First Presbyterian Church is highly responsive to opportunities that allow us to share God’s grace in communion with others. This includes participating in work projects around the country and the world.
Malawi
Malawi is one of the four poorest countries on our planet. It is half the size of Missouri and has over three times the population. It is located in south-eastern Africa surrounded by Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Its natural resource is its people who are always singing and welcoming. It is called “the warm heart of Africa” – and it truly is. In Malawi, 90% of the people live in rural areas and 75% of the people live on less than $2 per day. Yet all who have seen our partnership in person come away amazed at the joy and gratitude of the people We are blessed in this partnership!
Our mission with Malawi began in 2001 when we agreed to provide the money to build a church in Ethuleni, a rural village that had been having worship under a tree. This partnership with the Central Church Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has grown to include the building of churches, health clinics, housing for teachers and nurses, water wells, and supplying food for children.
Currently, our three primary mission areas are:
- Providing food for a Community-Based Child Care Center at Kasasa. Over 60 of these childcare centers provide quality child care that enables the grandparents and extended family members who are raising the children of AIDS-affected parents to have some respite time. “Our” facility is the only one that provides the much-needed food for the children.
- Work with the new Maternity Ward in Kavuzi. We sent the money for the people to build and equip the clinic beginning in 2022, and now we are helping pay the salaries of the nurses who work there. In Malawi, the government pays the salaries for the doctors and nurses ($3/day for a nurse and $6/day for a doctor), but they have not yet given the final approval for this clinic, so we are helping until the government steps up. With our help, the women and babies can be in a safe place for those first hours.
- Providing food for the children and youth involved in the Thembi Initiative in a very rural part of northern Malawi. This started with identifying 12-20 children and has grown to over 500. These children are all HIV+; they can get their medicine to keep them healthy, but you MUST take the medicine with food—and that is often too scarce. The Thembi team provides vital information for the children and their caregivers about dealing with HIV, and they have now started raising crops and animals to help with the food and poverty situation.
Peru
For 20 years, FPC has partnered with Medical Missions Inc. to carry out mission work in the Amazon region of Peru.
Tamshiyacu is a small village on the Amazon River, which is home to our sister church. Mission work there includes anti-parasite clinics; home improvements for church members; and improvements to the church which includes the Pastor’s home and a school for Special Children of the Amazon (SCOTA).
Work trips to Peru have included some of these projects as well as week-long Bible Schools. Funds are also expended for medical equipment at the hospital in Inquitos, where MMI staff Margarita Diaz Semanario works as a nurse.
This mission is supported by funds from our church budget, contributions designated for the Peru Mission, and work trips. Each traveler not only donates their time but pays their own way.
Nepal
“To the world, you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.”
Ripple Nepal is an educational sponsorship program that helps poor kids in Nepal go to school. The program was founded in 2007 on the principle that an education is the key to a better life and that helping one child—creates a ripple—positively impacting the child, the child’s family, their community, and the world at large.
For as little as $450.00 – $600.00 per year you can help a child get an education. This includes books, a uniform, and lunch. There are more children in need than sponsors.
Sponsors receive regular grade reports and letters from their children. After their trip, the Sanders hope to have updated pictures and more complete information to share about the children.
Hungarian Reformed Church
The partnership began in 1984, during Communist times. Back then, travel was dangerous between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., but brave Christians on both sides sent groups of their members back and forth.
Since then, Missouri Union Presbytery (MUP) has sent many groups to Hungary and has welcomed and befriended many members of the Hungarian Reformed Church (HRC). Missourians at first were inspired by the HRC’s solid faith and determination to follow the Lord, despite persecution. Later, MUP helped the HRC rebuild its churches, schools, and historical sites. Recently, we have admired such things as the new church development in Miskolc, the radio station, the difficulties and achievements in the Ukraine, and the education program for the Roma children in the Ukraine.
This education program includes schools which often include lunch and transportation. A kindergarten classroom in the Ukraine.
Some MUP churches have special relationships, in the Partnership Congregations program. This is individual congregations in the HRC and MUP relating to each other in whatever ways they want to do. First Presbyterian Church’s partner is Szerencs Reformed Church.
Recent events have reduced MUP’s income, so there are no funds for the HRC Partnership. If funding can be found, the MUP leadership hopes to form a group to visit the HRC in 2024.
