Missions Committee
Co-Chairs: James Ruckman & Dean Elledge
Members: Ernest & Helen Hunter, Judy & David Nichols,Mrna Dibble, Kay Dano, Lindalee Macauley, Carol & Tom Palmgren, Melinda Harmon and Judy Jones,
Mel and Debbie Bowling, Joey Holzmeister, and Jose Luis
Making a difference for those in Japan
Our hearts ache for the people of Japan, especially those directly affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 10. The Presbyterian Church is responding to this tragedy through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and its partners.SMPC’s Missions Committee has donated $1,000 to PDA for relief efforts. If you are interested in helping, individual contributions may be made on the secure PC(USA) website at http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/pda/japan/ or by sending a check to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) P.O. Box 643700Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700 Gifts should be designated for account DR000117 — Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Others may prefer to contribute to a favorite charity with the possibility of corporate matching funds. If you prefer, you can make check out to SMPC with account designated so it will be recorded on your contributions statement. The Missions Committee urges you to pray for all those affected by the disaster – victims and their families, aid workers, leaders, and others contributing to the relief efforts.
Tornado Victims in the Southern United States
The missions Committee has donated $1,000 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) to help the victims of multiple tornadoes that struck several southern states recently. PDA is already working with affected Presbyteries to assist with immediate emergencies, long-term and unmet needs, and spiritual/emotional counseling. If you would like to make an additional contribution to assist these efforts, your check may be made out to SMPC with the notation that it’s for PDA – DR000015. Please pray for all of those who have been displaced by the storms, those who have lost loved ones, and those who are helping with the restoration efforts and spiritual support.
It has been over six years s
ince Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, and there is still much to do to help restore the lives of individuals affected by the destruction. From October 2 – 8, 2011, James Ruckman, Dean Elledge, Gwen Volker, Diane Giannola, Pete Webb, and Erica Williamson joined others in New Orleans to build a new house on a donated lot as part of Project Homecoming, a ministry of the Presbytery of South Louisiana, in partnership with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Project Homecoming is dedicated to rebuilding homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina that belong to families who are low-income, uninsured, underinsured, disabled, and elderly. If you would like to become part of this important ministry and help someone affected by Hurricane Katrina, please consider joining our New Orleans Mission trip next October. Please contact James Ruckman if you have any questions. jruckman@carolina.rr.com
Haiti Connections - Help A Child
Have you ever had an experience that is incredibly heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time?
That's what it's like to visit Bayonnais, Haiti. The children are starved:
• For attention
• For education
• For food
• For medical care
And yet...they have remarkable faith, smiles that would light the darkest of rooms, and hearts full of love. What they need is a chance to grow, both in mind and body. Perhaps you'd like to help them accomplish that by sponsoring a child. For only $35 a month, you can change a life. Interested? Please contact Judy Jones at 704-321-3443 or judy21jones@gmail.com
Bayonnais, Haiti
The SMPC Missions Committee is primarily concerned with our outreach program to support the OFCB Christian Mission in Bayonnais, Haiti. Our Haiti connection dates from the church's beginnings when Actionnel Fleurisma, who founded the OFCB Mission, lived among us and was one of SMPC's charter members. The Missions Committee encourages church members to participate in the Haiti student sponsorship program. We ‘sponsor" school children for the sum of $35 per month, the money being is used to pay teachers' salaries, buy supplies, and feed the students a nourishing meal each day - sometimes the only meal they receive.
Click here for more about SMPC's Haiti Ministry
Click here to visit OFCB's web site
Fair trade is Good News...
The Missions Committee is pleased to announce the opening of a permanent display of Equal Exchange products located next to Coffee Grounds. These products are 100% fairly traded (practices which help farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia, earn a fairer share of income) to include select coffees, teas, chocolates, and nuts. Please come by our display today and consider purchasing a product that is not only delicious, but will help small farmers build a better future for themselves and their families.
Whether you are a coffee or tea drinker or like to enjoy a great candy bar, and would like to support fairly traded practices in the developing world, please consider purchasing these as well as our other products. You will find a wide range of organically grown coffees, and teas as well as several flavored choices, to your most conventional of roasted coffees and many other fairly traded products. This is a great way to enjoy a wonderful cup of coffee or tea, while helping small farmers build a better future for themselves and their families.
For more information on this worthwhile project, please visit http://www.pcusa.org/coffee/trade.htm and http://www.equalexchange.coop/
David Nichols
Dear Members of
South Mecklenburg,
Any successful church program requires inspiration and dedication, the vision to do something and the energy to do it. SMPC's mission program is indeed a vibrant mission program because the grace of Christ has been manifested in the tireless work of David Nichols. David, a person of mature faith, keen intellect, and boundless energy, has given himself to the work of engaging this congregation in the mission of developmental work in Haiti.
David spends countless hours coordinating support for a church and school in Bayonnais, Haiti in addition to providing a great deal of organizational leadership for the ministry itself. His counsel and his repeated journeys to Bayonnais have been invaluable to the leaders of the church and school. By God's grace and David's joyfully diligent response an average of $230,000 is raised for the school, for scholarships, and for the community and church in Bayonnais. David's leadership has made a tremendous difference in the lives of countless people who each day face the life and death issues that poverty creates. David has coordinated projects that have included bus transportation, bridge building, solar technology, internet access for the school, food and supplies following hurricane Jeanne, the beginnings of a medical clinic, college education, and medical school education. In addition, his advocacy for this ministry has been extremely important in forming partnerships with other churches in our Presbytery along with a number of other congregations in the Charlotte area and beyond.
In addition, this ordained elder is active in ministries of congregational care, Bible study, and fellowship. What a blessing it is for this congregation to share in ministry with one who seeks to ensure that the faith we proclaim is exemplified by the things that we do.
In recognition of David's example of servant leadership, the Presbytery of Charlotte has named David as a recipient of the Older Adult Ministries Award. Nancy Youmans, Coordinator for Leadership Development, will be present with us in worship on July 19th to present the award to David.
Congratulations, David! Thank you for your witness.
Grace and Peace,
Matt
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