Mission Plan
First Presbyterian Church desires to be known community wide as a church with a heart for mission. We adopted the PCUSA Outreach Foundation statement of "We believe that mission is not a program of the church. Rather, that mission is the reason that the church exists. This mission is not our mission but God's mission, blessing the peoples of the earth and gathering together all things in Christ."
The Mission Commission "seeks to express the conviction that we are a part of the Body of Christ and proclaim the gospel by word and deed to the world at large and the world locally. Our task is to involve the whole congregation in this challenge; motivating and nurturing all of our people in understanding and involvement in missions."
The Commission has established the following criteria by which to determine where mission money should go:
- A Christian-based organization with words in their mission statement acknowledging their Christian ministry (while we recognize the heart and value of other organizations they have access to government and grant funds not available to Christian groups)
- The work they do is necessary and considered important.
- There is a direct connection to FPC member(s) and/or they offer volunteer opportunities to FPC members
- Their financial status can be clearly presented to FPC
Agencies
Using this criteria and the belief we need to help those in our community without adequate food, medicine/eyeglasses, housing, schooling/guidance, and even shelter, we elected to use budgeted dollars to support these agencies:- Eagles' Wings—A local agency that distributes food from the area food bank as well as direct assistance for individuals and families in need.
- Emergency Children's Fund—Administered by a church member, these monies go to meet the need of local children as their needs become known through their teachers or school officials.
- Habitat for Humanity—This international, well-known agency, has a very active local chapter, that seeks to address the very large number of sub-standard houses in our county.
- Purpose of God Annex—This local agency provides summer and after-school educational opportunities for at-risk students.
- Zion Shelter—Zion is the only shelter in town where those in between homes can find refuge and a meal.
- Haiti Fund—The Haiti Fund does dramatic work of economic redevelopment for rural inhabitants of Haiti's mountains. Missionaries, Rodney and Sharon Babe, are the driving force behind this incredible mission.
- Little Children of the Philippines—This Mission was started by some dedicated Christians in this country, which now provides education, medical care, sponsorships, and advancement opportunities for children in the Philippines.