Community Involvement Teams

One of the areas of focus will be on the social service agencies around us, as many in our community utilize these agencies for assistance. We will focus on four for food, Metrocrest (Carrollton), Christian Community Action – CCA (Lewisville), Frisco Family Services (Frisco) and The Storehouse (The Colony).

We will be hosting a drive in November with the goal of catalyzing the body into an outward focused mentality. The idea is to ask Bent Treers to take a box and put it in their pantry and each time they go to the grocery store pick up an extra item (from a most needed items list) for the food pantry box. As the box fills up they can drop off the food at Bent Tree at any time at various drop spots then take the box home and start over again. An early summer drive is in the plans to re-envision and to celebrate the collections. Stories and ongoing communications throughout the year will help keep this initiative in front of people so it’s not forgotten.

That is where this team comes in. We need people with the following gifts to serve on this team.

1. Team Leader – A visionary (loves to dream), heart for the community and discipleship. Their role will be to dream big for how Bent Tree (and even the community) could have an ongoing impact and how the team and people in our body can be drawn into deeper intimacy with Christ through service with and to the pantries. 
2. Logistics Coordinator – This person is administrative minded and loves planning events and organizing people to get a job done. Works with the team leader and follows up with the area pantries to see what the needs are, thinks through the logistics necessary for drives/sorting of the food/delivery to pantries.
3. Food Team Members – People who have a heart for the community, love to help and can be detailed or just like to be extra hands and feet. Team members would be available to help sort food occasionally on the weekends and we’ll need some who can help with delivery on Tuesday’s (some of the pantries are closed on Monday’s) during the day. Access to trucks a plus! This is a great opportunity for familes. Kids as young as 5 or 6 could even help with sorting at Bent Tree.

Other gifts that would be great for any members of the team are writing (to capture stories) and photography (to capture photos of people in action).

Please pray about how God would want you to be involved, then please respond and let me know how God is leading your heart. I can be reached at 972-428-1315 or jdestefano@btbf.org.
 

We have been involved the last two years with Keep Carrollton Beautiful as we’ve gone and cleaned up two area parks. We would love to see this continue as it’s a great way for us to engage people in the community (invite neighbors & students from area schools to participate) and help see transformation happen from the inside out.

That is where this team comes in. We need people with the following gifts to serve on this team.

1. Team Leader – A visionary (loves to dream), heart for the community and discipleship. Their role will be to dream big for how Bent Tree (and even the community) could have an ongoing impact and how the team and people in our body can be drawn into deeper intimacy with Christ through service in the community. 
2. Logistics Coordinator – This person is administrative minded and loves planning events and organizing people to get a job done. Works with the team leader and follows up with the area pantries to see what the needs are, thinks through the logistics necessary for mobilizing a group (or groups) into area parks/neighborhoods.
3. Clean-Up Team Members – People who have a heart for the community, love to help and can be detailed or just like to be extra hands and feet. We also need team members who are more relational who can engage the community and schools and help make the experience an enjoyable one. Team members would be available to help occasionally on the weekends. Access to trucks is a plus as there will be trash to haul off. 

Other gifts that would be great for any members of the team are writing (to capture stories) and photography (to capture photos of people in action).

Please pray about how God would want you to be involved, then please respond and let me know how God is leading your heart. I can be reached at 972-428-1315 or jdestefano@btbf.org.
 

As I’ve been praying and dreaming, one of the areas that God has laid on my heart for us to get out into the community is through city citations. This is a great way for us to engage people in the community and help see transformation happen from the inside out while coming alongside those who need help.
 

First, the biggest need in order to get going is a team leader. There are a lot of nuts and bolts that need to be in place for people to start moving out to help with the citations. The biggest is to first get with the city citation manager to begin conversations about how we can help, for example, what is required (tools, finances, assessing property, etc.)? Fortunately, God has blessed us with a sister church who is already working with the City of Plano and have also engaged in working on citation homes over the last couple of years, so we have some resources that will help as we get this going in Carrollton.

1. Team Leader – A visionary (loves to dream), heart for the community and discipleship as well as a strong knowledge and skill for home repair/landscape. Their role will be to dream how we engage the community as we come alongside them so we are empowering the community to be a part of their own cities transformation.  They will also work with the city citation manager to begin to help us determine the team needs.
2. Team Members – would have knowledge and basic skills for home repair/landscape and others will be more relational, who can be onsite and engage the homeowner/family and neighbors. This position will take shape and mobilize as the team leader learns and helps develop a system to assist in yard maintenance/home repairs. 

Other gifts that would be great for any members of the team are writing (to capture stories) and photography (to capture photos of people in action).

Please pray about how God would want you to be involved, then please respond and let me know how God is leading your heart. I can be reached at 972-428-1315 or jdestefano@btbf.org.