Throughout the year there are many opportunities to get involved in mission and ministry. Old Bergen Church partners with a number of agencies here in Jersey City to offer outreach and positive change for the community. Contact the pastor, one of the Deacons, or the church office at (201) 433-1815 if you would like to learn more about how to get involved.
Family Promise of Hudson County
Old Bergen Church is a founding member of Family Promise of Hudson County, which offers temporary shelter for families experiencing homelessness. It is a non-profit agency that is part of a national network at over 175 sites. Family Promise works with the entire family, offering prevention services, support, counseling, and a path toward finding a more permanent home.
Since the pandemic, the model of congregations physically housing families in their facilities about four weeks of the year has transformed into the support of static locations that provide shelter to families in their time of need. Volunteers are always welcome.
Jersey City Together
Old Bergen Church is also a founding institution of Jersey City Together, a broad-based chapter of New Jersey Together. Launched publicly in April 2016, JCT began with more than 890 leaders present at Old Bergen Church after listening to 3,000 people across Jersey City. Since that time, JCT leaders have listened to thousands more and trained hundreds to act on their interests.
The three primary areas of focus are housing affordability, education, and public safety and criminal justice. Major accomplishments have included:
- A major tax revaluation that was equitable for all homeowners
- Reforms protecting tenant rights and the restructuring of the city’s Tenant-Landlord Office
- A fully funded public school budget, including an employer payroll tax for outside employees
- Completion of a clean water project for all public schools
- Breaking ground on a 30% affordable housing project at Bayfront
- Mental health support teams to respond to public safety crisis situations
Church World Service of Jersey City
We offer annual support and occasional project involvement with Church World Service of Jersey City. CWS is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster.
CWS Jersey City opened in 2015 as a refugee resettlement site serving northern New Jersey. A federally accredited refugee resettlement agency, it offers comprehensive case management to over 4,000 clients a year, including refugees, asylees, asylum seekers, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and Ukrainian and Afghan humanitarian parolees.
The Nurturing Place
Each year the Deacons partner with The Nurturing Place family shelter to provide Christmas gifts to the children there. Church members sponsor one or more children and provide gift cards so parents are able to purchase gifts for their own children.
And Throughout the Year
The Deacons also coordinate School Supplies for students each fall, Turkeys at Thanksgiving, and numerous projects throughout the year. Please check the church calendar and “News and Events” for more opportunities for outreach and ministry.