mission yearbook

Presbytery of Riverside

Congregation, partners seek to meet multifaceted needs of the homeless

Serving those living outside is nothing new for Calvary Presbyterian Church in Riverside, California. The church has a history of feeding homeless guests since 1985. For more than 30 years the congregation of Calvary, with support from the community, has provided a healthy and balanced meal every Sunday night to people living outside and others in need. And volunteers from Victoria Presbyterian Church in Riverside bake fresh desserts for Calvary’s guests. In 2015, the church served over 7,000 meals and has served more than 35,000 since 2011.

Presbytery of Milwaukee

Milwaukee church addresses homelessness with ‘Divine Intervention’

“Once you open the door of possibility, things happen,” says Karen Hagen, pastor of Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Things really began to happen for this 51-member congregation when they decided to open their church doors in response to the needs of homeless people in their city.

Minute for Mission: Active Life

Active Life

In 2006, Wayne Presbyterian Church, a midsized church in Wooster, Ohio, started looking at how we could make ourselves more inviting for other members of the community. To start, we did a needs survey of the congregation. One of the top five priorities, according to the survey, was to increase accessibility for those with disabilities. The last major renovation, in 1957, had not provided such accessibility to the sanctuary; there were steps at every entrance.

Mid-Kentucky Presbytery

Church partnership leads to successful tutoring program in Kentucky community

Yvonne and José moved with their parents to Shelbyville, Kentucky, from Central America when they were second graders. Their parents were looking for work in the agricultural and horse industry but wanted to ensure that their children received a quality education, recognizing that the language barrier could present challenges.

Presbytery of Philadelphia

Congregation inspired by peacemaker visits

For Ivyland Presbyterian Church, the Middle East was something many members had simply read about or seen on the news. There were no personal connections to the refugee crisis or to displacement of Christians overseas. Members weren’t connected to the trials and tribulations facing people in war-torn regions.

Niger

Muslims and Christians commit to living ‘together in peace’

At a time when Christian-Muslim relations are discussed daily in nearly every corner of the world, Niger in West Africa remains one of the best examples of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence between the two faiths.

New Castle Presbytery

Programs Encourage People to Hear God’s Voice in Biblical Stories

Jesus used stories and parables to educate and inspire his followers. Presbyterian World Mission and New Castle Presbytery are carrying on that tradition in creative ways by publishing resources that engage readers in the work, prayers and practice of mission.

Synod of Southern California and Hawaii

Syrian fellowship finds a home in Los Ranchos Presbytery

When Saousan Jarjour came to Costa Mesa, California, Tim McCalmont had no idea the impact she would have on him. A young woman from the Syrian city of Homs, Jarjour came to study music at a college across the street from Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, where McCalmont serves as pastor. Raised Presbyterian, Jarjour showed up in church one Sunday in 2004 and soon after started singing in the choir.

Whitewater Valley Presbytery

Seeking Home, Claiming Faith, Building Community

Prayers of lament went out from the Presbytery of Whitewater Valley at the horrors of the Syrian refugee crisis. Our arms of care have reached out to such travelers before, those who make their way on the interstate highways that cross our presbytery, seeking a home, claiming faith and tenaciously building community.

Minute for Mission: Presbyterian Men

Presbyterian Men

As we reflect our heavenly Father’s love this Father’s Day, it becomes extremely important that all men show love for all of God’s creation. We must lift our hearts together, working together to spread God’s love.