Free “Got Skills?” workshops begin April 4

 

Who We Are

JCity Center for Hope and Renewal, Inc. is a newly formed, independent, nonprofit community development organization focused on long-term needs in Johnston City, Illinois and the surrounding area. Our goal is to work with volunteers and other agencies connecting individuals and families with counselors, mentors, and resources to improve mental health, relationships, addiction recovery, financial stability, and adequate housing.

What We Do

When our programs as a community development organization are fully implemented we will address long-term needs in the following areas:

• Mental health

• Addiction Recovery

• Relationships

• Finances

• Housing

Through partnership and cooperation with other nonprofit and community organizations, we currently offer mental health and family counseling, invested community counseling, addiction recovery coaching, and personal and family financial mentoring.

A Brief History

Almost a decade ago, the congregation of JCity Church, then First Free Will Baptist Church, caught a vision of a ministry center to address problems in our community, particularly in the areas of mental health, family conflict, addictions, and generational poverty. The small, hard-working congregation joined hands in prayer and soon recognized the need to work with other churches and organizations to address “city-like” issues faced by residents of Johnston City. The church’s signature ministry summer meals program, JC Kids’ Lunch Bunch (launched in 2010), served as a prototype for a community-wide effort supported by other churches, local businesses, and grants from governmental and private corporations.

JCity Church originally planned to use its vacant Happy Time Daycare building for this community center, but the aging structure proved too costly to renovate. As the church considered other options, First Christian Church expressed a desire to sell its former parsonage (adjoining JCity Church’s parking lot). The two churches agreed on price and terms to transfer ownership of the 12-room, 3,200 square foot, brick structure so it could become home to JCity City Center for Hope and Renewal, Inc. In the midst of the COVID pandemic, JCity Church spun off this new nonprofit community development organization, which was incorporated in the State of Illinois and federally recognized as a 501(c3) nonprofit charitable organization in 2020.

Who We Work With

Take Action Today, another faith-based nonprofit organized in West Frankfort, needed a home base for their first recovery resource center and were offered space in the Center. Both organizations joined hands and held a grand opening at 504 East Broadway, October 4, 2021. Take Action Today’s ministry of providing addiction recovery peer support specialists has been well received in the region by law enforcement and addiction recovery professionals. Utilizing continued grant funding, Take Action Today is opening Franklin County office with the goal of serving four Southern Illinois counties by establishing resource centers in other communities. Also Caring Counseling Ministries of Marion agreed to provide services of a licensed clinical professional counselor in a satellite office at the Center. Through partnership with CCM, JCity Center offers mental health and family counseling for clients with private or employer-provided insurance. 

Services

Invested Counseling

For the disadvantaged in our community, the Center offers “invested counseling,” which allows the uninsured or publicly insured to exchange community service hours for clinical counseling sessions.

Additional Services

A financial mentoring program built on a growing base of volunteers is available for those on government assistance or the “working poor” who just need help learning how to make ends meet. As the volunteer base grows and gains expertise, the Center will offer guidance for those struggling to find adequate housing in our community. The Center will advocate for those caught in the bind of tenancy in substandard “contract for deed” houses.

JCity Center plans to host various community support groups. Currently, SIMI (Southern Illinois Men of Integrity) and a nondenominational women’s Bible study meet weekly. Facilitator training for mental health support groups is now in progress. AA, NA and other peer-led recovery groups are also welcome to use the facility.

Get Involved

Fill out volunteer application

• Pray daily for our ministry

• Share life skills

• Assist with promotion (prepare mailings, distribute fliers, make phone contacts)

• Social media management

• Help with/oversee yard work (flowers, clean up, maintenance)

• Provide a meal

• Attend a meeting or encourage others to come

• Volunteer as a mentor

• Partner financially

• Initiate a new program (your burden or passion for the community)

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