Back Bay Mission is in a unique position to help the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Through the United Church of Christ, we draw on a national network of supporters who are invested in serving the people of the Gulf Coast. Our Christian values are the basis for a loving, respectful approach to serving the poor and marginalized. As a ministry that has served on the Gulf Coast for more than ninety years, we have a proven approach to service.
The UCC
Back Bay Mission is related to the United Church of Christ (UCC), and is the only ministry of the UCC on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Start here to learn more about our denomination.
Values and Poverty
Our approach and ministries are rooted in our values. Start here to learn about how we are called to address poverty on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Our Approach
Back Bay Mission has a unique approach to addressing emergency needs and helping begin their journeys out of poverty. Start here to learn more about our three-tiered approach.
Our Ministries
Back Bay Mission operates a variety of ministries to help people in crisis and help people make the transition out of poverty. Start here to learn more about the programs we offer.
The United Church of Christ
Back bay Mission is the only presence of the United Church of Christ on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We embody the extravagant welcome of the United Church of Christ in our relationships with clients, supporters, and other members of the community.
As a ministry of the United Church of Christ, the Mission draws on a national network of support. We bring that network to bear on poverty and marginalization on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We also able to export what we learn to churches and communities across the United States. We can do this through its mission immersion experiences and partnerships with other ministries of the United Church of Christ.
Our Values and Poverty
Our values permeate everything we do, including the ways that we address poverty. This statement of belief captures the way that our values inform our services.
We believe that all people, regardless of how they come to Back Bay Mission, are first and foremost the precious children of a loving God. We have a religious, moral, and social obligation to help the people who come to us to the best of our ability.
We believe that all people make sensible decisions given the circumstances they face and the resources that they have.
We believe that poverty is best understood as a lack of access to the things a person needs to be treated as a full member of society. This includes things like food, clothing, and shelter. It also includes things like education, healthcare, education, and healthy relationships.
We believe that the best course for helping people out of poverty is a three-tiered approach. This approach involves helping people meet their immediate needs, intensive case management to help them meet new challenges, and peer support networks so that people can receive guidance from others who have faced similar challenges.
A Three-Tiered Approach
Back Bay Mission takes a three-tiered approach to addressing poverty: we provide emergency assistance, intensive case management, and peer support networks.
This approach helps people move from addressing their immediate needs to making the journey out of poverty to helping others. We recognize that this can be a long and difficult process, and we’re there for our clients for the duration.
Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance helps clients overcome immediate challenges through financial and material support. Among our services are the only client-choice food pantry in Mississippi, help with utilities, and housing rehabilitation.
Intensive Case Management
Intensive Case Management gives wrap-around support to clients who are ready to begin their journey out of poverty. We aim to maintain a staff of specialized case managers to help clients as they encounter and overcome new challenges.
Peer Support Networks
Peer Support Networks provide clients with the chance to learn from each other. As clients begin to make progress out of poverty, they have the opportunity to become mentors to people beginning their own journeys.
Our Ministries
Back Bay Mission offers a variety of ministries serving the poor and marginalized of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the people of the United Church of Christ.
Education and Empowerment
Low-income individuals and families need more than their immediate needs met. They need opportunities to learn, grow, and take control of their lives. From our client-run community garden to art classes, Back Bay Mission helps the people we serve realize their dreams and begin their journeys out of poverty.
Emergency Assistance
Back Bay Mission’s emergency assistance program provides financial and material help to people in need. We operate the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s only client-choice food pantry. We also provide limited help with utilities, prescription medicines, and securing vital documents.
Housing Rehabilitation
Housing restoration is a staple of Back Bay Mission’s ministry. This program helps low-income families stay in their homes by making necessary renovations and repairs. Our professional and highly capable staff oversees volunteers from across the United States as they strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives.
The Micah Day Center and Homelessness Outreach
The Micah Day Center provides a safe and hospitable place for homeless residents to gather, have their needs assessed, access resources and find support for moving forward. For people who cannot make it to the Micah Day Center, the Mission offers homeless outreach services.
Mission Trips and Internships
Back Bay Mission provides powerful mission immersion experiences through mission trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, long term volunteer opportunities through the national setting of the United Church of Christ, opportunities for local volunteers, and the Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship.
Supportive Housing
The supportive housing program at Back Bay Mission provides select homeless individuals and families with housing and supportive services to address the issues that caused their homelessness.
