Missions at home and abroad provide rewarding opportunities for Faith members to live Christ's teachings, from our back door to the heart of our country and the world beyond our geographic boundaries.

Appalachian Service Project is a home repair ministry which operates year-round in central Appalachia.  In August, seventeen Faith Church members spent some very hot days as "doers of the Word" [James 1:22] in Brenton, W. Va.  They performed family home repairs against the coming of winter, including repairing roofs, installing dry wall, laying linoleum, and various other jobs to stop leaks and drafts.  Faith's family was elderly, disabled, or otherwise physically dependent on others.  The Faith team was joined by teams from Lancaster, Pa., and Charlotte, N.C.  They are pleased and relieved to learn that the roof doesn't leak.

Sally Boyles, a member of Faith Church, has joined the Latin American Mission and is now in Cartagena, on staff at a mission school.  She acts as school nurse, teacher, and administrator for 900 students.  Faith Church provides a share of Sally's living expenses, as do members of the congregation and several other groups. 

The Bread Fund, established to help combat hunger, distributes monies to non-profit organizations whose purpose is to provide food for the hungry.  Contributions are made in memory of loved ones, to honor family and friends, and in lieu of flowers at Christmas and Easter. 

C.A.R.E.S. stands for Civic and Religious Emergency Services, a network of churches and social service groups that pool their resources to serve the needs of local residents by providing food and emergency financial assistance.  Faith members contribute food items and serve as volunteers, interviewing clients, packing bags, and stocking shelves at the C.A.R.E.S. pantry. 

The mission and challenge of the Franciscan Center is to provide services and programs for the poorest of the poor.  These services assist individuals in their effort to live a life that is in keeping with their dignity as people of God.  The Center offers services to people in all parts of Baltimore City, and provides daily lunches for several hundred people, outreach to persons with HIV/AIDS, clothing drives during Advent, and much, much more. 

Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation is a non-profit developer and operator of affordable service-linked housing and service programs for people with special needs.  GEDCO projects supported by Faith's mission budget include C.A.R.E.S., Harford House, and Micah House.

Habitat for Humanity's mission is to provide decent, affordable housing for all.  Faith Church has been involved in Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity, the local chapter, since 1995.  We have supported the organization through our stewardship of money, time, and physical energy.  Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity has renovated over 40 homes in the Waverly area, greatly improving the neighborhood and providing warm, affordable housing for families in need.  Participation includes assistance in the actual renovations from hanging dry wall to painting, providing snacks, and donating funds. 

Harford House provides 26 formerly homeless men with a permanent, safe place to live.  It believes in the dignity, worth and potential of every person.  Harford House encourages, enables, and expects a man to become self-sufficient up to the level of his ability.  With the help of an advocacy counselor, each resident outlines his own goals and a plan to meet them.  Most of the residents are recovering from some type of addiction and all must be drug free to qualify for residency.  An on-site addictions specialist provides assessment and treatment planning. (See Micah House, below)

Children's offerings support Heifer Project International, a worldwide organization born of the idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief.  Heifer Project animals (and training in their care) offer hungry families around the world a way to feed themselves and become self-reliant. Children receive nutritious milk or eggs; families earn income for school, health care and better housing; communities go beyond meeting immediate needs to fulfilling dreams. Farmers learn sustainable, environmentally sound agricultural techniques.

For over 20 years, Faith Church has been ministering to hungry people through the Light Street Soup Kitchen.  On the second Tuesday of alternating months, a meal is prepared and served by Faith Church volunteers at Light Street Presbyterian Church in South Baltimore.  See the Event Calendar for current dates.

Faith Church is a Meals-On-Wheels delivery site.  Volunteer drivers and home visitors are needed.  Meals-On-Wheels Office: 410.558.0827

Micah House shares the same goals as Harford House, and has two buildings for housing men and women.  Faith Presbyterian Church is represented on the Joint Board and supports this program by helping to provide holiday dinners, Christmas gifts, and fellowship activities.  It is a very rewarding experience to get to know these people and to see how much our interest in them helps them move on with their lives. 

Maryland Community Kitchen sponsors Moveable Feast which provides meals to Baltimore residents who have HIV/AIDS.  Members of Faith Church donate cakes and dessert bread on the third Sunday of each month as part of the church's outreach mission. 

If you would like to participate in any of Faith Presbyterian Church's Mission Opportunities, please let us know.

Appalachian Service Project   Border Ministries   Sally Boyles   Bread Fund    CARES    Franciscan Center   GEDCO    Habitat for Humanity    Harford House    Heifer Project International   Light Street Kitchen    Meals-On-Wheels    Micah House    Moveable Feast