Global MissionsThe Global Missions Committee promotes sharing God's grace with others throughout the world through volunteering of time and talent, through giving and supporting various missions:Advancing Native Missionswww.Adnamis.orgAdvancing Native Missions is a non-denominational organization that supports Christian ministry in countries throughout the world. This support goes to individuals in their native countries to help them grow their respective churches. Monetary support or material support is encouraged. John and Lynn Parker operate the "Warehouse for the Nations" at ANM, and John is the brother of RMPC member, Matt Parker. Contact Matt Parker at cyclogenesis@comcast.net. Mexico Work Missionwww.CPCMexico.orgPart of a threefold partnership with Presbitero del Noreste, the Mexico Work Mission is a personal, “hands on” mission experience in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. Volunteer missionaries from throughout Northeast Georgia Presbytery will travel June 6-15, 2008, for the 20th year to build houses and participate in activities designed to increase their spiritual fitness. We work with and receive assistance for our house building through Constructores Para Cristo (Builders for Christ), better known as CPC. This is our oldest mission project with more than 900 members from the churches, the Presbytery staff, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, and the Student Center at the University of Georgia building 63 much-needed houses. Mission workers from previous years volunteer as leaders. Priority is given to first time volunteer builders. This mission is to build four more houses. Feb. 1 is the deadline every year and applications are available starting each December. Contact Jane Rigot at 706-863-6445. Mexico Medical MissionA partnership with Presbitero del Noreste in which physicians, dentists, nurses and others in the medical profession partner with members of the Mexico medical community. This trip usually takes place in March and lasts about fifteen days including travel time. The current cost is about $1000.00 and each participant is expected to raise his own funds. As is the underlying purpose of all our missionary efforts, this one provides the opportunity for people in the medical field to respond to God’s call to experience “hands on healing” in communities where it is sorely needed.Contact Mack Nickles at 706-736-1966. Mexico Partnership MissionThe third part of the partnership with Presbitero del Noreste involves volunteer missionaries from Northeast Georgia worshipping, teaching, and sharing their faith within individual churches in Mexico in the fall. In the spring, church members from Mexico come to Northeast Georgia to conduct missionary work with us. These efforts are aided by and coordinated with Presbyterian Border Ministries, Proyecto Amistad.Contact Mack Nickles at 706-736-1966. MIRMIR is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to providing vitamins, medical supplies, clothing, and other developmental supplies to orphanages in Russia and Moldova. Ann Helms has delivered these goods twice in the past several years, and may be contacted at 706-733-7778.One Great Hour of Sharingwww/PCUSA.orgFor 60 years, Presbyterians have joined with Christians throughout the nation in supporting One Great Hour of Sharing(, responding to Christ's love for all people by sharing that love with people in need. Refugees have found food and shelter, disaster victims have found relief and rebuilding help, and communities seeking to take control of their futures have found partners in development. Currently, there are nine denominations taking part in One Great Hour of Sharing. Each collects and distributes their gifts through their own organizations, however, all use their gifts for disaster relief, refugee assistance, and development aid. Presently, Presbyterian gifts are allocated as follows: 36% to the Presbyterian Hunger Program, 32% to Presbyterian disaster assistance and refugee ministries, and 32% to the Presbyterian Committee on Development of people in poverty oppressed social systems. The gifts are collected each year on or around Easter. Contact Larry Clarkson at 706-860-2382. Pascagoula Hurricane Katrina ReliefReid has sent a group 3 times to First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula (Mississippi) where the workers have been hosted. All manner of skilled and unskilled help is needed from carpentry to painting, wallpapering, and replanting trees. The members of that church are slowly being able to return to their flood damaged homes, but the number of FEMA trailers remaining is depressing. This is a mission that can continue for a long time with as few as 4 people and as many as a dozen. No passports are required, expenses are minimal, and the rewards unending.Contact Jane Rigot at 706-863-6445. Presbyterian Coffee Projectwww.PCUSA.orgRun in conjunction with the Equal Exchange fair trade coffee company and the PCUSA, this organization works with farmers in 14 countries who have formed cooperatives to sell their product without depending on middlemen, thereby receiving a fair price for their goods that is in turn invested in their communities’ needs, better farming practices, education, etc. We offer Fellowship Blend coffee during social hour between church services, and sell individual bags of coffee, tea, and cocoa with the Fair Trade label. By buying in bulk, we are able to use the proceeds for Global Missions, with 15 cents of every pound ordered going to PCUSA for subsequent grants to the farmers. Contact Jane Rigot at 706-863-6445 or Pam Lien at 706-667-667-8645 for coffee purchases. Presbyterian Student CenterThe Presbyterian Student Center at the University of Georgia is a united ministry of all the congregations in Northeast Georgia Presbytery.Campus ministry is vital to the health of the church. Upon going to college, 85 percent of PC(USA) students stop going to church and fewer than 15 percent return. How can we sustain the church if we are losing most of our young people? Upon going to college, students are taught what to know and how to do. Will they also be taught who to be? At the Presbyterian Student Center, we believe that it is our calling to claim those students just as God claimed them in their baptism. We believe that it is our calling to help them know who they are as children of God. The mission of the Presbyterian Student Center is to furnish students at UGA with a rich community experience through which they mature in faith, develop into committed disciples of Jesus Christ, and become effective leaders of his church in the world. Contact Hubert Cooke at 706-860-4538. Rivers of the World (ROW)www.ROW.orgROW, Rivers of the World is a non-profit Christian ministry that targets river basin areas. The goal is to serve the people living in these areas as is determined by the people themselves. They are asked what their greatest challenges are and ROW helps them overcome these challenges with human, physical and spiritual needs. We, as a church have for the past two years made educational packets for children. Last October, we had several church members go on a medical mission to Taulabe, Honduras. Ben Mathes, director of ROW, will be teaching Sunday School and preaching at Reid on Sunday, Aug. 20. Another mission is planned for the fall. Contact Fay Clymer at fbclymer@comcast.net. Thornwell Home for Childrenwww.Thornwell.orgThe Thornwell Home for Children, in Clinton, SC, was founded in 1875 to provide a home for orphans from the Civil War. More than 400 children are educated and housed here each year. These are children who suffer from emotional problems resulting from family situations: divorce/deaths in family; financial stress; substance abuse; and inability of family to care for the child. Referrals are made through the courts, church pastors, and social organizations. From K-4 through Senior High School, children are educated and nurtured in a Christian setting. Approximately 90 children are housed in a cottage setting with “house parents”. A children’s Sunday School “Turkey Card” collection is made each November for the school. Contact Jane Rigot as wlrigot@comcast.net. Two Cents a Meal OfferingThis is a relatively painless way to make a difference in worldwide, national, and local hunger needs and is a great opportunity for everyone in the family to put in their "2 cent's worth". Containers placed on the dining room and kitchen tables provide a collection site for each family member to contribute 2 cents at each meal. The first Sunday of each month, the church collects the gifts in a special offering.
|