Mission Committee

 

In 2007, the Vestry of Grace Church formally organized the Mission Committee. By 2009 Grace's Outreach Committee was merged with the Mission Committee, creating a "Missions and Outreach Committee". The goal of the combined committees is to create and maintain a system through which Grace Episcopal Church can make operational the Gospel mandate to feed the poor, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, care for the sick and abandoned, and respond to the needs of the imprisoned (Matthew 25:31-40). We have summarized this goal in the phrase "To the least and the lost for Him".

 

The Mission and Outreach Committee has been proactive in seeking out, evaluating and giving needed assistance to the local community, as well as to causes at the national and international level. The work of the Mission and Outreach committee extends beyond writing checks, however. We currently have ministry teams assigned to Angola State Prison, St. Francisville Country Manor, Habitat for Humanity, Grace Camp, and others. Additionally, we are currently engaged in programs such as Disciples of Christ in Community, Angel Tree Ministries, F.I.N.A, Pastors Coalition, and others. At the national level we support missions at the South Dakota Pine Ridge Reservation every summer, both financially and by sending and supporting Grace missionaries. At the international level we are involved in a building project in Copan Deanery, Honduras. These national and international initiatives are in addition to our Post-Katrina New Orleans recovery, which we started right after the storm and continue into the present.

 

 

The Vestry has set a goal of 10% of the operating budget towards charitable needs in addition to funds available for charitable purposes from trusts. The Mission and Outreach Committee for 2010 is composed of the Following Grace Church Members: Dixie Blue (Chair), Carolyn Douglas (Clerk), George Newton, Susan Davis, Kathleen Ford, Carol Stamey (Vestry Representative), Skip Eichin, Molly Porter, Dr. Pat S. Martin, and Dr. Landon Anderson. Anyone in the community, whether a member of Grace or not, is invited to submit a donation request in writing to the attention of the Church Secretary, at secretary@gracechurchwfp.org

 

Charitable donations have been given to such groups as the local Food Pantry, the Clothes Closet, Young Life, F.I.N.A., local families in need, Habitat for Humanity, Jackson Elementary class trip, and other worthy local projects and organizations.