About FPC Missions
“As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” -John 20:21 (NIV)
To be a Christian is to be called into Christ’s service, and use any possible means to share the good news of God’s love with others. This is our mission as believers and as a church. Because of God’s great blessing upon our lives, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to be a blessing in our community and to contribute to God’s Kingdom work all over the globe. We especially reach out to those Jesus reached out to: the least, the lost and the last.
How First Presbyterian Church Carries Out Its Mission
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Hands-On: Our best resources are our gifts and abilities. We can match your interests and talents with the needs of one of our mission partners, so you can make a difference in the lives of others. You can be a mentor, tutor, administrative assistant, house builder, painter, board member, teacher, visitor, care giver, and more. Also, you can help on a workday or go on a mission trip.
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Community Projects: Several times a year the whole church works together to meet the needs of our neighbors: “gleaning” (picking produce in local fields for local food networks, creating the Thanksgiving food box distribution in the Eaton Park neighborhood, sponsoring Oscar J. Pope Elementary School, the annual June Food Drive, Rudolph Roundup (providing a happy Christmas for local foster-care children) and “Pedal Power” (refurbishing bikes for the needy).
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Trips: Have a cross-cultural experience and extend the love of God to people in extreme need. Recent mission teams have gone to Kenya, Malawi, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
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Financial Support: Eighteen percent (18%) of our operating budget goes to support over 40 mission partners in Lakeland, the US and overseas in 13 countries; 6 missionary families; disaster relief; seminary scholarships; and the designated Presbyterian missions.
Contact Nancy Bertram, our Mission Coordinator, at 686-7187 ext 248 to find out more, or pick up a “Partners in Mission” booklet at FPC to learn about all of our mission partnerships in Lakeland and around the world!