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Hope Network launched to help those in need

By Frances Borsodi Zajac 5 min read

They call because they need food. They call because they need housing. They have burdens that are sometimes too much for them to handle. They turn to the church. In response, Faith Assembly of God in Uniontown is launching the Hope Network as a way to help those in need.

The Rev. Don Immel, senior pastor, said the church undertook the project because of a high volume of calls it already was taking from people experiencing needs for food and housing to suicide and other mental health issues.

In the past, Immel handled the calls, but with the Hope Network, more people in the congregation are able to offer assistance, as well. Trained volunteers are now working a telephone line that operates daily from 7 to 9 p.m. Messages can also be left when operators are not available.

“The Hope Network has three primary facets,’ said Immel. “It’s a helpline for people facing crises. It’s part of the National Prayer Center, taking requests from all over the United States. It’s also a crisis pregnancy center.’

While the Hope Network will take local calls, it is also able to take prayer requests from people all over the country as part of the National Prayer Center, located in Springfield, Mo., and is directing phone calls to the Uniontown church on Friday and Saturday nights. And, the crisis pregnancy center will offer callers a pregnancy test kit and referral information so, Immel said, “they don’t need to feel that abortion is their only option.’

Thirty volunteers began training in January, taking instruction from Immel, who has a master’s degree in pastoral psychology and counseling. They were taught how to listen effectively to someone’s problems and respond, ultimately to refer them to an agency that could better address their needs.

The Hope Network began operating in May without much public notice, giving its volunteers a chance to become acclimated to their roles.

Now, the church is ready to let the public know about the Hope Network and is hosting a grand opening on Wednesday, June 22, at 7 p.m. The public will be able to see the Hope Network office, located in the lower level of the church building, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways.

“We want to let people know the ministry exists for their benefit and connect with other helping agencies,’ said Immel.

The network would like to expand its hours as it trains more volunteers. Currently, volunteers take anywhere from one to four shifts a month.

“We have received calls from people in some deep needs,’ said Immel.

While the Hope Network seeks long-term solutions, Immel noted, “Short-term, we listen. We allow them to vent. They need somebody to listen to them, and we pray for them if they want us.’

Volunteer Lee Fleming of Hopwood, who is retired from Fike’s Dairy and is a deacon at the church, has talked to people from Louisiana, Georgia and New Jersey through the National Prayer Center.

“It’s a different focus of prayer because they call you,” he said. “You don’t have to ask if they want you to pray for them.’

Volunteer Debbie Barbage, who does GriefShare and teaches a Sunday school class for mentally challenged adults for the church, said she’s experienced crises in her own life that she was able to get through with the help of her pastor and friends.

“But not everyone is that fortunate,’ she said. “And sometimes you go through something you don’t want people to know about. Sometimes when you’re in a crisis, you’re not thinking straight, and it’s helpful to have someone to give you advice. The experiences we go through help us to give them some hope, because there is hope.’

She also noted, “I’m not sure I can always help people, but I have a list of referral places and I can ask them, ‘Do you have a Community Action in your area?’ I have information I can give them.’

Barbage said if information is not in the referral book used by the volunteers, someone can phone the caller back.

On busy nights, Barbage has answered as many as 16 phone calls. Some nights, the phone rarely rings. To keep the volunteers busy on those nights, the Hope Network has training DVDs available from the National Association of Christian Counselors to provide more information.

“We don’t project ourselves as therapists,” Immel said. “That’s not our goal. We are a first aid station. There are times when the level of need is to be heard, to top off their anxiety. We can certainly be available for that.’

The Hope Network at Faith Assembly of God is in operation daily from 7 to 9 p.m. To contact the network, call 724-415-0463 or the National Prayer Center at 800-4-PRAYER.

People who are interested in volunteering need a referral from their pastor and must go through training. For more information on volunteering, call Faith Assembly of God at 724-437-8101.

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