Formerly Florida Hospital Church
To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
To create opportunities for relational engagement with youth in our community in order to bring greater justice both locally and globally.
Justice Ministries sends out a regular newsletter with opportunities to get involved, information on community events, and JM news! Check out our current and past mailings, and don’t forget to subscribe!
In 1925, Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History”, had a bold idea. That year, he announced “Negro History Week” — a celebration of a people that many in this country at the time believed had no place in history.
The response to the event, first celebrated in February 1926, a month that included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, was overwhelming as educators, scholars, and philanthropists stepped forward to endorse the effort. Fifty years later, coinciding with the nation’s bicentennial and in the wake of the civil rights movement, the celebration was expanded from a week to a month after President Gerald R. Ford decreed national observance.
This month’s theme is The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.
Learn more about the history:
On August 1, we held our first panel discussion on racism to hear from our church community about their experiences and learn how we can help make a change. WholeLife Church Justice Ministries seeks to continue this conversation in hopes of being a catalyst for change.
Take a moment to read Pastor Andy’s message below, and check out the Let’s Talk page for more resources and to watch our past panel discussions.
WholeLife Church stands with all those in opposition to racial injustice and racial inequality.
WholeLife Church aches and hurts as we have witnessed another senseless murder of an unarmed black male by one sworn to protect and serve.
WholeLife Church is embarrassed that too often we have been complacent and responded with silence during the long history of racial abuse in our country where deaths at the hands of police and incarceration rates are disproportionately higher among our black citizens.
WholeLife Church cannot be silent because God has called us to love people, all people of every race and culture, into a lifelong friendship with God, so our love demands we first engage our ears and then our voice followed by our action to end racial injustice. WWJD?
WholeLife Church is committed to engaging in the hard conversations of racial discrimination. Our hope is to be a catalyst for change in order for our brothers and sisters of color to feel safer in our communities.
WholeLife Church believes every person is created in the image of God with intrinsic worth and value, that every life matters, and that’s why when our black friend’s lives have been marginalized we must join in the call for justice that black lives matter as we follow Paul’s counsel, “In humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
WholeLife Church says to all of our black members, to our black community, we love you and we want to hear your story, and we want to be part of the writing of a new story that exemplifies the love of Jesus for all people without distinction. We want to practice racial justice in our church, that it might be a safe haven from the injustices of our world, and we want to put our influence towards making our community, our nation and our world a place without racial injustice.
Justice Ministries focuses on serving youth in the community. Below are partner organizations that you can get involved with today!
Family Promise of Greater Orlando (FPGO) is a nonprofit, interfaith hospitality network providing temporary assistance and case management for families with children experiencing homelessness. FPGO provides services through participation of local congregations, dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers. WholeLife Church hosts three to four families experiencing homelessness every quarter through FPGO. When families come to WholeLife Church, they spend a week in our classrooms converted to bedrooms and are provided daily meals and snacks. To get involved, contact krizia@wholelife.church.
WholeLife Church has several annual drives for children in foster care. In December, we collect toys to give foster care children a special Christmas. We also continuously collect clothes to donate to From Outside In, which provides one-day boutiques to children in foster care and adoptive families. And every May we participate in Foster Care Awareness Month with learning and service opportunities throughout the month. We also host an annual Foster Parent Night Out event, giving foster parents a night out while we provide child care and activities for foster youth! If you are interested in getting involved, contact Krizia at: krizia@wholelife.church.
From Outside In (FOI) is a mobile boutique that allows youth (ages 12-21) to shop for free new and gently used clothes. Some families find it hard to get the services that they need—FOI provides services directly to the community. FOI believes every youth should feel confident, and the right clothing can help boost confidence at school, in the community and eventually in the workforce. WholeLife Church gets involved with FOI each year by donating clothes and assisting with events. FOI has current volunteer position openings! To get involved, contact krizia@wholelife.church.
In this short clip, Krizia, Director of Justice Ministries, meets with local organizations we partner with. Watch now to learn how you can get involved!
If you or someone you know is in need of financial assistance, please see the links and resources below:
Each county has information on who to contact for food, financial assistance, unemployment. Please check the resources available for your county below. This information is available as a PDF here:
Local Resources:
WholeLife Church Community Assistance is available to members and non-members meeting certain criteria on a one-time basis. Please utilize the resources listed above before applying. Understand that our screening process typically takes several days, and you will be required to submit supporting documentation for any requests. You may not apply on someone else’s behalf:
If you are in a position to help support our ministries, please consider giving online. Thank you!
