A Hope Center in Mountain View
Our Story.
In the fall of 2019, Mountain View Hope was a fairly typical church plant. We began having weekly worship services. We met in a school on Sunday mornings. We had greeters, a band to lead us in worship, funding from denominational sources and a lot to be excited about.
Just 9 months later, we were no longer able to meet in person because of COVID and we switched to meeting over Zoom. This almost did us in. Regrettably, like many other churches, we lost a significant portion of our congregation during that time. When we went back to in-person services, we moved into a smaller space in the community room at the Mountain View Library. Since then, people have joined and others have left (which is normal and to be expected). That said, we simply have not grown back into the congregation we once were, which we are okay with. We're not so sure that we ever truly set out to be a typical Sunday morning gathering.
Our heart is, and always has been for our neighbors.
Not all of us live in Mountain View, but as an organization we are committed to this place as home and we desire to be a good and faithful neighbor.
The dilemma.
We are a small community of people with very big hearts and a strong sense of God's calling to serve those in need. Over the past year, we began serving breakfast at our worship gatherings and we always make a point to go outside and invite people in. We always make sure to bring enough to share. This has been a blessing to us and to those who join us - whether they stay for the service or just join for food. Our hearts are happy we get to connect in whatever way we are able to..
In the Fall of 2024, we had the opportunity to distribute 100-150 hot meals (daily) among the homeless at Davis Park thanks to the generosity of Bean's Cafe. When we stopped receiving those meal donations, pastor Phil kept showing up at the camp, checking in with people, bringing whatever donations he could gather, and trying to help connect people with the resources that they needed, whether it was a ride to an appointment, help getting phones or ids, getting connected with shelter or some other form of assistance. This has not felt like a "ministry" or a "program". It is something that has come out of relationships with people and a real desire to help in whatever way we can. It is not easy (maybe even not appropriate) to mobilize people to walk through a homeless encampment, serving on site. These tents and shelters are peoples' homes and their only private spaces and we choose not to invade those spaces unnecessarily with a bunch of strangers.
Becoming a part of the solution.
We believe that we need to secure a space where we can serve our community (not just the homeless, but the whole community) on a more consistent, daily basis.
We can only do so much in a rented space for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings, and we want to do more.
An indoor space with cafe-style seating would be an ideal space for people to come inside, sit down, charge a phone, share a meal time with a neighbor, and more. Not to mention, this will give us a safe and weather-proof environment where we can mobilize volunteers and invite more people to come and join in service to, with and for Mountain View..
As of April 2025, food is currently being delivered to the largest encampment in Mountain View (M-F), but people can only come, get some food and go back to eat it in their shelter. There is no seating or place for connecting. How incredible would it be to offer a space for people to sit and enjoy the company of others while eating a meal in comfort?
In addition, we envision a sort of satellite Food Bank space where neighbors can come to shop from a neighborhood food pantry. Since the passing of Mother Lawrence, there has not been a consistent daily food pantry service in Mountain View. This community relied on her for many years and her loss is still felt today. We would like to provide a committed space for helping to meet this critical community need.
Long term flexibility.
The beauty of this dream is that it can be implemented quickly in an open space that can be spruced up over time. By maintaining an open floor plan, the space can continue to be used flexibly to serve the wider community in many different ways, maintaining the ability to pivot with the community's needs over time. We have to start somewhere and we believe this is it.
Will you join us?
To schedule a conversation with pastor Phil or one of our leaders, click here.
To make a financial contribution (a tax-exempt donation), click here. (choose "Mountain View Hope Center" in the drop-down menu)
In the fall of 2019, Mountain View Hope was a fairly typical church plant. We began having weekly worship services. We met in a school on Sunday mornings. We had greeters, a band to lead us in worship, funding from denominational sources and a lot to be excited about.
Just 9 months later, we were no longer able to meet in person because of COVID and we switched to meeting over Zoom. This almost did us in. Regrettably, like many other churches, we lost a significant portion of our congregation during that time. When we went back to in-person services, we moved into a smaller space in the community room at the Mountain View Library. Since then, people have joined and others have left (which is normal and to be expected). That said, we simply have not grown back into the congregation we once were, which we are okay with. We're not so sure that we ever truly set out to be a typical Sunday morning gathering.
Our heart is, and always has been for our neighbors.
Not all of us live in Mountain View, but as an organization we are committed to this place as home and we desire to be a good and faithful neighbor.
The dilemma.
We are a small community of people with very big hearts and a strong sense of God's calling to serve those in need. Over the past year, we began serving breakfast at our worship gatherings and we always make a point to go outside and invite people in. We always make sure to bring enough to share. This has been a blessing to us and to those who join us - whether they stay for the service or just join for food. Our hearts are happy we get to connect in whatever way we are able to..
In the Fall of 2024, we had the opportunity to distribute 100-150 hot meals (daily) among the homeless at Davis Park thanks to the generosity of Bean's Cafe. When we stopped receiving those meal donations, pastor Phil kept showing up at the camp, checking in with people, bringing whatever donations he could gather, and trying to help connect people with the resources that they needed, whether it was a ride to an appointment, help getting phones or ids, getting connected with shelter or some other form of assistance. This has not felt like a "ministry" or a "program". It is something that has come out of relationships with people and a real desire to help in whatever way we can. It is not easy (maybe even not appropriate) to mobilize people to walk through a homeless encampment, serving on site. These tents and shelters are peoples' homes and their only private spaces and we choose not to invade those spaces unnecessarily with a bunch of strangers.
Becoming a part of the solution.
We believe that we need to secure a space where we can serve our community (not just the homeless, but the whole community) on a more consistent, daily basis.
We can only do so much in a rented space for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings, and we want to do more.
An indoor space with cafe-style seating would be an ideal space for people to come inside, sit down, charge a phone, share a meal time with a neighbor, and more. Not to mention, this will give us a safe and weather-proof environment where we can mobilize volunteers and invite more people to come and join in service to, with and for Mountain View..
As of April 2025, food is currently being delivered to the largest encampment in Mountain View (M-F), but people can only come, get some food and go back to eat it in their shelter. There is no seating or place for connecting. How incredible would it be to offer a space for people to sit and enjoy the company of others while eating a meal in comfort?
In addition, we envision a sort of satellite Food Bank space where neighbors can come to shop from a neighborhood food pantry. Since the passing of Mother Lawrence, there has not been a consistent daily food pantry service in Mountain View. This community relied on her for many years and her loss is still felt today. We would like to provide a committed space for helping to meet this critical community need.
Long term flexibility.
The beauty of this dream is that it can be implemented quickly in an open space that can be spruced up over time. By maintaining an open floor plan, the space can continue to be used flexibly to serve the wider community in many different ways, maintaining the ability to pivot with the community's needs over time. We have to start somewhere and we believe this is it.
Will you join us?
To schedule a conversation with pastor Phil or one of our leaders, click here.
To make a financial contribution (a tax-exempt donation), click here. (choose "Mountain View Hope Center" in the drop-down menu)
