New Outreach Center Uses Free Services to Reach Residents

For most of their adult life, Bishop Greg Jacobs and his wife Tina served in other ministries. That is, until God brought them to Chicago Heights to begin their own vision.  

"God had me working in several departments of a pentecostal church," said Greg. "I continued to grow, serving as a youth leader and in the community service ministry. I didn't know the fullness of my calling, I just knew we just wanted to help people. It just kept growing and eventually found my calling."

Greg and Tina rehabbed what had once been furniture store and also a medical office. Now, Fellowship of Believers Ministry houses the Family Community Outreach Center.

The Center, located in the seventh ward, has caught the attention of  Ald. Sylvia Torres, as well as third ward Ald. Wanda Rodgers, who have already helped network and gotten help for the Community Center.

Take a look at the Fellowship of Believers listing in our Places directory to learn more about the ministry. 

Patch stopped by to find out more about this new church and ministry. 

Patch: How long have you been in Chicago Heights?  

Bishop Greg Jacobs: We have lived here in Chicago Heights a year and the church has been here about a year. We are the founders.

What has been your most important contribution?  

Tina Jacobs: The ministry offers a lot.

Before I came here, I worked with youth, also in a lot of outreach, such as women in need and helping with the food and clothing ministry. I learned administrative and secretarial skills, which I use now. I have a passion to help mothers in need.

In 1997, I founded a women's ministry called "Sister to Sister." It is to assist women in coming together to strengthen them, for fellowship and giving them an outlet. I brought Sister to Sister here to Chicago Heights, where any woman is invited to take part. You don't have to be a member of this church or any church. Our next meeting is in September.  

Greg Jacobs: We are known for outreach. We started off in the Homewood-Olympia Fields area. We kept getting people from Chicago Heights. We felt a need was here, so we came to Chicago Heights.

We have a food pantry, my wife gets donations from stores and prepares boxes of food. Around the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, instead of having a place where people would come and eat in a line with others,we wanted to lift up the esteem of mothers who would make the complete meal at home. My wife would give the meal to the mother so she can cook for her family in her own home. The family can spend time together, so it lifts the children's spirits.Once that family smells that food, it creates memories. Her idea is to make the family feel closer together at home through the courtesy of others.

Because of that ministry, we noticed people calling our church phone were mostly from Chicago Heights. They would come to our former location in Homewood where they would pick up food and clothing vouchers. We began to see a greater need right here in the community that we have been serving for six years. We were serving from other locations, so a year ago we found this place.

We have developed a relationship with people from this community and Ford Heights. We developed a food pantry and are able to give out some things. We always are in need of food donations, so you can always donate to the food pantry. We have several families in the community that has needs, especially for the children.

We have also built a computer lab. Anyone, adult and/or youth, can come in and use our computers. We will assist them with their resume and help youth with their homework. Two computer specialists came to ask how they can volunteer, for children and adults. We're here to serve.  

We also do a lot of family counseling here, free. There is nothing here that you will pay for. Computer classes are free, family counseling is free and the drug prevention program is free. We're working on our incarceration after-care program, that will also be free. We have substance abuse class free as well. Because of that mindset we have people come back and give us a donation. We walk through our neighborhood passing out flyers to let the community know about our upcoming programs. In order to put these people in a better position we have to give and reinvent ourselves.  

We have a great heart to help with the incarcerated aftercare program. When they come out of prison, there are jobs they can't obtain. We have businessmen with certain trades interested in training them such as carpenters, electricians barbers and more. This will give them a sense to earn income and get on their feet.

We want to be that support for someone. We call it life skills. We have hope in people. 

Who are some notable members of your congregation?

Mr. Turner, who by trade is an electrician, he has a lot of skill which he has used to help and volunteer here.

We have a family from the city of Chicago. The Mullings Family. They work with us here in Chicago Heights. They have been part of our ministry since we were in Homewood. They understand the needs.

Tell a story about your congregation or church.  

We found out about a single mother with six children. There was no food in the house. My wife found out about it and began to act upon it. She gathered food from different people. I thought it was food for the pantry.

My wife began cooking a large meal from everything, it was like a feast. When I saw all of this food being prepared, I thought we were having something here at the church. I was getting ready to eat when my wife turned around and said it was for a family in Indiana. We packed up the food and took it out there.

We knocked on the door and told them what ministry we were from. My wife pulled out the cooked food and began to walk in the house. They had their gas shut off, so we didn't know how long it was since their last hot meal. The food was still warm when we put it on the table.

We told them we were going to help them with more assistance. We also filled up the fridge as well, gave them a big hug and prayed for them right there. That whole day blessed the church through the congregation giving. Those are the type of people we attract.

If you sow from your heart into other peoples lives, God will bless you!

What are the plans for the future of the ministry?  

A larger facility so we can do more. I would like to implement more programs. I would also like to have a transition home for domestic violence victims who need help. We see a lot of women who have been abused. We are looking for property. The future of the ministry is to expand and outreach. To have the connection with the whole community. The more we walk in unity, the better our community will be. 

What is Community Day?

Family Community Outreach Center is having a day to let the community know we are here. We're going to be giving out limited school supplies. We're going to have free hot dogs, hamburgers and juice. We're going to be doing face painting and other children's activities.

Come out full force, we're doing the best we can with donations. We have enough to only service 150 children. For the first 150 children that show up, we're going to put a book bag in their hands from the community and the ministry.

It will be a day of fellowship. It will be Saturday Aug. 20, from 3 p.m. through 6 p.m. at 268 W. Lincoln Highway in Chicago Heights.

Worship times at Fellowship of Believers Ministry are on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for prayer and bible study. For additional information, call 708-248-7449.

If Patch readers would like to donate canned goods or non-perishables and/or nice clothing, the ministry office is usually open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accept donations.