International mission trips
Mexico
A part of the Presbyterian Border Ministries, our mission trip to Mexico currently is to Juarez, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. Members of our church along with other churches have helped build the Torribeo Family Center in the Torribeo Ortego Community of Juarez. They also have refurbished a Presbyterian Church in the Community as well as another Presbyterian Church in Anapra, a depressed rural community nearby. Future projects include building homes in Juarez and Anapra. Along with construction work, we also conduct Vacation Bible School for the local children. We work and worship along with the local people in the community. We may not all speak the same language, but the camaraderie breaks all language barriers. Our faith is uplifted by the sense of oneness in working together with fellow Christians across the border. Our work is coordinated with Arrow Outreach Ministries. Speaking Spanish is a plus, but not a necessary skill. The trips usually last a week.
India
First Presbyterian Church is one of seven churches within Grace Presbytery that is participating in a sster church partnership with churches from the North Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India.
Through a mutual partnership and the sharing of ministry and ideas, each church grows in understanding of the other. Being in prayer with Christians halfway across the globe is a powerful experience. The sharing of ideas has been enlightening for both congregations in the sister church partnership. The exchange of visiting delegates from both congregations has been invaluable in broadening everyone’s horizons, world views and faith views.
Our sister church is the CSI Immanuel Church in Ernakulam, India, www.csiimmanuel.org. Ernakulam is a large suburb of the big coastal town of Cochin. The North Kerala Diocese is located on the southwestern tip of India. Since 2005 we have had the pleasure of receiving two delegates from of sending two of our members there. Mr. Joshua Robinson, Sunday School Superintendent of the Immanuel church, visited us first in 2005. In 2006 we were pleased to welcome Mr. John Oommen, Church Secretary (similar to our Clerk of Session), of CSI Immanuel to FPC. In 2007 we will be happy to have Mr. Renji Varkey, Organist and Choirmaster for CSI Immanuel, join us in October.
Our first delegate to India was Elder Diana Briner in 2005, in 2006 it was Elder Philip Weigand, and in 2007, Ken and Mary Jane Cooper.
Our sister church has much in common with us. They have a ministry to feed the poor and homeless, they support several children’s homes and schools, they work with children who have AIDS, and they have several choirs and multiple worship services each Sunday. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the good people of CSI Immanuel church in Ernakulam.
South Africa
In 1998 First Presbyterian Church developed a strong partnership with J.L. Zwane Memorial Presbyterian Church in Guguletu township in South Africa. Guguletu is a township of CapeTown. Under the leadership from Dr. Spiwo Xapile, minister, and Professor Jan Du Toit, J.L. Zwane has developed a progressive ministry to the communities of Guguletu and Malengeni in the Eastern Cape, focusing on education of children, job training for adults, and relief and care for the many who suffer from the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.
First Presbyterians made the first mission trip to CapeTown, Guguletu, and Melengeni in 1998. There have been two subsequent trips, and four of the church’s young adults spent a summer internship in Guguletu. Participants in these mission trips have provided dental services, worked in the medical clinic in the township, tutored children at the Rainbow after-school program, and provided AIDS education information. Ongoing opportunities to participate in this mission ministry are provided through planned trips to South Africa.