One of St. John's local ministries is our Anchor House apartment for patients and families receiving treatment in Houston's Medical Center. The name, "Anchor House," was chosen because St. John's congregation wanted the apartment to be the patient's home-away-from-home.

Our mission is to provide low cost housing to long-term medical patients not living in the Houston area.

"Our real hope is like a strong anchor, for we have Jesus Christ, our high priest and holy leader, and we can turn to him with all our troubles and in him see all our hopes being fulfilled."
Hebrews 6:19-20, The Word Made Fresh Bible

South Main Baptist Church started this apartment ministry in 1980. They still provide office space and a phone so there will be a central number for the applicants to call. The applications are faxed daily to the churches involved along with update sheets of applicants who have already applied.

St. John's joined the apartment ministry in 1996 with a "shower" for a one-bedroom apartment at Brompton Court Apartments, and soon opened two more one-bedroom apartments.

In June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison flooded all three first-floor apartments. St. John's lost all three units. Funds from the Presbyterian Disaster Fund (part of One Great Hour of Sharing) replaced the ruined furniture.

In September 2001 we opened our first one-bedroom unit in the Nob Hill Apartments.

Today there are 13 churches involved in the coalition providing 86 apartments. The need is so great for housing that the apartments are kept full at all times and there is a waiting list. The average stay is three months.

Church Apartment Ministry now has a web page with an online application form for patients of Houston hospitals and their families.

Volunteers Needed:
Answer phones at South Main Baptist Church and contact applicants
Clean apartments for newly arriving tenants
Provide shuttle service when necessary
Prepare soup, bread and cookies for new tenants

Donations Needed:
Twin and Queen, deep-pocket sheets
Large, fluffy bath towels
Rocking chairs

Call St. John's office and volunteer to become part of this exciting mission opportunity!
713-723-6262