Mission Projects

On Saturday October 31 volunteers from Faith Connection joined with "Feed My Starving Children" to hand-pack nutritious MannaPack^® meals specifically designed to assist in reversing and preventing undernutrition. Feed My Starving Children serves 110 countries around the world. The food we packed was destined to feed people in Guatemala. Along with other volunteers we packed 96 cases of food enough to feed 57 children for an entire year.

It was fitting that on Halloween when we typically think about holiday treats that we had an opportunity to help provide critical meals to those who desperately need it. Our volunteer session was a huge success, but Feed My Starving Children's work continues. Consider going to their website and donate.

National Day of Service & Remembrance

In September we joined communities across the country as we honored the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and pay tribute to the first responders and service members who answered the call in the days that followed.

In partnership with the National Cemetery Administration, the National Day of Service and Remembrance brought volunteers together at more than 140 participating national, grant-funded, and local cemeteries across the country.

As volunteers we helped beautify these sacred grounds in tribute to our military members, veterans, first responders, and their families.

Children's Church July/August 2026

Manhattan Food Pantry May 2026

Tornado Relief in Kankakee - April 2026

In response to tornadoes that touched down in Kankakee County on Tuesday, March 10, the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties have activated their joint Emergency Response Fund of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties to support individuals and families impacted by the storm. The Emergency Response Fund was designed to provide swift and coordinated assistance during times of crisis. By pooling resources with a shared grants process and working closely with local nonprofits and community partners, this fund will ensure that local support reaches those most affected by emergencies.

Faith Connection will be joining their efforts to provide relief to this community. Your generous support will help families get back on their feet after suffering devastating loss. More importantly, your donation will let these neighbors know that they are loved and supported.

Amy and Adbeel Alvarez Compost Project - Jan. & Feb 2026

Pembroke Senior Center - December 2025

Manhattan Food Pantry November 2025

Local Firefighters - October 2025

Our mission of the month is our local fire department. The fire department covers Manhattan, Wilton Center, and Peotone. It has come to our attention that the fire department needs specialized equipment that would keep them, our communities, and in particular our farmers safer. The equipment they need is not part of the standard equipment, nor provided for by state or local government and taxes. This is something they must go and get themselves, so they have to try and fundraise.

One of the needs for the community are special nozzles and attachments that can handle brush fires and field fires. As it turns out that is not something given in standard equipment here in Illinois or locally. Another example of equipment that they would like to fundraise for is lighter gear equipment. The standard gear is great for everyday weather and fires, but with extreme heats like we had this summer the lighter gear would actually keep the fire fighters safer and healthier.

Our mission team believes that we can help the community and make a real difference in the lives of people in our community by keeping us safer through raising funds. Again, this is something that will directly impact Manhattan, Wilton Center, and Peotone communities. Our funds will help to protect and save lives in our community.

California Wildfire Support - January 2025

We have all seen pictures on the news of the wildfires in and around Los Angeles, California. It's hard to look at the images of entire streets, blocks and communities burnt to the ground. It is harder yet to imagine how that devastation has uprooted the lives of so many people. Where do you live when your house and the houses of neighbors and family members have all been destroyed? Where do you send your children to school when their school no longer exists? Where do you buy groceries? Where do you go to work? How do you get there when your car was burnt in the fires?

And yet through it all, God is there, and God calls us to help. Our current mission is in partnership with the American Baptist Home Mission Society where everyone is invited to join their One Great Hour of Sharing effort. Donations will be used to provide relief and hope to those who have lost so much. 100% of the donations will be directed to the designated disaster areas to address immediate needs as well as long term support. Your gift will make a difference in the lives of people you may not know. It will demonstrate God's love and provision in a time that must seem hopeless.

Amy and Adbeel Alvarez Our Guatemala Missionaries

We have supported Amy and Adbeel for several years. Amy grew up in our church and has been serving in Guatemala since graduating from college. Their mission, in recent years, has expanded with their newly completed conference center to host visiting mission teams as well as training for local pastors. In addition to Bible study and preaching in their local communities, they have also developed an aquaponic system that can help Guatemalan people create self-sustaining sources of vegetables and fish.