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GA06025
Commissioner gift project
Women's shelter and joint Congolese ministry chosen for Assembly tradition
by Gerald Stephens Jr.
BIRMINGHAM, June 16 * Karen Turney of Overland Park, KS, stepped up to the booth just outside the plenary hall and made a contribution to the Congo Partnership of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. Like many commissioners, she has chosen to participate in the Commissioner Gift project.
An Assembly tradition that started several years ago, the Gift Project enables commissioners to express thanks for local hospitality by participating in ministries carried out by the host presbytery. This year, the host presbytery included two mission initiatives that commissioners may support: First Light Women's Shelter and the Congo Partnership.
First Light began in the early 1990s as a women's shelter in the basement of Birmingham's First Presbyterian Church. The organization was created when local civic and religious leadership came together to transform a building that for decades was a drug pit and brothel.
The renovated facility opened in May 2000. Today, it is a place of redemption and hope for hundreds of marginalized women. It also is an arena of opportunity for thousands of local volunteers who come to the shelter to cook, serve meals, stay overnight with the residents, provide activities such as art and music therapy and simply to build friendships that bridge the walls of class and culture.
For the 217th General Assembly, commissioners are asked to bring toiletries and other hygienic supplies for the women of First Light.
The Congo Partnership is a joint ministry of three entities: the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley of the PC(USA) and Nganza and Tshibashi presbyteries of the Congo Presbyterian Church.
Commissioners are encouraged to make cash donations that will be used to provide annual scholarships to seminarians at the Congo's University of Sheppard and Lapsley, for repairing church buildings in Nganza and Tshibashi presbyteries and for seed money for micro-enterprises to benefit women and children within the two Congolese presbyteries.
"This is a true partnership, Birmingham elder Dean Vandegrift said, "Decisions about money and projects are made by us and the Congolese together."
The Rev. Ronald Stone, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Selma and co-chair of the Commissioner Gift Project team, said, "It's exciting to think that First Light and the Congo Partnership are being supported by gifts from across the entire church. We are extremely grateful."
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