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West Virginia Presbytery
Cents-Ability Offering
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Our Cents-Ability
Offering in the Presbytery of West Virginia has provided fifteen grants
totaling $24,750 to food pantries and garden projects throughout the
Presbytery (January-June of 2003). Each project has had the approval of
the local Session and so is an expression of our connection with one
another in mission and ministry.
Garden programs in Preston, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties
have received grants for this year*s garden season. Our funds have
provided plants, fertilizer, and seed for home gardens for folks who
have enjoyed fresh vegetables and some to preserve for their winter
supply. Some members of our Hunger Action Ministry Team were able to
visit some of the gardens in Panther, southern McDowell County and met
some of the gardeners. One gentleman had "put in" several
small garden plots on his land and even loaned one area to a neighbor
who didn’t have space for a garden on the land he owned. He is a clear
example for each of us to give as we are able. |
| "In
as much as you have done it for one of these my children.....you did it
for Me." Matthew 25:40 |
Cents-Ability
Offering 2003
Our Mission Connection to Russia
A portion of the 25% Cents-Ability monies
in 2003 given for worldwide mission will be designated for the
Belarussian Partner Churches. Belarus remains the most repressive state
of the Slavic-speaking portion of the former Soviet Union. Seventy years
of communism and official atheism took a heavy toil on this country.
Although Moscow is a wealthy world capitol, it has tens of thousands of
poor, hungry and homeless people. The PC(USA) is expanding its
relationship with Russian Orthodox, Baptist, and other churches in the
country. Our gifts will enable this relationship to grow by supporting
new church development, theological training, congregational twinning,
and outreach projects.
Al and Ellen Smith are on a long-term mission assignment to
promote relationships between congregations in the US and Protestant
churches in Russia. The program they coordinate is called the
"Congregational Twinning Project". The Smiths began their life
in mission right here in our WV Workcamps.
After participating in the Twinning Project with their home
church in Fayetteville, NC and her "twin" church, The
Transfiguration Baptist Church of Oryol, Russia, the Smith*s began their
Russian assignment as PCUSA mission co-workers in February, 2001. Ellen
first traveled to Belarus in March of 2002 with a program called Mission
in Unity. Since that trip, Ellen has traveled to Belarus repeatedly to
develop relationships, gain a deeper understanding of the needs in this
country and see outreach projects of the Belarusian Round Table for
lnterchurch Aid (BRT).
Their partner in Belarus, the Belarussion Round Table, has
a project for HIV+ women. They have acquired a piece of land with a
house and barn in a small village, inhabited almost entirely by elderly
pensioners. The barn is being turned into a sewing workshop. The women
will be making folk costumes and also work clothing for HIV+ men who are
building churches.
Belarus has, in the last ten years, witnessed a profound
welfare reversal. In this country, 20% of the population is affected by
radiation (from the Chernobyl disaster). Add to this an HIV/AIDS
epidemic that is growing faster in this region than any place in the
world and you find people in despair. HlV+ men/women are not even
welcome by their families. Funding will help finish this project and
enable it to expand and serve more people in more places who are hungry.
This is a building being renovated to provide shelter,
spiritual support and job training, for women who are HIV positive in
Belarus. Most of the women being served are coming out of the prison
system. |
