Distinctives

Rooted in the Neighborhood (Luke 10:5-9)

In 2025 we renewed and revitalized our  commitment to one neighborhood for 20 more years. This community-focused approach postures us to work holistically, addressing a wide range of issues in a singular geographic location.

Rooted in Faith (Matt. 22:37-39)

As followers of Jesus, our mandate is to love God and to love people. We believe followers of Jesus should be excellent neighbors that are known by how well we love and care for others. For this reason we remain committed to helping local churches discover and fulfill their potential to impact their communities.

Rooted in Listening and Local Empowerment (Acts 6:1-6, Isaiah 61:1-4)

We acknowledge that those closest to a community and its challenges are also closest to the solution, thus every effort must be informed by the people most affected. Whenever possible, we will prioritize Southside leadership empowerment through listening sessions, hiring, and board recruitment.

Rooted in Collaboration (Nehemiah 2-3)

In order to see our communities truly heal, we must work across sectors, denominations, and lived experiences toward common goals. Vigilant Hope often plays a role that catalyzes collaboration — listening to community needs, identifying gaps, and recruiting existing resources and partners to work with neighbors toward our common goal.

Rooted in HOPE- (Zechariah 8:4-5)

As one volunteer put it, “HOPE is the soil of the work.” We hold tightly to hope that painful generational patterns can be broken, systems can change and the Church can do more. We walk in the hope that one day, “old folks will sit on their porches and young kids will play safely in the streets.”