The Mission Resource Team is focused on connecting congregations for mission project partnerships, identifying mission opportunities, and advocating for peace and justice. Currently we are asking churches to submit the new Mission Reporting Form included with the year-end reports from Presbytery. We hope to compile this information into a useful resource that will help connect churches to partner in mission.
Money for the Presbytery Peacemaking Fund is generated by those congregations within the PWNY who participate in the Peacemaking Offering, a special offering of PC(USA). It is received on the first Sunday of October, World Community Sunday and each congregation keeps 25 percent of their local offering to direct to a peacemaking mission of their choice. The PWNY keeps a portion, which is available for Peacemaking Grants. In 2015, an additional $1,057 was added to the Presbytery Peacemaking Fund as the peacemaking portion of a Synod grant received in December 2014.
The SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence received a grant of $1,000 to support Camp Peaceprints 2015. The theme, "Unity in Community," focused on ways we can increase the unity in our community and make the world a more peaceful and harmonious place. For more information, www.sisterkarencenter.org or info@sisterkarnecenter.org.
Global Bridge CEM received a grant of $1,000 to establish a central office at Concerned Ecumenical Ministry, 286 Lafayette Ave, Buffalo NY. Global Bridge will provide services to the members of the African refugee community who live nearby. For more information contact Catharine Rieley-Goddard, crieleygod@cembuffalo.org.
Genesis House of Olean NY received a grant of $500 to refurbish their men's shelter, which consisted of painting the interior walls of the house. The painting was done by volunteers from the Halfway House in Westons Mills NY. For more information contact Linore Lounsbury, ghouse@roadrunner.com.
Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. submitted an application to OMT requesting $7,500 for the Community Ministry and Outreach Initiative. They received a grant from PWNY for $5,240. Bacon Memorial PC and First Youngstown provided letters of support for this application.
A brief summary of the project's vision and goals: The Community Ministry and Outreach Initiative is a collaborative street ministry and ministry of presence to bring The Church "outside the four walls of churches" to people in need. It will share the Gospel message of hope and love through proactively providing targeted information and referrals to services available through Community Missions and other service providers.
For more information, please contact Rev. Mark Breese, Agency Minister and Director of Ministry and Community Partnerships at mbreese@ecunet.org.
Family Promise of Western New York submitted an application to OMT requesting $12,000 for the Home Again Program. They received a grant from PWNY for $5,000. Orchard Park PC, First Buffalo, and University PC provided letters of support for this application.
A brief summary of the project's vision and goals: Family Promise of WNY has served homeless children and families since 1996. Family Promise seeks to formalize the Home Again Program with funding from the PWNY. It is our vision that the Home Again Program will assist families in becoming independent and help them move into available housing more efficiently.
For more information, please contact Charles LeFevre, Executive Director, at clefevre@fpwny.org.
Genesis House of Olean, Inc. submitted an application to OMT requesting $5,000 for the Security Deposits for Program Graduates. They received a grant from PWNY for $2,000. First Olean and Randolph UPC provided letters of support for this application.
A brief summary of the project's vision and goals: Residents of Genesis House who complete our program have successfully found an apartment but are having difficulty providing the security deposit needed. Genesis House is having difficulty helping with security deposits because it is not in our budget. A grant would help those starting out again with a little more security.
For more information, please contact Linore Lounsbury, Executive Director, at ghouse@roadrunner.com.
Jericho Road Ministries submitted an application to OMT requesting $10,000 for the Onsite Program Manager for Vive Shelter for Asylees. They received a grant from PWNY for $5,850. Orchard Park PC and First Buffalo provided letters of support for this application.
A brief summary of the project's vision and goals: Jericho Road desires to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to the most vulnerable in Buffalo. While we fully absorb the vital programming of Vive Shelter for Asylees, our new "Program Manager" will create ways to best integrate our service for refugees to best meet the immediate needs of asylees in our shelter.
For more information, please contact Heather Pennington at heather.pennington@jrchc.org.
The First Presbyterian Church of Springville submitted an application to OMT requesting $5,000 for the LOVE, Inc. Transportation Ministry. A grant from PWNY for $3,760 was awarded to LOVE, Inc. of Springville. First Springville and Glenwood PC provided letters of support for this application.
A brief summary of the project's vision and goals: The goal of this request is to secure funding to sustain the Transportation Ministry of Love In the Name of Christ, Springville NY, for the period of one year. Love Inc. has provided the volunteer base and dispatch services for a vehicle owned by Healthy Community Alliance, based in Gowanda NY. Together these two organizations successfully formed an 18-year partnership that gained nationwide recognition for best practices. Unfortunately, because of funding cuts and a change of focus, Healthy Community Alliance is no longer able to maintain a vehicle for this use. Knowing firsthand the great need the vehicle fills, Love Inc. Board of Directors decided to do their best to continue the ministry.