Missions

Arlington Hills is deeply committed to helping those in need in our community and in our world. We recognize the body of Christ in a global sense. Some of the ministries we support are:

Minnesota Food Shelves is a year-round food collection ministry. It includes: March Minnesota Foodshare Month, CROP Walk for Hunger and the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We coordinate with the Salvation Army, Merrick Food Shelf, Union Gospel Mission and the St. Paul Area Council of Churches.

Feed My Starving Children is committed to feeding God's starving children hungry in body and spirit. We volunteer twice a year at FMSC to pack nutritious meals made up of rice, soy, vitamins and dehydrated vegetables, which are then sent to organizations worldwide who in turn distribute these meals to starving children.

St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Port-au-Prince Haiti. We have an annual mission trip to Haiti. Our primary purpose in going is to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do this as we learn from and care for Christians who live and minister in Haiti. We serve as partners in ministry with them as we build relationships and do hands-on ministry. One way to think about this trip is in terms of a pilgrimage of reverse mission, in which we learn from brothers and sisters in Christ who live out their faith in very different, difficult circumstances.

Haiti, known to be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is usually cast as a nation of starvation, malnutrition, disease, homelessness, illiteracy, violence and destruction.
St. Joseph's Home for Boys is a haven within the grueling chaos of Port-au-Prince. Its founder, Michael Geilenfeld, was formerly a brother for Mother Theresa. His work was with abandoned children in Vietnam, Cambodia, Calcutta, Los Angeles, Haiti, and El Salvador. After his 11 years of service, Michael decided to provide a place for street boys that would be a family instead of the night shelter system he had followed with the MC Brothers.
In January of 1985, Michael left the MC Brothers and returned to Haiti with $1,000 and began with six boys and a prayer. This new family paid for six months rent on a four room house. After paying the rent, they were left with $400 to live on.
Their prayers were heard, for journalists showed up on that first day to tell this "new life" story to the world. Financial support soon began to flow, visitors began to come and Michael's work grew into the success it is today.

Another ministry within Haiti we are involved with is Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM), which is run by pastor Leon Dorleans. HOM has built and supports a church, a school (which includes a nutritional feeding program) and a clinic in Cite Soleil, the poorest slum in the western hemisphere as well as in 2 of surrounding neighborhoods. One of the ways AHPC gets involved is by raising $3000 each year to have a home built for one of the poorest families in these neighborhoods. We then meet the family each year and provide them with supplies for their new home. We have also helped paint several of the homes we have sponsored.

Small Group Ministry-Small Groups for nurture bring about transformation and growth in both our church and in our personal lives. A small group consists of 5-10 people who gather on a regular basis to deepen their relationships with one another, and reflect the love and acceptance of Christ. The objectives of our small groups are to foster community, grow spiritually and invite others to explore discipleship. During meetings, you can expect challenging Bible studies, close community, and the joy of new relationship. Groups meet at various times and places. Evening, weekend and daytime groups are all available.