Proclaim the Lord

We define missions as

any endeavor outside

our local congregation

to fulfill the Great

Commission of Christ

by proclaiming the

Gospel of Christ,

making disciples and

relating to the whole

need of mankind —

spiritual and physical.

••••••••

Let us know of your desire
for more information, your
interest in missions or
other activities.

Our Philosophy of Missions

 The purpose of the Outreach Committee is to pursue ways to reach out to the local community and the world to preach Christ to all people and nations. We define missions as any endeavor outside our local congregation to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, making disciples and relating to the whole need of mankind - spiritual and physical. As stated in Guidelines adopted by the Committee:

Desiring to be faithful to all the commands of Christ, we seek to have a balanced missions program, with respect to location (urban and rural; developed and undeveloped; local, state and national, and world), target population (youth, elderly, minorities, frontier missions, urban and suburban dwellers, etc.) and type of missionary activity (evangelism, including Bible translation and distribution; medical; educational; agricultural; etc.).

To carry out these objectives, funds are allocated each year for two dozen missionaries and mission projects. These are sponsored by Presbyterian or independent mission boards.

We encourage and support short-term missions, including summer youth missions to The Boston Project Ministries and New Orleans. We sponsor summer stays in China under the English Language Institute/China program. The goal is to place Christians in the that country to teach the English language. We also support the Altenative Mission's ministry on the island of Helene, Honduras.

Here is one example of a project we support.

Street Children, Harare, Zimbabwe

Lovemore Home. Experts believe that street children will be the biggest social concern that the world as a whole must face in the 21 st century. There are about five million of these children in Zimbabwe and that number is predicted to double in the next three or four years due to increased poverty, HIV-AIDS epidemic, breakdown of the family, war and other problems.

Nancy Warlick, a PC(USA) missionary is working hard to prevent children from becoming inhabitants of the streets in Harare. Through her work with Presbyterians in Zimbabwe and the Outreach Foundation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) one hundred and twenty-five former street children now live at Melfort Farm - a shelter and training center twenty-five miles from Harare. These children attend nearby public schools and share in the work of the farm. In addition to the children at Melfort Farm, many other former students now attending local schools, and with the help of Presbyterians in Zimbabwe, have the means to continue their education.

As an outgrowth of Melfort Farm, Lovemore Home was opened just outside the city center in 1998 and now houses ten young boys. These are children who had been living on the streets with little or no contact with their families. The program at Lovemore Home is intended to provide these children with a supportive, Christian family-style living environment enabling them to return to regular schooling and begin the process of rebuilding their lives. By agreeing to live at Lovemore Home, the boys have made a commitment to leave the streets, attend school and make positive changes in their lives, but they will need the prayers and support of friends around the world.

Outreach Committee

 First Presbyterian Church's Outreach Committee directs the missions program of First Presbyterian Church, Newport.

 Since church members pledge to missions under a separate budget, the Outreach Committee is responsible for developing the budget each year and allocating the pledged funds. The Committee also promotes special offerings for disaster relief and other needs, such as the One Great Hour of Sharing during Lent. The Missions Treasurer receives and distributes all missions income, including funds specially designated to missionaries not regularly supported by the Church.

Mission education includes "Minutes for Mission" during worship services, special presentations to Sunday School classes, bulletin inserts, special speakers and films, and bulletin board displays. October is Missions Month at First Presbyterian Church, and each Sunday of that month features a missions program or activity. Occasionally Committee members attend missions conferences to learn how to do their jobs better.

Keeping in touch with missionaries is a high priority. In addition to correspondence by regular mail and e-mail, the Committee arranges for Christmas cards and gifts to be sent to missionaries. Committee members each "adopt" a missionary or mission family, and commit themselves to prayer for and regular contact with their adoptees.

The Outreach Committee hosts visiting missionaries, arranging for their transportation, housing and meals, and coordinating their schedules while in Newport.

Local missions projects that directly involve members of First Presbyterian Church include a monthly soup kitchen, Home Repair Ministry, an annual International Students Dinner (with Focus of Park Street Congregational Church, Boston), collection of baby clothing and supplies for CareNet RI and many others.

We're a busy Committee! And we could use some help. If you are a part of the First Presbyterian Church family and are interested in missions, join the team! We're part of a great cause for the King of Kings!