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This story located at: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2007/07121.htm
07121 March 5, 2007
14 church-related projects to share $1 million
Grants to support new churches, transformation, community outreach programs
by Evan Silverstein
LOUISVILLE - The Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recently awarded more than $1 million in grant money to 14 church-related projects across the United States.
The short-term start-up funds will enable congregations, presbyteries and synods to organize new churches, transform existing congregations or develop church-based community outreach programs.
Many projects reflect the PC(USA)'s mission to become a multicultural church and to work with new immigrant groups, according to Tim McCallister, associate for mission program grants in the PC(USA)'s Evangelism and Church Growth program.
For example in St. Paul, MN, McCallister said members of Knox Presbyterian Church would use a $50,000 grant to transform their ministry with the community's growing population of Indonesian immigrants.
Plans include calling a full-time pastor to focus on the church's multicultural mission. A church development team from Twin Cities Area Presbytery will oversee the project.
Knox Presbyterian, already home to an Indonesian language worship service every Sunday and Bible study and pastoral counseling to the Indonesian community, will develop more opportunities for cross-cultural understanding between Indonesian and other members.
"What Knox and Twin Cities Area are doing represents the leading edge in church transformation and new immigrant ministry," McCallister said. "They have a real vision for preaching the gospel and being God's people in ways that are relevant to their community."
Recipients were chosen in November during a meeting of the MDRC, which awards two rounds of grants each year. The second round will be announced in May.
The $1,013,500 for this round of grants comes from endowments, individuals and congregational gifts. The grants became effective Jan. 1 and will be disbursed over a five-year period.
The MDRC is a permanent committee of the PC(USA)'s General Assembly. Its primary focus is to respond to the church growth commitment of the denomination, work that it conducts in partnership with synods and presbyteries engaged in church growth mission through the allocation of grants and loans.
Currently there are 207 new and ongoing projects across 107 presbyteries in all 16 synods being funded by GA Mission Program Grants, McCallister said.
"Because all of the grants are matched with funds from the presbytery and synod, we're able to bring together the denomination's resources to support a congregation in ways that it couldn't do alone," he said. "This type of work takes community. It's the church at its best."
The other grant recipients, by state, are:
Harvest New Church Development, Harvest, AL, Synod of Living Waters, North Alabama Presbytery, $100,000 to develop a 250-plus member congregation in the Harvest area, a "bedroom" community that has grown 113 percent since 1990.
Concord Hispanic Presbyterian New Church Development, Oakland, CA, Synod of the Pacific, San Francisco Presbytery, $90,000 to establish a predominately Spanish-speaking congregation that focuses on the spiritual, physical, social and emotional needs of the Hispanic community.
Elk Grove New Church Development, Elk Grove, CA, Synod of the Pacific, Sacramento Presbytery, Sierra Mission Partnership, $100,000 to develop a 300-plus member regional church in the Elk Grove area, a suburban community that offers significant growth opportunity for new Protestant churches.
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Bragg Congregational Transformation, Fort Bragg, CA, Synod of the Pacific, Redwoods Presbytery, $40,000 to transform a congregation into a place where two cultures and languages are united in ministry to reach out to the community.
South Clovis/Sanger New Church Development, Selma, CA, Synod of the Pacific, San Joaquin Presbytery, $95,000 to create a highly mission oriented, multi-ethnic church community where none now exists in an exploding new housing market.
The Jireh Project Social Action Ministry, Ocoee, FL, Synod of South Atlantic, Central Florida Presbytery, $25,000 to help Brazilian immigrants, newly arrived or long-term, assimilate to the new culture.
Third Presbyterian Church Congregational Transformation, Moline Acres, MO, Synod of Mid-America, Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, $70,000 to assist with additional staff and increased program needs following relocation to a larger facility.
North Las Vegas New Church Development, Las Vegas, NV, Synod of the Pacific, Nevada Presbytery, Sierra Mission Partnership, $95,000 to establish a church in north Las Vegas. Currently there are only seven Presbyterian congregations in the greater Las Vegas area, which has a population of 2 million people.
Mullica Hill New Church Development, Cinnaminson, NJ, Synod of the Northeast, West Jersey Presbytery, $100,000 for the development of a congregation that offers the Reformed tradition in a geographical area where none now exists. The congregation will focus on young families with children.
Trenton Children's Chorus, Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, Synod of the Northeast, New Brunswick Presbytery, $50,000 to help the chorus grow and deepen its services to families outside the congregation.
Las Cruces Area Hispanic New Church Development, Las Cruces, NM, Synod of the Southwest, Sierra Blanca Presbytery, $100,000 to establish meaningful ministries with and among Hispanics in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County.
College Hill Presbyterian Church Hispanic Congregational Transformation, Dayton, OH, Synod of the Covenant, Miami Presbytery, $64,000 grant for outreach to the rapidly growing Hispanic population in the northern and western parts of Dayton.
The Homeless Latino Men Mission, Norristown, PA, Synod of the Trinity, Philadelphia Presbytery, $34,500 grant to create a mission for homeless Latino men who are struggling with alcohol and drugs by providing a place for meal, prayer and support.
Visit the General Assembly Mission Program Grants Web site for more information, including an application to apply for funding. To support new church development and other grant projects, email Tim McCallister.
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