Welcome to ...

Mission Outreach at
Wayne Presbyterian Church

We're committed to mission outreach ...

... and to that end, we invest our resources (time and talent, money, influence, etc.) to make a difference
in the lives of others by co-operating with the work of God's Kingdom.

Our volunteers frequently say that they receive more than they give while serving God through our mission outreach.

So that you may explore options for your own involvement, this section of the website provides information about opportunities at Wayne Presbyterian Church.

• In Mission under the Microscope, you will find a summary of mission ministries and specific mission partners supported by the Mission Committee of Wayne Presbyterian Church. Key Wayne Presbyterian Church contacts and contact information are provided so you can find out more about how Wayne Presbyterian Church works with these partners, and how you can participate. If you wish to learn more about these partners, their website and contact information are provided.

• Mission-related notices are typically printed in the Sunday Bulletin for two weeks.

• Each month, what is happening in mission at Wayne Presbyterian Church is updated through various news and interest articles in the Wayne Press Newsletter. See also the Outreach Event Calendar which is posted on this website.

• The Stuff Needed/Help Wanted page highlights in-kind contributions (better known as "stuff"). We occasionally request specific items known to be needed by our mission partners, and provide specific instructions where donated items may be taken. Due to space and staff limitations at the church, at-will drop-off donations cannot be accepted. Lisa Davis is the Coordinator for this outreach ministry.

If you need further information or just want to discuss mission with a live person, please contact Kelli Maravalli (Mission Program Director) at the church office to connect with our Mission Steering Committee leadership: 610- 688-8700, x222.

There's a place for YOU in mission, too!

Why We Do The Things We Do

Mission is not simply one of the "many programs" of the church; the church exists for mission, and every program in WPC is a mission program for the changing and transforming of human beings and their communities, in the light of the Gospel.

The Bible teaches that we are responsible in how we use the gifts that God has given us to help our brothers and sisters in need.

• "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, "Come back tomorrow and then I'll help you." - Proverbs 4:27-28

• "Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives that need your help." - Isaiah 58:7

• "And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did to one of the least of these my bothers and sisters, you were doing it to me'. - Matthew 25:40

Scripture also clearly mandates that we share the Gospel of Christ.

• "And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8

• "Go therefore; and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded of you, and remember that I am with you always until the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

God holds us to an even higher standard because we have been so richly blessed and, through giving of our time, talent, and treasure, God can bless us even more.

How We Organize for Mission

Mission Steering Committee
Giving oversight to the mission outreach ministry, this is a standing committee of Session. Its members include elders on session who select mission as their primary place of service as well as representatives of the principal mission serving teams, the Mission Program Coordinator and the Interim Senior Pastor who serve as staff liaisons.

The Chair of the Mission Committee is Peter Grim: , and the co-Chair is Scott Laird:

Mission Outreach Serving Teams

We support six areas of mission ministry:

• Community Needs - This ministry reaches out and supports established faith-based and social service programs that provide aid to the elderly, homeless, disabled, persons receiving drug and alcohol rehabilitation, ex offenders, troubled children, and free food distribution programs for needy persons and families. The Community we serve includes Wayne, the City of Philadelphia, and the greater Philadelphia region.

• CityLights - Based on Matthew 5:14-16, this is an urban ministry to provide a resource network focusing on the Kingsessing section of Southwest Philadelphia. This ministry supports health care, inner city schools, non-violence, senior citizens, drug abuse & AIDS programs, child care, a soup kitchen and other programs.

• Global Ministry - The Global Ministry provides support, internationally, to help spread God's love through assistance to missionaries, spiritual comfort and hospitality to international seamen in Philadelphia Port, battling the global spread of AIDS, providing health care and education, combating human slave trafficking, and providing financial self-help assistance in developing countries.

• Social Justice Ministry - The Social Justice Ministry responds to our call to support justice, be advocates for the oppressed, and to be good stewards of God's world. This ministry focuses on national and international hunger relief, equitable education in Pennsylvania, anti-violence in Philadelphia, and environmental stewardship.

• Construction Ministry - The Construction Ministry is to focus on providing shelter, safety, and affordable housing to those in need in the greater Philadelphia area and nationally through support to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Volunteer assistance may also be provided to area or city schools or churches.

• Mission Administration - This function supports the Mission Steering Committee in administering the overall mission program, and leads WPC's Mission Program in keeping abreast of Missions in the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination. This sub-committee has functions of committee finance; communications & publicity; New Initiatives; Evangelism; and the Connectional Church (Presbytery, Trinity Synod, and the General Assembly Council which is the mission arm of the denomination).

Wayne Main Mission Network

Within the life of the congregation, there are many other mission outreach projects in various program areas such as Youth, Children, Presbyterian Women, Thursday Men's Breakfast Group, Music, Grocery Bag Hunger Relief, small groups and Deacons. These other projects are funded separate from the mission outreach budget. Efforts are typically made, where feasible, to pool resources and interpret what we are doing for one another and make plans for interpreting mission to the church at-large.

How We Support Mission Outreach
Through the Wayne Presbyterian Church Budget

Approximately 50% of our mission budget funds are spent on mission within a 50-mile radius of Wayne. (In addition, most of the funds and projects of other groups in the Wayne Main Mission Network serve this same area.) We serve Wayne and the metro Philadelphia area in many capacities, but we also work with several mission partners in the U.S. and overseas as well. The other 50% goes to support needs both within the greater U.S. and abroad.

Connectional Church Commitments

As Presbyterians, we are connected to the infrastructure of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). By cooperating with other congregations, we can support a network of ministries on a wider scale than any one congregation could support on its own.

Our connectional church funds go to: Presbytery of Philadelphia, Synod of the Trinity, & General Assembly Council of PC(USA). Each of these governing bodies (as they are called by Presbyterians) has a budget of its own and our funds are pooled with those of other congregations and disbursed according to the budget adopted by that governing body.

Congregationally Managed Church Commitments

Mission serving teams and staff of the Wayne Presbyterian Church decide how funds will be disbursed. Through this budget, we provide goods and services in the name of Jesus Christ to persons from the heart of Wayne to the ends of the earth.

One Great Hour of Sharing - benefits three programs (one-third goes to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, one-third to Presbyterian Hunger Relief, and one-third to Self-Development of People).

Gift Alternatives at Christmas - benefits 20-25 charities each year by offering alternatives to traditional Christmas gifts for friends and family.

Designated mission ministry offerings - We take special offerings approved by Session through the Stewardship Committee for particular mission needs, such as special appeals for disaster relief, beyond-budget projects, etc.

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful and the harvesters are few." There are many ways you can be a mission harvester in His name. Please contact Kelli, Peter, or Scott.

Thanks to all who support mission outreach at Wayne Presbyterian Church by praying, giving, and serving. May God be pleased with and glorified in all that we do.

In an atmosphere of caring hospitality, Wayne Presbyterian Church responds to God's grace
with worship, lifelong Christian education, and mission outreach.