele.

Where Our Residents Come From

Our residents come to us from local churches, hospital, evictions, homeless shelters and other agency referrals.  And, of course, directly off the streets.