First Congo mission director loves her work
Julia Hicks is the Director of Missions at First Congregational Church of Christ at 1000 S. Cooper St. in Cooper-Young. She is the coordinator for up to 30 missions and partners working out of the building. Hicks has been a First Congo member for 12 years. She has a great passion for reaching out to the community.
What inspired you to be the Director of Missions at First Congo?
I had been a member of First Congo and served in leadership for 12 years at the time that we decided to move our church from a small building in Central Gardens to this huge 83,000 square "old house" in Cooper Young. The pastor, Cheryl Cornish, asked me to come on staff to help make our space (which is more than a congregation of 200 worshipers needs) a tool for stewardship to the community. I love development work, I love Cheryl's visionary leadership, and I love this church, so I was thrilled to try.
How many organizations are housed within the church?
We generally have about 25 to 30 shared space partners at any given time.
What is your favorite mission?
Oh my - I've never been asked or thought about having a favorite mission. My favorites change as they grow and develop . . . for instance I get enthusiastic when Voices of the South renovates their theater and enjoys a sell-out show, or when the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market decided to stay in this neighborhood, and we're having a spring kick-off crawfish boil, or when I arrive at work and see beautiful children from the Red Robin daycare walking to the playground, or when I'm sitting in a long meeting in the pastor's office and I look across the garden windows and see the Aardvarks children marching around and singing or the Middle Eastern dancers with colorful wings spinning around . . . every one is amazing and all I can think about is how many more ministries we wish we could house here.
How do these missions directly affect the Cooper-Young neighborhood?
So many ways - they bring people from all over the city into this neighborhood for classes, counseling, childcare, bicycle repair or donation, nonprofit meetings and workshops, shopping for fair trade or the farmers market - and when they come they go to the local restaurants and shops, and they bring even more vitality to the infectious fun of our neighborhood.
How many people take advantage of the services offered?
Hundreds . . . thousands. There's no way to keep count, but it's more than 5,000 people per year.
Are they all free? If not, how are the profits used?
Our partners, which are all nonprofits or groups that serve the community through the arts, women and children's needs, programs of peace & justice, or promote environmentally green issues, pay a very modest shared space fee, which helps the church with maintenance and utilities.
How can people get involved?
Come to church. Our congregation and worship reflect the values of our partners, and vice-versa. Come shop at our Global Goods Fair Trade Store and the Farmers Market on Saturdays, bring donations of food or money for our Food Justice Ministries, bring your little children to Music for Aardvarks, utilize Red Robin's daycare, volunteer or donate your old bikes to Revolutions Bike Shop, invite your out-of-town guests to stay at the Pilgrim House Hostel .
What is your ultimate goal as the Director of Missions?
To be a model for the future of churches. To help transform the very damaged image and reputation of Christianity from moralistic, judging, marginalizing and segregated congregations to open, welcoming, affirming, serving, compassionate communities that keep looking for relevant ways to serve a suffering and ever-evolving world.
Do you have a personal motto, phrase, or verse that fuels your passion for the position?
"It's good we're here together."
Interview conducted by Jordan Moose.
What inspired you to be the Director of Missions at First Congo?
I had been a member of First Congo and served in leadership for 12 years at the time that we decided to move our church from a small building in Central Gardens to this huge 83,000 square "old house" in Cooper Young. The pastor, Cheryl Cornish, asked me to come on staff to help make our space (which is more than a congregation of 200 worshipers needs) a tool for stewardship to the community. I love development work, I love Cheryl's visionary leadership, and I love this church, so I was thrilled to try.
How many organizations are housed within the church?
We generally have about 25 to 30 shared space partners at any given time.
What is your favorite mission?
Oh my - I've never been asked or thought about having a favorite mission. My favorites change as they grow and develop . . . for instance I get enthusiastic when Voices of the South renovates their theater and enjoys a sell-out show, or when the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market decided to stay in this neighborhood, and we're having a spring kick-off crawfish boil, or when I arrive at work and see beautiful children from the Red Robin daycare walking to the playground, or when I'm sitting in a long meeting in the pastor's office and I look across the garden windows and see the Aardvarks children marching around and singing or the Middle Eastern dancers with colorful wings spinning around . . . every one is amazing and all I can think about is how many more ministries we wish we could house here.
How do these missions directly affect the Cooper-Young neighborhood?
So many ways - they bring people from all over the city into this neighborhood for classes, counseling, childcare, bicycle repair or donation, nonprofit meetings and workshops, shopping for fair trade or the farmers market - and when they come they go to the local restaurants and shops, and they bring even more vitality to the infectious fun of our neighborhood.
How many people take advantage of the services offered?
Hundreds . . . thousands. There's no way to keep count, but it's more than 5,000 people per year.
Are they all free? If not, how are the profits used?
Our partners, which are all nonprofits or groups that serve the community through the arts, women and children's needs, programs of peace & justice, or promote environmentally green issues, pay a very modest shared space fee, which helps the church with maintenance and utilities.
How can people get involved?
Come to church. Our congregation and worship reflect the values of our partners, and vice-versa. Come shop at our Global Goods Fair Trade Store and the Farmers Market on Saturdays, bring donations of food or money for our Food Justice Ministries, bring your little children to Music for Aardvarks, utilize Red Robin's daycare, volunteer or donate your old bikes to Revolutions Bike Shop, invite your out-of-town guests to stay at the Pilgrim House Hostel .
What is your ultimate goal as the Director of Missions?
To be a model for the future of churches. To help transform the very damaged image and reputation of Christianity from moralistic, judging, marginalizing and segregated congregations to open, welcoming, affirming, serving, compassionate communities that keep looking for relevant ways to serve a suffering and ever-evolving world.
Do you have a personal motto, phrase, or verse that fuels your passion for the position?
"It's good we're here together."
Interview conducted by Jordan Moose.