MISSIONS AND BENEVOLENCE



In one year, St. Philip gave over $200,000 to various ministries in our city, our country and in the world. We also give of our time and talents. Here, a group of St. Philippians works at the supply warehouse of the Medical Benevolence Foundation/Project Cure. The donated medical supplies we help to organize are then shipped to hospitals and clinics all over the world.

MISSIONS & BENEVOLENCE GIVING AT ST. PHILIP

St. Philip members, as a faith community, support many area organizations and agencies, with talents, volunteer service hours, funding and supplies. In addition to designated local recipients and projects, the annual budget of the Missions and Benevolence Committee of  the Session  supports Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly projects and programs that directly provide funding to Presbyterian seminaries and  schools, church camps and retreat centers, global relief of hunger, shelter and emergency needs.  The Committee is charged to set mission objectives and policies for St. Philip in local, national and international spheres; to identify the pressing social justice issues of the world in which we live and find ways for the St. Philip community to respond to them; and to define, supervise and set benevolence goals to these ends at all levels.

Recipients of St. Philip  Missions and Benevolence
support include:

Blood Drive:
Three blood drives are scheduled each year at St. Philip. Church members donate approximately 100+ units of blood each year to be used wherever needed in the Gulf Coast region.

Cancare of Houston, Inc.:
CanCare is a one-on-one Christian ministry to help those with a recent diagnosis of cancer or one in the midst of a battle with cancer.  This sensitive and caring ministry helps cancer survivors and their families focus on reclaiming LIFE.  All  CanCare Volunteers (or a member of their family) have had a cancer experience.  After intensive training, volunteers form a long-term support group helping to improve the quality of life.  St. Philip members are trained volunteers enjoying the fellowship of this movement as they help others.

Child's Day In (CDI):
The Child’s Day In (CDI) Program is a non-profit community ministry of Christian Education at St. Philip.  CDI is designed to provide a safe, loving and enriched environment that will promote the development of talents, skills, confidence and potential for learning in young children.  As encouraged and supported (some scholarships) by St. Philip, the CDI program provides a nurturing and educational opportunity for children ages 6 months through pre-K.  For enrollment information, call CDI  at 713-439-1962.

Christian Community Service Center (CCSC):
St. Philip is one of a group of 35 churches in the Southwest quadrant of Houston who combine support and efforts to serve the poor, hungry, homebound, disabled and otherwise needy while respecting their religious, ethnic or cultural differences.  CCSC carries out its mission through the following five programs:

Emergency Services located at 3434 Branard, gives food, clothing, small household items and limited financial help for utilities and rent.

Operation Sunshine Meals delivers hot noontime meals to the ill and housebound. Home-helpers also provide special services for repair and upkeep of homes for these shut-ins.

Jingle Bell Express collects toys and food and lets parents choose two toys for each child and take home food tailored to meet the needs of that family for Christmas dinner.

Back-to-School provides uniforms, other clothing, shoes and school supplies to children prior to their return to school in the fall.

JobNet helps the unemployed to prepare resumes, improve their skills and find new jobs.

CCSC has a Sunshine Resale Shop at 5407 Bellaire Blvd. which sells marketable used clothing, household items, books, jewelry, china and appliances; proceeds from these sales fund ministries of CCSC.  More than 96% of the hours for all services are provided by volunteers who run the operations and coordinate the programs.  Orientation and training are provided.  The CCSC office is located at 3230 Mercer.

Bering Omega Community Services:
Bering Omega has seven healthcare, social and spiritual services for indigent persons living with HIV/AIDS which include:  dental services, adult day care, residential hospice care (Omega House), emergency financial assistance, interfaith spiritual counseling, social and bereavement counseling, in-home respite care and HIV/AIDS Advocacy Education Project. Omega House, which opened in 1985 with beds for three terminal-phase AIDS patients, expanded to eight beds in a newly renovated facility in 1993.  Omega House offers only palliative medical care, such as pain control designed to increase the patient’s comfort and sense of well being in a caring and homelike setting.It has a small staff and depends on volunteers to assist in nursing, cooking, laundry, shopping, gardening and office/clerical work

Good Neighbor Healthcare Center:
St. Philip was one of the original supporters of the Center at 277 West Gray and has been involved for all of its 30+ years as it fulfills its mission to provide quality health care, education and assistance to low income families in the Fourth Ward area and Greater Houston, regardless of their ability to pay.  The Center’s services have continually expanded and during the 1998-1999 fiscal year they recorded 13,310 medical encounters resulting in a total of 34,189 units of care. 

Houston Area Women's Center:
This agency, located at 1010 Waugh Drive, is organized to meet the needs of women in crisis.  Services include a shelter for battered women and their children, a residence providing temporary refuge while planning alternatives to a violent home situation; family violence program (FVP) non-residential, a counseling service for women in abusive situations and for incest survivors; rape crisis program which includes a 24 hour hotline, support groups, and personal support at hospital and law enforcement agencies; the hotline, a daytime telephone information service that provides entrance to the shelter and referrals to agencies in the city; and a community education program with Speakers Bureau, special events and a research library. 

Interface Samaritan Counseling Center:
This counseling center encourages human development by providing counseling and educational services from a Christian perspective. Interface Samaritan is a non-profit service provider of individual and group counseling, educational seminars, retreat leadership and church consultation. Professional counseling and educational services are offered from the Galleria headquarters on the campus of St. Philip Presbyterian Church and from the northwest center on the campus of Cypress Creek Christian Church and other churches, schools and businesses throughout the greater Houston area. Interface Samaritan is accredited by the Samaritan Institute and has been serving Houston since 1972. Its website is www.interface-samaritan.org.

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston:
Interfaith located at 3217 Montrose, is one of Houston’s oldest interfaith organizations.  IM was founded in 1969 as Houston Metropolitan Ministries. The mission of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston is to promote relations, dialogue, advocacy and joint action among people of faith from diverse cultures and varied socio-economic conditions; and to develop and operate programs through collaborative partnerships that promote justice and enhance human dignity. IM envisions a community of faith working and acting together to respond to the Divine call to create a more just, compassionate and caring society.  IM sponsors a number of programs within the community including:

Interfaith Relations to promote interfaith relationships, worship and learning experiences, bringing together people of different faiths in understanding and service to make Houston a place of hope and dignity for all.

Children and Youth Services - recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers from congregations and other faith organizations to serve as mentors, tutors and advocates for children. The IM Youth Victim/Witness Program reduces trauma for child victims and their families participating in the criminal justice system by providing special services including crisis counseling, court orientation and accompaniment, and parent support.

Refugee Services - serves as the local affiliate for Church World Service, Episcopal Migration Ministries and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.  The program assists with resettlement of refugees in the greater Houston area by recruiting congregational sponsors, developing job opportunities and providing cultural orientation and counseling services.

Health and Nutrition Services - IM Hunger Coalition consists of the Emergency Pantry Network with some 90 food pantries throughout the city and the Food for Seniors which delivers non perishable groceries monthly to low income seniors. IM Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors and congregate senior centers, and identifies and refers older adults to other social services as needed.  IM Senior Health services offers a unique healthcare system for low-income seniors with education/counseling about medication management as well as prescription reimbursement.

Senior Volunteer Services - enlists people 55 years of age and older to serve as volunteers in their communities in public, non-profit and healthcare facilities.  The IM Foster Grandparent Program recruits and trains qualified senior volunteers to spend 20 hours per week as tutors, mentors and role models for children and teens with special needs such as illiteracy, homelessness or physical disabilities.  Their web site address is: www.imgh.org.

Juan Marcos Presbyterian Church:
This Presbyterian church is a mission church of the Presbytery of New Covenant, charged with serving a low-income, largely Hispanic neighborhood on the near northside of downtown Houston.  The outreach activities of Juan Marcos have traditionally included a Day Care Center for thirty children, a Senior Nutrition Program serving about 100 noon meals for senior citizens in the neighborhood, a Thrift Shop, an emergency Pantry, and a Christmas program that provides new shoes for over 100 children and gifts for over 100 seniors and 400 children.  For the members of St. Philip, long-standing ties to Juan Marcos have made it an informal "sister" church, deeply admired for its efficient and caring use of our benevolence dollars as well as a site for a few volunteers engaged with the food pantry, thrift shop, and more recently, various professional assistance in the aftermath of a major fire.

Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly:
 Mo-Ranch is located in the Texas hill country near Hunt and has as its mission to provide a special place and enriching programs in a living, learning Christian environment to enable people to grow in God through Jesus Christ.  Programs include summer camps, Elderhostel, outdoor education seminars, retreats and conferences.  St. Philip has enjoyed all-church retreats at Mo-Ranch for over 25 years.  Mo-Ranch has a covenant agreement with the Synod of the Sun which provides a small portion of its funding but receives no funds from General Assembly or any presbytery and is thus dependent on gifts from churches and individuals to maintain its large plant and support its programs. Presbyterians who come to Mo-Ranch for any church related program receive a discount; only outside groups such as private family reunions are charged an amount sufficient to cover costs of their stay.

Presbyterian Outreach to Patients (POP):
POP has operated since 1974 as a ministry to patients hospitalized in the Texas Medical Center and to families of those patients, remembering Matthew 25:35 "I was sick and you visited me..." The lay ministers of POP are men and women from local Presbyterian churches trained to provide caring contact, presence and prayer for the sick.  They visit all Presbyterians - and other patients referred to them - in M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital.  Additional activities of POP include workshops to deepen understanding of end-of-life issues and the production of a video highlighting five cancer survivors whose stories offer hope to persons struggling with life threatening illnesses.

Presbyterian Pan American School:
This school is an international college preparatory boarding school. Its mission is to provide a Christian place of  learning and living where young people are prepared for college and future leadership roles in their native countries.  The school is affiliated by covenant agreement with the United Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Synod of the Sun and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. The school enrolls many students from Mexico in its program of academic excellence, spiritual development and cooperative work in a multicultural, multilingual environment. It also offers athletics, performing arts ministry groups and voluntary outreach opportunities for the students. 

Presbytery of New Covenant:
St. Philip supports the work of the Presbytery with a budgeted contribution of 46% of its Missions & Benevolence budget and the time and talents of many of its members who serve on Presbytery committees.  This regional governing body for congregations in the upper Texas coast, the Presbytery provides resources for the diverse ministries of its congregations and leaders. New Covenant's mission priorities lie in developing closer regional connections between congregations, nurturing congregations and church leaders, providing resources for evangelism and church development and developing an expeditious process for calling church leaders.

Red Cross :
St. Philip is designated as a Red Cross Emergency Center in case of an area flood or disaster.  No funds are allotted for the Red Cross but St. Philip members have been volunteers in assembling Christmas gift bags for local Red Cross clients, as one of the church’s Mitzvah Day activities.

Seafarers Centers :
The ministry to the Port of Houston is supported by denominational mission funds from several churches who cooperate in Seafarers' Ministry.  At this time chaplains come from the following groups:  Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and United Methodist. New Covenant Presbytery is the only Presbyterian group providing chaplains to seafarers in the United States.  There are two locations:  Houston International Seafarers Centers, located on the upper level of Wharf 23, tel. 713-672-0511 and Lou Lawler Seafarers’ Center, 1700 E. Barbours Cut Blvd., tel. 281-470-8322.  Over  12,925 Christmas gift boxes containing toiletries and small personal items were given to seafarers of the world visiting the Port of Houston between November 1999 and January 2000.  Christmas boxes are prepared at St. Philip by the After Church Women’s Circle, individuals and at special church events such as Mitzvah Day.  The church also supports the Seafarers Centers with donations of magazines, books, Bibles and encyclopedias which may be taken to the Clearing House.

The Seniors Place, Inc.:
The Senior’s place is a licensed adult day center, located at 2714 Joanel, which provides a safe, stimulating and nurturing program for older adults with Alzheimer's or similar dementia and offers respite, education and support to their caregivers.  The daily program, 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, includes welcome, coffee, newspaper highlights, crafts, exercise, music, cognitive stimulation, devotional, hot lunch, walks and some field trips.  St. Philip participates with St. Luke’s United Methodist and other area churches in  monetary support of the Seniors Place and has active volunteers on its Board.

Special Refugee Project:
St. Philip supports a family of refugees who fled dangerous conditions in their home country by welcoming them with countless volunteer hours to help them adjust to a new life in the U.S. as well as monetary support for food, clothing, rent and other necessities.

That All may Freely Serve/Texas:
Believing that all persons who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are welcome into full inclusion of the life and service of the Presbyterian Church (USA), this grassroots organization seeks to raise $75,000 to employ a staff person to be located in the Houston/Austin region.  This person will provide a coordinated effort of support, speaking and preaching wherever invited, and offering a variety of resources for groups who want to learn more about being a church where all are welcome. TAMFS/TX embarked this year on the first of a three-year fund-raising effort.

The Theological Education Fund (1% Plan):
Theological Education Fund monies go to help support the basic expenses of our theological schools (11 seminaries) such as electricity, heat, regular building maintenance, as well as for salaries of faculty and staff.  The TEF is the only denomination-wide funding source for Presbyterian seminaries.  The Church’s support of the TEF helps make other school funds available to provide financial aid for deserving students.

The Women's Home:
This organization serving women ages 18 to 62, of any race, faith or national origin. The Women’s Home is the only agency in Houston offering women long-term residential care, psychiatric services, psychotherapy and vocational and spiritual development programs. Emphasis at The Women’s Home is on rehabilitation. Women at The Home are encouraged, and in fact required, to assume responsibility for themselves, their daily affairs, medication, appointments, etc. It is the goal of The Home that after each woman is given due attention to her physical, emotional and spiritual needs, she is provided the guidance and support to recover her physical stamina, psychological balance, confidence and capability to re-enter society in a fully functional and confident manner. 75% of the women who stay six months or longer leave with employment and a safe place to live. 

Hands-On Projects :
in the local community have included work on houses for Habitat for Humanity, Mitzvah Day projects in cooperation with Congregation Emanu El and other faith communities and delivery of meals through CCSC, SEARCH, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES.   Farther afield St. Philip members in the past few years spent a week in the Yucatan region of Mexico working with small village Presbyterian churches, holding a Vacation Bible School for several hundred children, and pouring cement, painting and doing other work on the church buildings. Youth groups from St. Philip have done inner-city mission projects in Dallas and Chicago. 

Hunger Offerings:
In addition to budgeted funds, St. Philip receives a special offering of food and money for hunger needs of local agencies at the close of the worship service on the first Sunday of each month.

Ministers' Discretionary Fund:
Supported by private donations and the plate offering from the Christmas Eve candlelight service, this fund enables the ministers to provide immediate assistance to the needy who come to the church for help.

Special Offerings :
St. Philip participates in three denomination-wide offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing at Easter, which is used for emergency and crisis relief throughout the world and assistance in self-development of people programs; the Pentecost offering, which supports work with Youth and Young Adults; and the Joy Gift at Christmas, which supplements pensions of retired Presbyterian ministers and missionaries, and supports our racial-ethnic colleges and universities. 

The John Blow Clearing House:
 This center is located behind St. Philip's kitchen, is a place to bring all gently used items: including magazines, books, clothing, and household items.  These items are passed on to various agencies supported by the church.  Most of the items go to Juan Marcos Presbyterian Church, CCSC, The Women’s Home and the Seafarers’ Center (magazines).  The Clearing House is also a storage and drop-off point for items for the Seafarers’ Christmas boxes.  Sewing materials - thread, fabric, buttons, beads, etc. may be left for use in making crafts at Interfaith Ministries Retired Senior Volunteer Program. 

Missions and Benevolence Committee
Ruth Weber, Moderator