Hillside Missions Organization
Hillside Missions Organization is a "non-denominational evangelical Christian ministry working to provide access to the gospel for unreached people groups through the establishment of Christian community and the mobilization of existing communities.” Hillside administers International internship programs, Short-term group trips, as well as the establishment of The School of Missions Mobilization that is located in Matachi, Chihuahua, Mexico.
History
1999- Hillside Missions Organization becomes the missions ministry of Hillside Community Church in Bristol, CT.
2000- First short-term trip to Mexico
2001- First short-term trip to China
2002- The first intern arrives, starting the internship program
2003- First short-term trip to Afghanistan
2005- First summer church camp
2005- The plan for establishing The School of Missions Mobilization is commenced along with pastors and church leaders in Mexico.
2007- Inauguration ceremony for The School of Missions Mobilization takes place, with two full-time directors in place
2007- Prayer delegation invited by Iraqi Government
2009- First five students from the School of Missions Mobilization graduate
2009- New directors at The School of Missions Mobilization are put in place
2009- Kristopher Keating, along with Reverend Patrick Mahoney met with the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights on April 23.
2009- Hillside Missions Organization relocates from Bristol, Connecticut to Richmond, Virginia.
2009- Kristopher Keating, the director of Hillside Missions attends the Islam on Capitol Hill leadership meeting as a representative of the Christian community. He, along with Reverand Patrick Mahoney, "joined the organizers of the Muslim prayer event as a way to counteract Christian opposition..."
World Involvement
Central Asia
The primary work being done in Central Asia is conducted among peoples without access to the Gospel. Projects that this organization is involved with include: digging wells, administering a Bible school, managing a healthcare clinic, and feeding malnourished babies. Curriculums for pastoral ministry, agriculture, and healthcare are also offered.
East Asia
Tasks in East Asia involve the building and Reconstructing of schools, Distributing school books to Children, and teaching English and Spanish to Asian seminary students.
Iraq
Hillside Missions Organization was represented in Iraq on July 27, 2007 when six Christian Americans were invited by the Prime Minister to pray for the country in the name of Jesus Christ. Hillside’s goal for Iraq itself is to influence the government to protect religious minorities- which include Christians.
Mexico
The missions mobilization school that Hillside Missions Organization administers is located in Matachi, Chihuahua. Aside from having a school there, Hillside works to provide medical care to the people both in the town, and in the surrounding areas. Some of the work that short-term groups have done there includes upkeep of the school, Bible story-telling in the local community, support for vision and dental clinics, English and sports camps, grocery and school supply distribution, children’s outreach, and orphanage sponsorship.
Internship Programs
Interns experience all aspects of missions work during the internship. The internship costs $350 a month. There are two options for an internship. A summer internship is typically three months long. Also available is a nine month internship which includes a three month externship that takes place after the internship has been completed. an externship, interns go into the field to work with long-term missionaries who are already working in the field.
"All Hillside Missions interns will:
- Learn and actively participate in missions team training
- Travel on short-term trips to minister to unreached peoples
- Complete a cross-cultural ministry course program
- Study church planting, the role of the church in missions, Islam, and ESL
- Work to administer a School of Missions in Matachi, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Help with gospel distribution and church planting activities
- Participate in missions activities among the world's least reached peoples
- Gain access to a network of strategic contacts in ministry and missions
- Be provided the opportunity to seek God's will for your life"
The School of Missions Mobilization
The School of Missions Mobilization, also known as El Instituto de Movilización Misionera is located in Matachi, Chihuahua, Mexico. The school’s inauguration ceremony was in March 2007, and the first generation of students graduated in March 2009. The school is designed to equip Latin-Americans to establish Christian community among unreached people groups. Those who work within the Hillside Missions office work to administer the students at the school. Many projects are going on to market the internship in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Today
There are trips planned for 2010 to East Asia, North Africa, Mexico, India, and Central Asia. This organization is working on implementing The Baghdad Cultural Exchange Program. This program is designed "to provide school-aged children in Baghdad a trip to the United States to learn about American culture through the lens of American Christian families." Currently, the organization is accepting applications for interns to work in the office in the United States, and applications for students, volunteer instructors, translators, and visitors for the school of missions mobilization in Matachi, Chihuahua, Mexico.
The feed is a blog of events administered by Hillside Missions Organization. It contains news stories about persecuted Christians around the world, as well as prayer topics among the Christian community.
References
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/23/attorney-representing-terrorists-organizes-muslim-/?page=2 "Attorney to Terrorists organizes rally on Capitol Hill" by: Julia Duin 23 September 2009