Located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1922, Back Bay Mission is one of the oldest and most highly respected organizations within the UCC. It continues its journey of providing innovative solutions and compassionate responses to those suffering at the hands of social injustice and economic hardship. Back Bay Mission has a simple mission: to strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives.  

The Brazos Church Pantry is a local non-profit organization that shares the love of Christ by providing food to those who need it in the Brazos Valley. The pantry, which operates with no paid staff and with the help of over 30 churches, survives on contributions and about 100 volunteers who work two hours a day, six days a week. Last year, the pantry provided food to more than 38,000 Brazos County residents. The first Saturday of each month, Friends Church volunteers at the Brazos Church Pantry (304A W. 26th Street in Bryan), restocking shelves and assisting clients. The volunteers meet there at 9:45 am. 

BIIN is a 501(c)3 non-profit, is a group of individuals, organizations, and faith communities, called to promote the human dignity and well-being of all immigrants in our community and to advocate for and facilitate better access to legal, educational, and social services. Friends Church is a BIIN partner and as such helps build capacity and strengthen BIIN ties to the community and its resources. We also help spread understanding of the organization and of the contributions and needs of immigrants in our community.

This project was initiated with a grant application to the national UCC for a grant from the Neighbors in Need program, to establish a formal sanctuary church network in the Brazos Valley to aid undocumented immigrants who might be in danger of deportation. Friends Church was awarded that grant and our Associate Pastor is leading this effort. The group has formalized its identity as the Brazos Sanctuary Coalition. Friends Church has formally authorized use of its space to provide physical sanctuary should the need arise.   

Founded in 2014 by members of Friends Congregational Church, this team seeks to explore justice and inclusion of individuals with disabilities into our church community. Since its foundation, FIDA has conducted an accessibility audit of the church to assess the physical access of the church. The team obtained the A2A (Accessible to All) certification from the United Church of Christ in January 2020. The team also participates in Access Sunday to raise awareness of how our congregation can be more welcoming and inclusive for members and visitors with disabilities. 

Family Promise is an area-wide, volunteer-based, non-profit organization that supports families by providing shelter, meals, transportation, training and support services to homeless families while helping them secure permanent housing. The program provides a safe environment in which families can stay together and become self-sufficient. It is affiliated with the nationwide Family Promise in Summit, New Jersey. Friends Church is on a rotation of one week of support for families with approximately 12 other host churches in our community.  

Neal Park, 600 W 22nd Street, Bryan, TX 77803

2nd Sundays at 1:30pm

Each Sunday, a group of volunteers, gathers at Neal Park at 1:30 p.m. to provide a potluck meal for individuals experiencing homelessness or food insecurity or just generally wish to have community.

Members of Friends church began a regular attendance in 2018, choosing the 2nd Sunday of the month as our time to provide food. Anyone can attend and bring some food. Healthy options are best, as are items that can easily be take-out items for a day or so. We also assist in other needs of the participants. (Pilgrims in the Park – Facebook)

In June 2008, Friends Congregational Church unanimously adopted an Earth Stewardship Covenant. The sustainability team assists the congregation in honoring the covenant through linking environmental topics to justice issues in worship and Sunday School curriculum. Additionally, our sustainability team led the way in helping the church convert to using 100% wind energy for its electricity, utilize rainwater barrels to help offset irrigation, and reduce/reuse/recycle by practicing recycling and using reusable cups, dishes, and silverware for church events. In May of 2017, Friends installed solar panels through Texas Green Energy. The team also brought single steam curbside recycling to Friends Church placing several bins throughout the church and placing the curbside containers on the street every other week for collection by Brazos Valley Recycling.

Friends Church is an organizational member of Texas Impact. Texas Impact and its sister organization, the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy, form an interfaith network that brings faith to bear on social issues through grassroots education and policy advocacy. Texas Impact is a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include individuals, congregations, and governing bodies of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Texas Impact exists to advance state public policies that are consistent with universally held social principles of the Abrahamic traditions. 

A Tiny House Village to end homelessness in Bryan/College Station

Tiny Hope Village is a permanent housing community for singles and married couples – with and without income – who have been homeless. It is a missional community where everyone takes part in the work of housing homeless people. It is a supportive community where we care for each other. Tine Hope Village believes in the witness of the early church, who shared all things so that no one was in need. It is inspired by the tiny house village movement’s sustainable, dignified housing. It is inspired by friends who live on the street, who are made in the image of God. It is a family of friends that is inclusive of homeless people in Bryan/College Station through the weekly Pilgrims in the Park Potluck Meals since 2007.