EPIC FAMILY
From Pastor Ben I don’t know about you, but 2021 has been
Our theme for The Hope Project in 2021 is “Justice
a year that’s brought increasing clarity in my life. It’s
and Life.” As a church, we get to seek justice and
helped me see what matters most and recognize
bring life to people in San Francisco and across
what’s worth my time, energy, and effort.
the globe through strategic partnerships. These
How about you? What are the things you want to give more of yourself to during this season? It might be in starting new rhythms or even re-establishing habits that were disrupted over the last couple of years. Not only is this important for us to do personally, but it’s also crucial for us to do this as a church. I think it has been vital for us to get back to gathering in person on Sundays. I also believe it’s more
partnerships are with nonprofits and ministry organizations that focus on areas like homelessness, legal justice, church planting, youth development, education, and disaster relief. This year, our goal is to raise $300,000 to fund our current partners. In this booklet, you will find specifics regarding the organizations and ministries who will benefit from our generosity.
important than ever for each of us to have life-giving
The Hope Project combines two of our Epic
relationships that help us grow in our faith. And in
values: Impact is Local and Global and Generosity
a season where we can be tempted to only care
Overflows. By giving generously and sacrificially, we
about ourselves and how we’re being impacted, it is
have an opportunity to bless others, and it is going
absolutely essential that we play our part in making
to take every one of us doing our part to contribute.
a difference in the world.
Would you begin to pray now about what God
In John 10:10, Jesus says “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Because of the abundance that Jesus offers us, we don’t have to live with a scarcity mindset that keeps us self-absorbed. We also have a responsibility to bring life to others, especially those who have the greatest need.
would have you give, above your regular giving, to The Hope Project? Let’s continue to be a church that spreads justice and life to all in our realm of influence, so that they may know the abundance that can be found in Jesus.
Ben Pilgreen
Opportunities to Serve SF FOOD BANK
YWAM
Thursdays: 8:00 - 10:00 AM and 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Restoration Initiatives M/W/F: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Volunteers help set up food items and pre-pack grocery bags to be handed out to families and individuals in SoMa.
YWAM opens its doors for drop-in showers and food distribution. Volunteers help run our shower station, pass out snacks, manage donations, and bleach the showers after each use.
FOSTER THE BAY: SUPPORT FRIENDS Support Friends care for foster families in our church community in a variety of ways like babysitting, providing meals, and prayer.
Hot Chocolate Outreach Friday: 6:45 PM - 9:00 PM Volunteers serve hot chocolate to the homeless in the Tenderloin neighborhood and seek opportunities to share the Gospel and pray with them.
MOBILIZE LOVE ML Kids & Food Truck Wednesdays: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Opportunities to Serve
ML Kids is a mobile after-school program that serves youth and families from low-income Bay Area communities.
Visit epicsf.com/servethecity or email lindsey@epicsf.com to sign up to serve.
Global
THE PEARL HOUSE
Global
For God so loved the world...
IMPACT CHURCH ORADEA, ROMANIA Impact Church, led by Pastor Adi Galiger, meets in the center of Oradea, Romania. Impact Church exists to represent Christ and serve the community by serving the poor and the disadvantaged, helping grow the next generation of servant leaders, and being involved in cultural dialogue locally, nationally, and through international partners.
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
ACCRA, GHANA The Pearl House was founded in 2013 to provide hope for girls in rural Ghana, Africa. The Pearl House protects, supports, educates and disciples at-risk young women in underserved communities around the world to empower them to discover their unique identity and purpose in Christ.
IGLESIA PRESBITERIANA LA TRINIDAD CONCON, CHILE La Trinidad de Concón Church is a community where everyone is welcome, particularly those who want to know and enjoy the love of God. One of the ways they share the love of God is by serving the business leaders in their community. Epic helped launch this new church on Easter in 2019.
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM LEC has a vision to see a church planted in each of Ho Chi Minh’s 24 districts. The church family is committed to sharing the love and hope of Jesus with their neighbors, family, co-workers, and friends. They do this through English clubs, soccer clinics, and reaching out to the poor. Epic partners with LEC to provide Bible study curriculum for next gen as well as expanding their gathering space to accommodate more people.
VIDA REAL GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA Vida Real believes that Jesus is the center and the reason for everything they do. They are working throughout the country to accelerate the end of poverty in Guatemala. They work to inspire and commit society to help the needy, consolidating efforts and resources for the transformation, sustainability and development of Guatemala.
Global
Local Local
Love your neighbor as yourself.
BECAUSE JUSTICE MATTERS
MOBILIZE LOVE
Because Justice Matters is focused on empowering and supporting women and girls, by building creative communities. Within these communities (dance classes, nail day, ESL, brunch and other groups), BJM is committed to building long term relationships, providing space for healing and spiritual growth and raising up community leaders.
Mobilize Love is a city-wide outreach for children, youth, and families. During these outreaches, volunteers offer services such as a special musical performance, positive message, haircuts, clothing giveaways, food distribution, and providing school supplies.
OPEN DOOR LEGAL CITY IMPACT City Impact exists to intervene on behalf of the people in the inner city of San Francisco through 14 service programs. For over 30 years they have accomplished this by bringing relief for those in urgent need, rehabilitation for those wanting a way out, and development to ensure the cycles of poverty and despair are not repeated.
Open Door Legal is pioneering the country’s first system of universal access to legal help. ODL is a nonprofit working to show that poverty will be dramatically reduced when everyone has access to the law.
FOSTER THE CITY Foster The City is a coalition of Bay Area churches committed to providing a loving home for every child in the foster system. Caring for children in the foster system is a powerful way to proactively address issues like homelessness, drug abuse, human trafficking, prostitution, and teen pregnancy.
BESSIE CARMICHAEL Bessie Carmichael is the only public school located in the SoMa neighborhood. The school educates almost 700 children, Kindergarten through 8th grade, on two campuses. Epic began this partnership in October 2010 and has maintained it through resourcing teachers and students and staffing a weekly food pantry on campus.
UNITED PLAYAZ United Playaz is a violence prevention and youth development organization that has worked in San Francisco for 25 years and is located in the heart of SoMa. United Playaz programs reframe kids' perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about their future and the positive effect they can have on their community.
Local
Local
JOSH AND KASSI PALMER - YWAM God called Josh and Kassi to San Francisco to equip, inspire, and release the next generation of missionaries and ministry leaders into the nations. They have been serving with YWAM in San Francisco for more than six years leading and facilitating six-month discipleship and missions training courses called Discipleship Training Schools (DTS).
ISAIAH MARTIN - YWAM Isaiah came to San Francisco in January 2021 to join the team at YWAM leading volunteer operations and restorative initiatives. He is passionate about seeing barriers removed between people and what they need for healthier, more joyful lives.
OLD SKOOL CAFE Old Skool Cafe supports at-risk youth in San Francisco through job training skills and paid work experience in all aspects of the restaurant business.
Local
Church Planting Church Planting
Around 20 churches helped Epic Church launch almost 11 years ago, and Epic now has the privilege of helping other churches get started in strategic cities.
REALITY CHURCH MIAMI, FL The mission of Reality Church is to lead people to discover and display the reality of Jesus. Miami is a city with global influence and a great opportunity to share the hope as less than 10% of people have a relationship with Jesus.
CITY CENTER CHURCH BERKELEY, CA City Center exists to help people know and love Jesus and place Him at the center of everything. City Center launched online gatherings in the spring of 2020 and continues to show love by the way they serve the city of Berkeley.
BAY AREA CHURCH PLANTING NETWORK Epic is thrilled to join others to help support and launch new churches all throughout the Bay Area. We do this through financial support, coaching, and leadership training.
Church Planting
National National
Your Kingdom come, your will be done...
BE THE BRIDGE Be the Bridge empowers people and culture toward racial healing, equity and reconciliation. The vision is that people and organizations are aware and responding to the racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world.
FAITH & PREJUDICE Faith & Prejudice is a movement of Christians who are committed to living a life of radical love and humility as demonstrated by Jesus Christ; the type of love and humility that confronts and dismantles racism in America once and for all.
CONVOY OF HOPE Convoy of Hope is a faith-based nonprofit with a driving passion to feed the world through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreach, and disaster response.
National
Partnerships This year, our goal is to raise $300,000 to fund our current partners.
GLOBAL $78,000 • Ghana • Vietnam • Romania
• Chile • Guatemala
LOCAL $127,000 • • • • •
Because Justice Matters City Impact Bessie Carmichael A Woman’s Place (YWAM) Josh & Kassi Palmer, Isaiah Martin
• • • • •
SF Food Bank Foster the Bay Old Skool Cafe Open Door Legal United Playaz
CHURCH PLANTING • Reality Church: Miami, FL • City Center Church: Berkeley, CA
$60,000 • Bay Area Church Planting Network
NATIONAL $35,000 • Be the Bridge • Convoy of Hope
• Faith & Prejudice
Justice and Life IMPACT IS LOCAL AND GLOBAL
How to Give Please pray about how you will give to this special offering. Please keep in mind that all gifts to The Hope Project are tax-deductible. There are several ways to give:
How to Give
Give Online
Mobile
Give online at www.epicsf.com/onlinegiving. Under “giving type” choose “The Hope Project.”
Give through the mobile app PushPay or text “EPICSF” to 833-245-7551.
By Check
Through Stocks
Mail a check made out to “Epic Church” and include “The Hope Project” in the memo line. Epic Church PO Box 77604 San Francisco, CA 94107
Donate appreciated assets such as stocks and mutual funds directly to Epic Church. Please contact Will Moraza at will@epicsf.com for more details.
Through Your Bank
Through Cryptocurrency
Use your bank’s Bill Pay feature to have a check mailed to Epic Church. Be sure to include “The Hope Project” in the memo line.
Make a cryptocurrency donation to Epic Church. Please contact Will Moraza at will@epicsf.com for more details.
FAQ WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REGULAR OFFERING AND THIS SPECIAL OFFERING? The regular offering is the proportional amount to be given throughout the year. However, from time to time in the Old Testament there are examples of when God would ask the people to give a sacrificial offering such as a freewill offering or thank offering. The Hope Project should be over and above what you regularly give so that Epic Church can be in a position to make a greater impact in our city and around the world in 2022.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE? Since the goal is $300,000, The Hope Project will involve everyone. Please prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift that will stretch your faith. The precise amount you give is between you and God. Some in our church will be able to give thousands to this, others will be able to give hundreds, and there are some for whom $25 would be a major sacrifice. The goal is not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.
WHEN SHOULD I GIVE? You may give anytime between now and January 31, 2022. Epic is challenging the staff and leaders to give by December 5th. Please pray about making your best gift by December 5th, as well. We are aware that some people will need to wait until January to give because of year-end bonuses or other unique circumstances.
"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NIV)