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Mission Outreach
Grace and gratitude guide the life and work of St. Simons Presbyterian. As people who receive God's undeserved grace in every aspect of life, we seek to live lives that say "thank you" by sharing God's love through tangible acts of service to our neighbors. The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17), and so we strive to join God in spreading Christian love in our community. St. Simons Presbyterian is actively engaged in our community and world through a variety of mission opportunities:
We invite you to join us as we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ in Glynn County and southeast Georgia! |
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Local Mission Outreach Opportunities
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Day of Service
The "Day of Service" is a biannual event (usually fall and spring) that sends church members and friends out in teams to serve at mission sites throughout Glynn County. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in this popular event. Work projects at each worksite, but the type of work we typically do includes painting, light construction, cleaning/organizing, preparing and serving food, and gardening/landscaping.. We have served Habitat for Humanity, Coastal Coalition for Children, Safe Harbor, assisting home bound church members, and more. Please check the events page for details or to sign up for the next "Day of Service." Manna House
Manna House (1408 G Street) is a soup kitchen located in Brunswick that is supported by volunteers, who serve thousands of free meals per month. St. Simons Presbyterian members have committed themselves to serving at Manna House on the first Monday of every month from 9:30AM to 1PM. Everyone is invited to join us in this fun and meaningful area of service. |
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Positive Adult Leadership (PAL) Mentoring
Since 1999, the PAL Mentoring Program has been sending St. Simons Presbyterian Church members to Altama and Goodyear elementary schools to mentor students. PAL mentor typically read with a child in the library but also help them with their homework, work on math skills or just visit and be a friend. Mentoring a child in need is truly doing the work of God's kingdom in our community. As Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Contact Richard Hathaway
Since 1999, the PAL Mentoring Program has been sending St. Simons Presbyterian Church members to Altama and Goodyear elementary schools to mentor students. PAL mentor typically read with a child in the library but also help them with their homework, work on math skills or just visit and be a friend. Mentoring a child in need is truly doing the work of God's kingdom in our community. As Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Contact Richard Hathaway
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Hunger Action Team
In August, 2006, under the guidance of Assistant Pastor Sally Lorey and Chairman Susan Hartman, the Hunger Action Team was created to provide healthy snacks and Family Food boxes for emergencies to respond directly to hunger facing school age children in our community. Contact was made with school counselors at St Simons and Oglethorpe on St Simons and Altama and Burroughs-Molette in Brunswick. Funded by Community Missions and donations, a pantry was established at the church and at Altama Elementary School. For a few years, an account at America's Second Harvest was funded so that any Social Worker or Counselor could shop there as well as Safe Harbor personnel. Monthly, food items were donated to Sparrow's Nest. Eventually, we condensed all pantry items in our Church pantry and only donate periodically to Sparrow’s Nest. As monetary donations were available, we biannually send funds to Safe Harbor, Sparrow’s Nest, Manna House and Salvation Army for the purchase of groceries. As the identified need increased and the committee and budget grew, we added the remaining grammar schools and Middle schools and extended school holidays including Thanksgiving and Spring Break. We also fund the packing of 30 weekly backpack inserts organized by Christ Church. We shopped, packed and delivered 43 Thanksgiving Boxes to the 4 schools in November, 2008. That has now evolved to 120 boxes delivered to the 10 Glynn County grammar schools and 4 middle schools. We also provide 12 to 24 Emergency boxes each year as needed and school snacks at the beginning of each semester and upon request. We supply snacks to 2 Communities in Schools closets periodically. Funds from the Community Mission budget, a yearly grant from the Katz Whittle foundation and donations help us continue our mission to help students who experience food insecurity. Bonnie Rabert and Barbara Wilsher were co-chairs for several years. Barbara created a packing grid and numerical list for the orderly packing the 8 ½ x 11 covered boxes for the school breaks. Barbara has stepped aside and her system remains intact. Members of the HAT team contribute as school contacts, shoppers and packers. Our young Church children create a special card to insert in the School Break boxes. The School Board delivers 76 of the 120 boxes not delivered individually. We are currently working out of a temporary space at the Gruber Hanger thanks to Jeff Shiver, one of our Elders. Hunger Action Team Mission Statement
Contact Bonnie Rabert |
Current HA Committee Members: Bonnie Rabert, Chairman Martha Martin, Shopping Coordinator Connie Worley, School Contacts Leon Jorgensen, Packing Teams Karen Bair, Judy Benjamin, Lynda Bisher, Sue Chambless, Donna Chisholm, Cheryl Hargrove, Richard Hathaway, Denise Hidalgo, Claire Jorgensen, Sally Miles, Kashey Odum, Nora Sue Spencer, Karleen Thompson, Lois Vogelman, Angie Votsis, Dale Williams Additional Packing Team Members Linda & Phil Massie, Melinda Meighen, Dee Davis |
Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County
St. Simons Presbyterian supports the work of Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County both financially as well as through volunteer support. All proceeds from the Habitat for Humanity Restore funds construction for new homes in Glynn County. Church members and visitors support Habitat in a number of ways. For example, church members volunteer at the Restore on a weekly basis helping to organize donations and merchandise. New volunteers are always welcome! St. Simons Presbyterian Church also sponsored the construction of a home for Quincy and Terrance Armstrong (Home #78), which was built after losing their previous home to a fire. In the spring college groups visit Glynn County to volunteer for Habitat. Our church typically hosts a dinner for one of these groups, so even if you don't like building, you can still do something to help others provide suitable housing. If you are interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity through St. Simons Presbyterian Church, please check the calendar or the events page for details and registration forms.
St. Simons Presbyterian supports the work of Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County both financially as well as through volunteer support. All proceeds from the Habitat for Humanity Restore funds construction for new homes in Glynn County. Church members and visitors support Habitat in a number of ways. For example, church members volunteer at the Restore on a weekly basis helping to organize donations and merchandise. New volunteers are always welcome! St. Simons Presbyterian Church also sponsored the construction of a home for Quincy and Terrance Armstrong (Home #78), which was built after losing their previous home to a fire. In the spring college groups visit Glynn County to volunteer for Habitat. Our church typically hosts a dinner for one of these groups, so even if you don't like building, you can still do something to help others provide suitable housing. If you are interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity through St. Simons Presbyterian Church, please check the calendar or the events page for details and registration forms.
Angel Tree
Angel Tree is an annual ministry that happens each November/December to provide gifts to children in Glynn County who would otherwise not have presents during the Christmas season. A team of church members work with guidance counselors and teachers at select schools to identify students who would benefit from participating in the Angel Tree. Many times these families are homeless, have had house fires or other tragedies or the children reside in foster homes. Gifts are gathered, sorted, wrapped, stored and delivered to the families before schools let out for Christmas break. Many times a late night trip to Walmart is necessary to make sure no child is left out.
Contact Liz Ream or Lillian Clarke.
Angel Tree is an annual ministry that happens each November/December to provide gifts to children in Glynn County who would otherwise not have presents during the Christmas season. A team of church members work with guidance counselors and teachers at select schools to identify students who would benefit from participating in the Angel Tree. Many times these families are homeless, have had house fires or other tragedies or the children reside in foster homes. Gifts are gathered, sorted, wrapped, stored and delivered to the families before schools let out for Christmas break. Many times a late night trip to Walmart is necessary to make sure no child is left out.
Contact Liz Ream or Lillian Clarke.
Global Mission Outreach
PCUSA Mission Co-Workers
St. Simons Presbyterian also seeks to share God's love with our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world by sending mission teams, commissioning individual church members, supporting PC(USA) mission co-workers, and supporting organizations that spread God's love, grace, and generosity abroad. As a church, our mission has reached people and places in Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Our support focuses on ministries that provide clean water to developing nations, care to orphans, healthcare for AIDS affected children, access to education, creating sustainable incomes, and translating and sharing the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ.
Currently, the PCUSA Mission Co-Workers financially supported by St. Simons Presbyterian include:
What are "Mission Co-Workers"? Presbyterian missionaries are teachers, church planters, doctors, public health specialists, chaplains and human rights advocates serving in 71 countries. They teach theology, church history, Greek, Hebrew and English. They preach and evangelize. They organize and host mission teams from the United States. Presbyterian missionaries are generally called "mission co-workers" because they work in partnership with Christians and missionaries who are from the host nation.
St. Simons Presbyterian also seeks to share God's love with our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world by sending mission teams, commissioning individual church members, supporting PC(USA) mission co-workers, and supporting organizations that spread God's love, grace, and generosity abroad. As a church, our mission has reached people and places in Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Our support focuses on ministries that provide clean water to developing nations, care to orphans, healthcare for AIDS affected children, access to education, creating sustainable incomes, and translating and sharing the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ.
Currently, the PCUSA Mission Co-Workers financially supported by St. Simons Presbyterian include:
- Malawi: Jim and Jodi McGill, Frank and Nancy Dimmock
- Ethiopia: Michael & Rachel Weller
- Niger: Michael and Rachel Ludwig
- Brazil: Tim & Marta Carriker
- Bangladesh: Drs. Les and Cindy Morgan
- Taiwan: Rev. John McCall
What are "Mission Co-Workers"? Presbyterian missionaries are teachers, church planters, doctors, public health specialists, chaplains and human rights advocates serving in 71 countries. They teach theology, church history, Greek, Hebrew and English. They preach and evangelize. They organize and host mission teams from the United States. Presbyterian missionaries are generally called "mission co-workers" because they work in partnership with Christians and missionaries who are from the host nation.
Montaña de Luz Orphanage (Honduras)
Montaña de Luz (MDL) was begun in 2000 as a hospice for children with HIV/AIDS in Honduras whose parents had died or had become too ill to care for them. Located an hour and half to the East of Tegucigalpa on top of a mountain overlooking a valley of small towns and sugar cane fields the mountain of light is a refuge for children who desperately need the specialized care, nurturance, healing and love provided to them in this refuge from a world where AIDS is stigmatizing. The children range in age from preschool to young adulthood. MDL is a faith based organization creating a loving home for children in Honduras who are affected by HIV/AIDS. They provide children comprehensive care, including education, medical care, and emotional and spiritual support. As the children grow toward adulthood, they strive to prepare them for life beyond Montaña de Luz. St. Simons Presbyterian has supported MDL for over a decade both financially and by sending mission teams. You can learn more on the Montaña de Luz Web site.
Montaña de Luz (MDL) was begun in 2000 as a hospice for children with HIV/AIDS in Honduras whose parents had died or had become too ill to care for them. Located an hour and half to the East of Tegucigalpa on top of a mountain overlooking a valley of small towns and sugar cane fields the mountain of light is a refuge for children who desperately need the specialized care, nurturance, healing and love provided to them in this refuge from a world where AIDS is stigmatizing. The children range in age from preschool to young adulthood. MDL is a faith based organization creating a loving home for children in Honduras who are affected by HIV/AIDS. They provide children comprehensive care, including education, medical care, and emotional and spiritual support. As the children grow toward adulthood, they strive to prepare them for life beyond Montaña de Luz. St. Simons Presbyterian has supported MDL for over a decade both financially and by sending mission teams. You can learn more on the Montaña de Luz Web site.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The core budget, including staff and administrative costs, is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing, and its program work is additionally funded through designated gifts.Presbyterian Disaster Assistance focuses on the long term recovery of disaster impacted communities and provides training and disaster preparedness for presbyteries and synods. You can learn more on the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Web site.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The core budget, including staff and administrative costs, is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing, and its program work is additionally funded through designated gifts.Presbyterian Disaster Assistance focuses on the long term recovery of disaster impacted communities and provides training and disaster preparedness for presbyteries and synods. You can learn more on the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Web site.
