Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church supports a variety of national and international missions both in person and through donation fundraisers. A brief description of each mission CMPC supports is provided below.
National Missions:
Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders. The mission of Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders is to rebuild the uninsured homes of low-income families who have experienced storm damage in major disaster areas using volunteer labor and donated funds. In the chaos and vast destruction of a major disaster area, they seek to be a Christian beacon of light and hope for families and communities in need. In 2021, the M & LO committee contributed funds to help rebuilding efforts in North Carolina after recent hurricanes in the area. One member of our committee, Pete Berlowitz, is working with Fuller to rehabilitate communities affected by recent storms in North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. For more information visit https://disaster-rebuilders.org/
Pine Springs Camp. Over the past several years, a growing number of CMPC youth have attended summer camp at Pine Springs, which is situated on 230 acres in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. In the summer of 2021, M & LO contributed funds to cover the cost of a lifeguard at the camp. Pine Springs offers each participant the opportunity to explore and develop their gifts and grow in their relationship to God. Campers receive individual attention from counselors and Directors and get to know other campers in a small group environment, even though each camp is part of a larger, high-energy camp experience. For more information visit www.pinesprings.org
Dustin Garner with OneEleven Global Ministries. OneEleven is a global mission movement focused on equipping nations for night and day worship, prayer, and missions. OneEleven joins the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan by making disciples, training leaders, and sending missionaries. M & LO supports Dustin who is a mission worker with OneEleven in Kansas City where he leads praise and worship services, trains new volunteers, develops training materials, and conducts evangelistic trips to communities in the US. For more information visit https://111global.org/about
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. In 2021 M & LO donated twice to PDA to support forest fire relief in the Western US, as well as Hurricane Ida relief efforts. PDA is the emergency relief program of PCUSA that enables congregations and mission partners to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events. Its 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. For more information visit https://pda.pcusa.org/
International Students, Inc. ISI exists to share Christ’s love with international collegiate and post-graduate students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church. ISI is a student-centered ministry designed in response to the needs of international students and their families, treating every student with dignity, compassion, and sensitivity. The M & LO Committee supports Tim and Lyn Newbrander who are ISI staff at the House of Hope in the Philadelphia area. For more information see International Students Inc (ISI).
Rise Against Hunger Rise Against Hunger is a meal packaging program is a volunteer-based initiative that coordinates the packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, and 23 essential vitamins and minerals. The program gives individuals and organizations, like CPMC, the opportunity to participate in a hands-on international hunger relief program and to become educated, engaged advocates for the worlds hungry. Since the inception of the meal packaging program in December 2005, these packaged meals have been used primarily to support school feeding programs in developing countries. In 2018 two groups of 40-50 CMPC volunteers of all ages packaged 10,000 meals in two hours in Fellowship Hall for a total of 20,000 meals. Once Covid restrictions are lifted, CMPC looks forward to resuming this impactful program. For more info see Rise Against Hunger.
Samaritan Women. Samaritan Women is a non-profit organization that recently created The Institute for Shelter Care which has shelters for exploited women in 13 states. A number of CMPC members received an orientation to their work at their center in Baltimore before it closed in 2021. The Institute provides training and mentoring to survivors of domestic sex trafficking. They are also working to raise awareness of the problem in communities where they are located. For more information visit https://thesamaritanwomen.org/
Global Missions
Presbyterian Education Fund. Under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, PEB is supported by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other churches and organizations worldwide. Its purpose is to provide high quality education based on Christian values. The scope of the Board extends to primary and secondary schools (including dormitories for Christian children), higher education, and vocational, professional and technical training for children, regardless of race or creed. For more information visit https://www.peb.edu.pk/
Al Ahli Arab Hospital. Ahli is the only Christian hospital in strife-torn Gaza area. It is a haven of peace in the middle of one of the world’s most troubled places. The political status of Gaza affects all aspects of life here because of restrictions on movement of materials and people in and out of the facility. Electricity, medicines, food, fuel, and personnel are all restricted to some extent. Al Ahli Arab Hospital continues to provide some of the finest medical care available in the region. For example, Ahli runs completely free of charge a program for early detection of breast cancer among women over 40 years of age. A mobile clinic program provides twice weekly medical care and food to people from surrounding towns and villages.
Rene Moawad Foundation. Since its creation over 25 years ago, RMF has worked tirelessly to help develop and enhance Lebanese society through improving education, economic empowerment, provision of social and health care, and the promotion of democratic values to the most marginalized and needy communities throughout Lebanon. RMF is a well-respected and nationally recognized NGO that cooperated with many national and international institutions and organizations. Recently it has been at the center of efforts to combat poverty and hunger caused by the economic collapse of the country. For more information visit https://www.rmftogether.com/
Hope Force International. In response to the devastating hurricane that hit Haiti in 2021, M & LO donated to Hope Force International. HFI is a Christian response to disaster events at home and abroad, reaching out to those who experience suffering and loss. HFI trains volunteers in advance so they are prepared and allowed to respond, often in restricted areas, when disaster strikes. For more information visit https://www.hopeforce.org/who-we-are/
Presbyterian World Mission. In 2021 M & LO continued its partnership with Presbyterian World Mission through supporting the ministry of Sharon Kandal, Regional Liaison for the Horn of Africa, South Sudan. PCUSA has been involved with churches in South Sudan for more than a century. Her husband Lynn is the primary lead for mission work in Ethiopia. In both countries, they are seeking to address the root causes of poverty particularly as they affect women and children, sharing the Good News of the Gospel, and engaging in ministries of reconciliation amidst cultures of violence. Their home church is in Millersburg, Ohio. For more information visit https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/sharon-kandel/
For more information about what the mission committee accomplished in 2021, please click here.