What is Reaching Thousands?

Reaching Thousands is the Outreach arm of Highway Christian Church. Our vision is to ‘meet unmet needs’ in our local community and overseas. We impact people through international initiatives such as children’s homes in India, widow’s care, medical clinics, providing jobs and feeding programs, and numerous local initiatives such as community breakfasts, dance classes, life skills programs and our Hands and Feet* Program. We would love for you to partner with us to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate in our world.

How to find out more

The first Sunday of every month is Reaching Thousands Sunday. We will keep you up to date on how our current programs are going, how your faith promises* are being used and when we launch new initiatives. You can also check out the Reaching Thousands plasma tv in the church foyer to keep updated with the latest projects and testimonies. In the meantime you can read below for details on some of our programs and how you can be involved. Remember to check back here regularly for updates.

Together, we can make a difference! We are reaching thousands, one person at a time.

Our Local Community

Hands & Feet

Hands & Feet is a twofold community initiative that focuses on meeting unmet needs.

Firstly, we need people to be our eyes & ears, to find the needs in our community that often go unnoticed. A food parcel for a family that has just lost their source of income, cleaning for an elderly couple, plumbing work for a single mum or finance for a new wheelchair for someone afflicted with MS, are just some examples.

Secondly, these needs are brought before the church where we ask for volunteers that are willing to be the hands & feet of Jesus, to use their time & talents to show the love of Christ. As individuals we may only be able to do a little but by pooling our resources in a well organised network, we are a huge army that can accomplish a lot.

We want to show our community that we care - with no strings attached. Our belief is that people will encounter God when they see His tangible love invading their everyday lives, reaching them at their point of need.

Let’s bless the community we are called to serve!

Community Breakfast

Our Community Breakfasts are hosted for the community at the church, 9 to 11am, every Friday (except on school holidays). Everyone is welcome. Why not bring a friend or come get to know someone new from our community over an affordable, gourmet breakfast, in a child-friendly environment.

If you would like to help or want more details please contact the information desk at 5547 6195.

Shine

Shine is a personal development program aimed at girls from 12 – 17 years old. It is a program with an inspirational, practical and experiential approach to learning. The aim of the program is for each girl and woman to develop understanding of her own personal worth, strength and purpose and realise the potential within her to fulfil her desires.

We are currently running the Shine Program at Upper Coomera College for the year 8 & 9’s and also at Windaroo State High School. Some of the topics covered include skincare, make-up, hair care and respect and etiquette. If this is something you’re passionate about or would like more information please see Sue Parker or contact the church on 5547 5195.

Dance for Life

Dance for Life is an opportunity for women to get together for fun, fitness and build relationship with one another. We meet every Thursday from 11.45am – 12.45pm (excluding school holidays). It is a beginner’s class and offers different dance styles for only a gold coin donation. Come along – it’ll be great for your heart, soul and mind!

Overseas

India

Here at Highway we seek to give people the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of those less fortunate in other nations. The Bible tells us, ‘religion that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need.’ James 1:27 (Amp).

Since very early on God has directed our focus and heart towards India. Among other projects, as a church we have established two orphanages and two widows’ home in South East India. These stem from a heart that seeks to not only tell the world about the love of Christ but show them the love of Christ by caring for them in a tangible way.

Why we Work in India

• Every year more than 2 million children in India die from preventable infections including measles and tetanus
• Over 50% of all childhood deaths in India are due to malnutrition, worse than many sub-Saharan African countries. Poor nutrition greatly impacts children’s ability to grow and learn.
• Human Rights Watch estimates that in India alone there are around 15 million children in bonded slavery
• Over 50% of Indian population live in poverty, with 34% existing on below $1 a day
• Only 59% of males and 39% of females enrol in secondary school in India due to financial constraints and prevalence of child labour

Source: The World Factbook 2008, The State of the World’s Children, 2008

Child Sponsorship

We have a children’s home in Nasarpur and support a girls home in Vikarabad - both in southern India. The New Life Children’s Home and Ashray Girls Home currently supports over 140 children and provides a safe place for these children some who were abused, taken advantage of, unloved and abandoned but all of them in need of love, care and support.

Knowing that there are children who live in the cycle of poverty can be confronting, but you are able to help a child in need and make a difference in their lives by simply sponsoring them for $40.00 a month. (a tax deductable donation) By doing this, you are able to make a difference to not only one life but all of the children in the orphanage, as they will all benefit from your contribution.

Our children’s homes give children a hope for the future. They are looked after in a caring Christian environment and given a place to feel safe. The children are fed three meals a day, clothed, given shelter, educated, taught hygiene, their medical needs attended to and given spiritual guidance.

On the first Sunday of each month there will be a table in the church foyer that will display some of the children that are yet to be sponsored. Alternatively, contact the church office for more information.

India Short Term Mission Trips

In March and November each year we take teams over to visit these orphanages and widows homes and minister in various parts of South East India. These unforgettable trips will change your life and bless you more than you could expect to be a blessing. If you would like more information on going on one of these trips please email or call 5547 6195.

Sow Hope

Sow Hope is about creating hope for the future by helping people break the shackles of poverty. Our aim is to equip orphans and the most in need with an opportunity to break the poverty cycle and to build dignity in their lives and the lives of their children by giving them the life skills to enable them to part of the working community.

Sow Hope currently has two initiatives underway. Firstly we are training young women in our orphanages and employ them to make boutique items such as scarves, beanies and clothing accessories so they can be sold in Australia and overseas. Secondly, we offer men and woman from the slums in India training in how to become machinists and tailors. Their new skills are put to work, making school uniforms for local schools in Australia.

Mobile Medical Clinic

More than two million children in India are known to die every year. That is one child every 6.3 seconds from preventable infections such as worm infestations, bronchitis, asthma, typhoid, scabies, stomach ulcers, kidney stones and diabetes, due to poor nutrition. In addition to this, many lives continue to be lost to early childhood illnesses, poor or inadequate newborn care and childbirth-related causes. Few women have access to skilled birth attendants, fewer still to quality, emergency obstetric care. For those infants who do survive, the prevalence of early childhood illnesses posses a serious threat to their growth and development.

When the mobile medical clinic is fully functional, the medical team will be sent out to the poorest villages to provide these often forgotten people with the basic medical attention they deserve. The sad reality is many of the illnesses in these villages are easily treated but because these people are so poor they simply cannot afford the cost to obtain the necessary medicines. The doctor and nurse will travel to each village and provide basic medical care, pre and post natal care, child survival packs, educational services such as nutrition and also emergency travel to the local hospital where necessary.

PRAISE GOD the money has been donated to purchase the ambulance and medical equipment! We still need your support though as the ongoing monthly cost of $1,500 Australian Dollars covers the wages for a fully qualified doctor with over 20 years experience and a nurse. It also provides the necessary medicines and fuel to travel to these villages. These ongoing costs will be met by sponsorship of $25 per month. If you would like to be a part of this vital work please send us an an email.

Highway Inn Conference Centre

The Highway Inn Conference Centre is a facility in Narsapur India. It is a multi-storey building that is hired out to people and organisations for weddings, birthdays and corporate or government events or other functions. The first stage of this project is the conference facility. Secondly, we will construct rooms on the third floor to be let out as an inn or hotel.

The building of the conference centre was only recently complete and we already have 2 functions booked! This is extremely exciting as the purpose of the Highway Inn Conference Centre is to create a self-sustaining income source, the profits of which will go towards purchasing agricultural land that will employ people to grow rice, fish, prawns and coconut trees. In turn this will enable us to continue to feed hungry children and provide them with clothing throughout the poor villages of India.

Every Day

Lifekeys Programs

Lifekeys are discovery group programs that are designed to take a close look at relationships, give insight and offer life-skills to incorporate into our everyday lives. These programs are a great investment into promoting wholeness in ourselves and healthy relationships with others.

The teachings are scripturally based and it is a safe group environment where you can meet new friends, grow together and support one another onto the next level of personal growth. All the programs run for 10 consecutive weeks, once a week. (Each program varies in cost from $65.00 per person)

Programs we offer:

• Woman to Woman
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Man to Man
• Valiant Man

For more information contact Bev McKenzie on 55476195

Woman to Woman

Every woman carries with her the strengths and weaknesses of her background. She carries the legacy of her past into all her relationships - family, business and church. This program will show participants how to free themselves from the past and focus on the future. It will provide strategies and skills needed to make positive and lasting changes in relationships.

Man to Man

This program focuses on the man and his relationships. It is common for men to feel isolated and unsupported, especially when our culture has trained guys that they should be able to keep it all together. Men today need help with hassles and hurts and an opportunity to find encouragement and support from other men.

This program explores past and present relationships and examines the effects of family background on the way a man thinks, feels and behaves. The themes covered include family dynamics, handling emotions, dealing with conflict, finding real intimacy, examining addictive behaviour. Participants gain personal insight together with strategies and skills for living life more successfully.

Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle is a ten-session program for women of any age who are seeking to unlock their physical and spiritual potential. The program empowers and motivates women to be proactive, have fun, learn about their health and explore the possibilities of a more active lifestyle. Participants are helped in establishing a healthier lifestyle through a physical activity component in addition to the normal teaching and small group time.

Valiant Man

Developing and maintaining a healthy sexuality is every man’s battle. Valiant Man is about male sexual discipleship.

This program with study and devotional guide is designed to fortify and restore the moral and spiritual integrity of men.

Valiant Man challenges all men to fight for their own personal, moral and spiritual vitality and help other men fight for theirs.