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A Child’s Place

Tonia Bendickson — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:35:27 +0000

Thanks to your generosity, we gave “A Child’s Place” a check for $20,500 this past week. It’s part of your church’s commitment to give 12% of everything that comes in, right back out into the community through outreach.

We serve. We give. It’s who we are. Check out the video below to hear more about “A Child’s Place.” And click the “Join the Movement” tab to see how you can plug in to serve homeless children in our city. New opportunities are being added EVERY day!

Come on over…

Tonia Bendickson — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:06:10 +0000

Hey friends, this blog is moving. Elevation Outreach news now has its own spot in the Elevation Church website. So you can get the latest outreach news there each day as we share what God’s doing through your service. Thank you for following and engaging with me here. I look forward to seeing you over at Elevation Outreach!

#30daysofThanks, Crisis Assistance Ministry

Tonia Bendickson — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:05:25 +0000

DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE – One of my favorite things each week, is hearing from our amazing Elevation Outreach volunteers about how God used them to reach people while they’re out serving.

Guys like Russell Goetting and Bruce Bloomquist have made it a priority to serve through our outreach partners weekly, monthly, sometimes (during #30daysofthanks or LOVE Week) even daily. And I get notes like this:

“The Lord used Laura Wells to bring a young couple into His Kingdom, and she is bringing them to Elevation this weekend to plug them in! They came for one time help with utility bills, and left with eternal life.”

And they send me stories like this every week. Serving in the pre-work hour at Crisis Assistance Ministry is one of the easiest, most-rewarding outreach opportunities you can find during #30daysofthanks. How could you NOT want to be a part of what God is doing through Elevation Outreach at Crisis Assistance Ministry?

Sign up here and look for the weekday “Fight Hunger” opportunities with “CAM”. Then check out this short video about Elevation’s partnership with this great ministry.

#30daysofthanks – HOPE Haven

Tonia Bendickson — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 11:05:03 +0000

NORTH CHARLOTTE – This week, I had the opportunity to visit one of our outreach partners, Hope Haven for the first time in years.

When I first arrived in Charlotte, I reported on this program that supports homeless men and women recovering from addiction.

Since that time, Hope Haven has grown from a small home in West Charlotte supporting about a dozen men at a time – to now what has the feel of a small village in North Charlotte that can support more than 170 adults and children.

During LOVE Week 2011, Elevation and its students went crazy blitzing for 24-hours straight to beautify and improve the renovated motel complex and its grounds. It’s a beautiful oasis now for people who need support and guidance following drug and alcohol treatment.

This month, during #30daysofthanks, we’ve planned a one-time Hope Haven opportunity specifically for staff and volunteers at Elevation Providence to serve. It’s this next Wednesday night, November 9 – we’ll be serving dinner alongside other Providence campus volunteers – it will be an incredible chance to give thanks and serve TOGETHER!

Click here to sign up! See you at Hope Haven, where you can change the world for someone working to overcome incredible barriers to success – “No matter what.”

#HomeForTheHolidays – DayONE

Tonia Bendickson — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:15:05 +0000

WEST CHARLOTTE – Day one of Elevation Church’s first-ever Habitat for Humanity home.

Building from the ground up – Elevation Blakeney staff and volunteers put up the framing this morning.

What started out as just a slab in West Charlotte now has walls and is ready for the roof trusses Saturday morning.

We are building Fridays and Saturdays this month with a big push the week of December 10 to wrap up construction of a #HomefortheHolidays.

Join us and see how God might use YOU to change the world for a family.

Click here to sign up for this and check out our other #30daysofthanks events. And then enjoy the video blog from Jamie Waldron:

Planning for “Turkey Tuesday”

Tonia Bendickson — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:51:41 +0000

MATTHEWS, North Carolina – One of the biggest #30daysofthanks events we’ve planned this month is in anticipation of “Turkey Tuesday”. Our goal is to provide our strategic outreach partner Matthews Help Center with 200 turkey dinners for families they’ve identified as needing assistance to put food on the table this Thanksgiving.

It’s a great opportunity to go grocery shopping with your kids and teach a lesson on gratitude, service, and sharing the blessings God’s given each of us. When you sign up, a sample grocery list is provided for you. You go shopping for the goods, and drop everything off at Elevation Matthews on November 21.

For more information, go to #30daysofthanks. Or leave me a comment. I’m happy to help. And to learn more about Matthews Help Center, check out the short video below.

#30DaysofThanks, DayTwo

Tonia Bendickson — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:32:16 +0000

Looking forward to hearing today from our own Jamie Waldron, as she reports on her overnight stay at Hawthorne Place, Charlotte’s brand new shelter for homeless families. #30daysofthanks is underway. Tell us your stories, we would love to share them.

Below are a few scenes from our time serving dinner through Charlotte Family Housing at Plaza Place. Elevation intern Ashley Hunter leads a middle school eGroup. These beautiful young ladies and their parents were SO great! Serving and sharing dinner, and spending time together on the playground. We were immensely blessed by our time with CFH’s Executive Director Darren Ash who explained the fragile state in which too many of our neighbors are living. We are so grateful for partners like Charlotte Family Housing working to serve our city. Go to #30daysofthanks to sign up to serve this month.

Photos Courtesy Sean Lyon

#30daysofthanks, DayOne

Tonia Bendickson — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:19:35 +0000

Photos Courtesy Sean Lyon

7am. Near freezing. Pre-dawn at Crisis Assistance Ministry. And the number of people already waiting in line feels like a punch to the gut.

Elevation Uptown volunteers and Elevation Blakeney staff and interns led the way early Tuesday to kick off #30DaysofThanks.

Fresh breakfast biscuits and hot coffee turn strangers into friends and allow us to smile, hug and share warmth and kindness. I’m so grateful tonight for my colleagues and friends who today made it a priority to serve and sacrifice, and for a few moments, to be a friend to a neighbor in need.

72 opportunities to serve in 30 days – have you signed up, yet? #30DaysofThanks.

FAQ’s – #30daysofthanks

Tonia Bendickson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:57:32 +0000

We are thrilled by your response to our November outreach initiative, #30DaysofThanks. At every Elevation Church location this weekend, dozens of families said they wanted to jump in to support efforts to feed hungry people in our area this holiday season.

Here are some answers to your most frequently asked questions:

Which service opportunities are the most family-friendly? One of the best options for families to serve together is Charlotte Family Housing. And we’ve got space available November 1! CFH is opening its brand new Hawthorne Place transitional housing facility inside St. John’s Baptist Church. We’ll provide the food and menu. You’ll prepare and serve it to six families working towards a common goal of self-sufficiency.

One7, Jackson Park, and Matthews Help Center and Habitat for Humanity are also GREAT options for families. You can click on the links directly above to sign up for those options.

Do I have to buy the food? Not in most cases. For most of these volunteer opportunities, we’re doing all the heavy lifting for you. Menus and food are provided. You may get to prepare it, but Elevation Church is purchasing the goods for you. Unless you choose the Matthews Help Center option. On or before November 21, you can go shopping for the holiday meal for one family, and drop it off at our Elevation Matthews location. Shopping list is included there as you sign up.

Are there opportunities to serve near the Elevation University and Rock Hill locations? Yes – tonight in Rock Hill, you can bring canned food items to the Boo Ha-ha that will go to fill empty pantries at Pilgrims’ Inn and A Place for Hope. You can also join Frank and Jessica Bealer and I on November 4 as we seek to learn more about A Place for Hope as a potential outreach partner. They are celebrating 10 years serving the Blackmon Road community. We are saving a seat for you.

In University on November 17, the YMCA is hosting its annual Thanksgiving dinner, and we are stepping up to serve there. Many of our production eTeam volunteers are already signing up for that event, and you can join them!

Why is Elevation working so hard to feed families this November? We are hearing from our outreach partners that increasingly, working families are having to make impossible choices in difficult situations. Food pantries are running low or in some cases are entirely empty. Because of the continuing recession and lack of jobs, children living in persistent poverty in our city are at great risk of hunger.

We are blessed to work together with such great outreach partners that can help us fill this important need this holiday season. We want to do everything we can to stop hunger in our area. We can’t imagine a better way to give thanks this November than sharing what we have with those in need. We’re glad you’re joining us!

Candy, Costumes, Fun, and Funnel Cakes

Tonia Bendickson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:33:31 +0000

If you missed out this fall like we did on getting to the county fair have no fear, funnel cakes are STILL here.

At least they will be this Saturday night at Elevation Blakeney. Right after the 5pm worship experience, join us for our Fall Festival. Food, music, and fun for the entire family.

Elevation Matthews is planning a return of the fabulous Trunk or Treat. That’s Sunday evening right after the 6pm worship experience. The parking lot will be filled with cars and grownups all dressed up for the party. Kids will be in costume and gathering as much candy as their bellies and bags can hold.

Elevation Providence is holding its Fall Festival Saturday evening from 5-8pm at Providence High School. Lots of fun there for the whole family is scheduled there as well.

Elevation Rock Hill is joining in on the fun in Old Town Rock hill on Monday October 31 for the town’s Boo ha-ha. Safe trick or treating with 25 vendors expected there, as well as a big costume contest. Bring a canned food item to help fill up the food pantries at Pilgrims’ Inn and A Place for Hope.

Looking forward to seeing you this festive weekend!