He asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

First Presbyterian Church has a long history of reaching out to our neighbors in other countries. Some of this outreach has been through financial donations for a specific need or to help support an ongoing ministry. This church also provides financial support to several Presbyterian missionaries in various parts of the world.

Short term mission volunteers from this church have traveled to other countries to provide help with building projects and, just as importantly, to meet and develop relationships with the people of the country. Both financial assistance and hands-on volunteers have helped build a hospital in Mwandi, Zambia, a church and clinic in Iquitos, Peru, and a school in Costa Rica through association with Medical Missions, Inc. There is a mill in Ethiopia as well as a nursing school in Haiti and a ministry to street children in Romania due to the financial assistance of this church. Youth and adults have participated in building houses with a border ministry in Mexico. This is only a small representation of ways in which this church has provided assistance to our neighbors in need.

The International Missions Committee makes plans for people from this church to have an opportunity to participate in short term mission experiences in other countries. These trips may include building projects, or teaching a Vacation Bible School but all include meeting the people who live there. Opportunities to participate in these trips will be announced in the newsletter. Members of this congregation have participated in mission trips to Mexico, Africa, Peru, Costa Rica, Haiti, Korea and Russia. The relationships that are formed and the increased understanding of another culture bring blessings that last long after the mission experience itself.