TEN DAYS OF PRAYER
Following a clear vision received in July 2000, a call to Christians across Africa and then across all the earth, to a day of repentance and prayer, a remarkable “wave” of united prayer has “rolled out” over Africa and the globe. The Global Day of Prayer has seen millions of Christians unite in a day of repentance and prayer. These prayers have the power to transform our world and to fill the nations with the glory of God. For the ten days prior to Pentecost Sunday, Church of the Palms will be a part of a prayer vigil around the world. After the pattern of the early followers of Christ as told in Acts, we will take part in unceasing prayer. Beginning May 21, there will be corporate prayer observed in the Chapel from noon to 1:00 p.m. each day. This is a guided prayer time. To participate you just need to show up and join with others as you lift up your hearts to the Lord!
Following Pentecost, there will be a 90-day period that is called Ninety Days of Blessing. During this time, Christians around the world are asked to take action to transform their communities. Through the ministry of Habitat for Humanity, Church of the Palms will join with other local churches to adopt a home in our community and work with the residents to repair their home. A home will be transformed and so, too, lives. Contact Fee Mercer, 371-8091 or Maxine Perry, 349-3282 for more information.
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International Missions
Agape Flights
Agape Flights started in 1980 in Bradenton by a group of Christians to pray on how to help missionaries get dependable mail and delivery service in Haiti. Agape is presently located at Venice Municipal Airport. They make regular flights to Haiti, Dominican Republic and the Bahamas delivering mail, donated Bibles, nutritional supplements, medical supplies, school and building supplies to about 350 missionary families. You can become a mission partner through prayer, financial support or volunteering your time organizing supplies and loading planes at the Venice airport.
Contact: gomissions@agapeflights.com; to learn more call 488-0990
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization)
ECHO is a non-profit, interdenominational Christian organization located on a demonstration farm in North Ft. Myers. The Global Farm allows ECHO to provide resources for missionaries and agricultural workers in over 190 countries. Each year ECHO provides in-depth training for eight interns who are preparing for careers in agricultural missions and development. ECHO is dedicated to fighting hunger through innovative ideas, information, agricultural training, and seeds and plants through networking with community leaders and missionaries in developing countries. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult situations and conditions. Tours of the farm in Ft. Myers are conducted during the week and on Saturdays.
JOIN US FOR A TRIP TO “ECHO”
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) is a Christian inter-denominational organization located on a demonstration farm in Ft. Myers. The Global Farm allows ECHO to provide resources through networking to missionaries and agricultural workers in over 190 countries. ECHO’s mission is to fight hunger worldwide through innovative ideas, information, agricultural training and a seed bank which provides seeds and plants suited to a country’s climate. Echo also provides in depth training for eight interns preparing for careers in agricultural missions and development. A trip is planned for Saturday, April 18 on our church bus. It will leave church at 8:00 a.m. and return around 2:00 p.m.. Come see first hand a local mission that is making an impact against hunger, malnutrition, & disease worldwide. Contact Helen Dickinson for more information
Contact: Helen Dickinson @ 923-0125; www.echonet.org for more info, or call (239) 543-3246
Honduras Eye and Dental Clinic (CCSM of Honduras)
Centro Cristiano de Servicios Medicos (CCSM), located in El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras, was founded by the late Dr. Douglas Perry, a member of Church of the Palms, in collaboration with Rev. Daniel and Ruth Castro, Directors of Sociedad Medica Cristina, and Willie Hunter, General Director of Medical Ministry International. The Christian medical center, opened in 1997, was designed to provide quality ophthalmic and dental care for the poor who were unable to afford medical services elsewhere. Its main objective is to witness the love of God by caring for the poorest of the poor. Church of the Palms played a major role in helping establish the clinic and continues to provide both financial and spiritual support.
Contact: Maxine Perry @ 349-3282
Honduras Good Samaritan Fund
This fund was established to assist individuals and organizations in Honduras who have needs that do not fall within the guidelines of the budget of the eye and dental clinic. In the past, the fund has been used to pay for transportation, food and lodging for patients who could not afford to travel to the clinic for surgery. It also provides fresh fruits, vegetables and milk on a weekly basis to a home for malnourished children. Seniors living in a home for the elderly receive their Sunday dinner, prepared by a local couple, paid for by donations from this fund. Major items purchased in the past are appliances for the Nutrition Center (home for malnourished children) and new mattresses for the residents of the seniors’ home.
Contact: Maxine Perry @ 349-3282
New Hope International
New Hope International is committed to equipping the Church in Eastern Europe (Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia & Czech Republic) through partnerships that provide training materials and encouragement as they win the next generation for Christ. COP partners with Hank and Mona Paulson. New Hope is now working on the translation and printing of Rick Warrens’ “Purpose Driven Youth Ministry” for training youth leaders in Bulgaria. COP’s Mission Committee has pledged to support the translation and editing of this book. New Hope would welcome contributions to help with the cost of publishing 1000 books when translation is complete.
Contact: Rev. Phil & Margarette Bliss @ 359-6688
Presbyterian Church of Kirkuk, Iraq
The Presbyterian Church/USA is very involved with five Presbyterian churches in Iraq. The Kirkuk church has about 200 families and is still able to gather for services in their church. The Presbyterian Church of Mosul had to go underground due to the war and violence that threaten Christians. Many Christians have become refugees and have had to flee to neighboring countries for their safety. The National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Kirkuk has had the use of a home for a number of years and part of their evangelism ministry has been a very successful kindergarten and child care center in this home. The building is now being sold and the church would like to buy it in order to continue their Christian outreach in the community. Donations may be made through PC/USA Extra Commitment Fund and designated for Kirkuk Church Kindergarten.
Contact: Charlie & Carol Haeussner @ 907-3851; (412) 963-8734;
cfhcgh@earthlink.net
Church of the Palms Missionary Support
Dale & Carole Hoskins - Wycliffe Bible Translators
Last summer (2007) Dale and Carole Hoskins had finalized their work on the Orma writing systems for the Bible Translation to the Orma Language he had been working on in Kenya. It has cleared the way for publication of a reading and writing primer, scripture and other materials. They have been on leave here in the states and we enjoyed a visit from them in May 2008. In September (’08) Dale will play a key role with Wycliffe’s affiliate organization, “The Seed Company.” He will work on a team of trainer/consultants serving a cluster of languages. The team will hold intensive workshops in Nigeria to train nationals in Africa to help them prepare their writing systems and to translate the Book of Luke.
Contact: Reyn Kamphuis @ 360-8474
Hank & Mona Paulson – New Hope International
The Paulsons work out of New Hope’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They travel frequently in the US and the countries in Eastern Europe for conferences, mentoring, giving publishing tools, encouragement & fellowship for the churches as they spread God’s word. New Hope focuses on national churches in each country. They have just developed a new partnership in Bulgaria. The ultimate goal of New Hope International is to win the next generation to Christ. See “New Hope International” under International Missions for their newest project in Bulgaria.
Contact: Rev. Phil & Margarette Bliss @ 359-6688
Local Mission Opportunities
Back to Basics Tutoring Program
Back to Basics Tutoring began January 1992 as a Church of the Palms mission to provide supplemental academic assistance to students. Since that beginning, the program has grown from serving 12 students from two schools to 230 students from 25 schools. Classroom teachers, school principals, school counselors, students, friends and various agencies now refer students to Back to Basics Tutoring. This assistance is provided September through May on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 to 7:00 p.m. through one-to-one tutoring in the Campus Center. Students in grade one through college attend scheduled one hour tutoring sessions. During a school year about 5000 hours of one-to-one tutoring will be provided. Many volunteers not only dedicate a portion of their time but also have the expertise to provide tutoring in reading, math, writing, spelling, Spanish, German, French, history, English, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, biology, trigonometry, chemistry and physics. Each tutor gives his/her undivided attention to the student, helps with the schoolwork, listens intently, encourages the student and genuinely cares about the student. Many non-tutoring volunteers assist by registering students, managing computer labs, serving snacks and handling other administrative tasks. Parents and students often report improved grades and confidence as a result of the Back to Basics Tutoring Program.
Contact: Ruby Dailey @ 925-4584, or, rjdailey@comcast.net
Beth-El Farm Workers Ministry
(Mission Peniel in Immokalee)
Beth-El helps farm workers achieve self-sufficiency through opportunities to worship, its extensive educational programs and many services to help meet basic needs. The mission provides food, men’s clothing & shoes and hygiene items as well as a hot meal on Friday. Many churches volunteer to help on Fridays. In September 2006 they began an outreach ministry. In April 2007, Pastor Miguel Estrada, an ordained Presbyterian from Guatamala, began church services (Mision Peniel) on Sundays.
Contact: Dave Moore (Executive Director) @ dave@beth-el.info
Community Haven
for Adults and Children With Disabilities (CHAC)
CHAC is a local nonprofit agency serving the needs of the disabled, from childhood into old age.
Disabled persons served by CHAC:
· benefit from early childhood intervention
· obtain special education services
· develop marketable work skills
· achieve self sufficiency and independence as much as possible
· participate in a fully inclusive life in our communityChurch volunteers have worked with disabled persons bused to our campus to participate in crafts, music, drama and games designed to build self confidence and social skills. Because of budget and staff cuts at the agency, we will be taking our programs to the CHAC campus.
Volunteers are really needed! No skills required, except the ability to show and receive love.
Contact: Jeanie Starostecki @ 929-9352
Early Childhood Center
For over 46 years, the early Childhood Center, as a mission of Church of the Palms, has been providing day care and pre-school programs for children from the ages of 6 weeks to 4 years. Serving both Church members and the community at large, the Center provides care, activities and education for over 200 children in an atmosphere of Christian love and concern.
Contact: 941-921-7892 or www.palmspreschool.com
Contact: Brooks Vanderzee @ 739-9243
Emma E. Booker Elementary School & Newtown Youth
“You are sent beyond this church by Christ. See your work as fulfilling Christ’s command to serve this world and tell the people Jesus has sent me here to help you.” Rev. Bruce Porter, 10/4/98. These words live on in the varied mission programs run by the Church of the Palms. One of the most important programs supported by this Church is the assistance given to children who reside in the lowest income, mostly African-American and Hispanic area of Sarasota called Newtown. Since 1997, our church has befriended these children and their local schools, Emma E. Booker Elementary and Booker Middle by assisting with purchases of school uniforms, needed school supplies, socks, shoes, and health items. The women’s circles also play a vital role in helping to fill Christmas stockings in Booker Elementary’s yearly Santa Program. Funding field trips as well as providing healthy snacks make the Church of the Palms an important friend to the children and families of the Newtown area.”
Contact: Dee Webber @ 379-3500, or, webber.dee@gmail.com
FISH (“Feel I Should Help”)
FISH is a non-denominational organization that first started in England and soon became international. While FISH is not an acronym, many say it means Feel I Should Help. In the early 1970’s, a chapter was organized in Sarasota, with financial aid from our Mission Committee. Ruth Pierce, a member at COP, has been involved with FISH for 30 years and is now retired. She has been nominated for “The Governors Award” for her dedication & work with FISH. The mission is to drive patients for medical appointments five days a week, with no charge. Our big need today is for volunteers: drivers and/or telephone volunteers who work from home.
Contact: Dell McAbee @ 371-5528
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry, a mission supported by Deacons, supplies food to hungry people in Sarasota. In 2007, 10,096 bags of food were given out, averaging 841 bags a month. This helped over 17,500 people. During the summer of 2008, with the economic downturn, the Pantry dispensed over1500 bags of food a month; a 78% increase in need!
The food is provided by purchases from All Faiths Food Bank and food donated by members of our church. Funds are provided from the Deacons budget and from donations of church members. The church has an annual food drive in November, but issues requests for items in short supply throughout the year. Teams of volunteers from Church of the Palms distribute the food. One group of teams packages the food in grocery bags five days per week while a second group of volunteers distributes the packed bags each day from the church office to the people who have been referred to our church for help.
Contact: Paul Ross @ 923-7608, or, jpcarross@comcast.net
Gautier Presbyterian Church Covenant
In response to needs generated by Hurricane Katrina, Church of the Palms entered into a Covenant with Gautier Presbyterian Church. Gautier is one of many little towns along the Gulf Coast in Mississippi that were devastated by wind and waves during Katrina. The Covenant was adopted by Session on February 27, 2006. Many of the objectives of the Covenant have been met but there are still two outstanding promises that remain unfolding. One is to regularly lift up the Gautier Presbyterian Church and its members in prayer. The other is The Adopt-A-Family program. Church of the Palms “adopted” two families for special focus to help with recovery. The first family, consisting of Anne and Charles Roberts and their son, Andrew, has fully recovered. The second family, Vince and Pauline Smith and their children, Louie and Samantha, is in the recovery mode. They are still living in a ‘FEMA” cottage and have hopes of repairing their house, but Vince has been sidelined by a kidney condition. Although some funds have been set aside to help in reconstruction, the project has been stalled by Vince’s health. Please continue to keep Gautier Presbyterian Church and its members, and the Smith and Roberts families, in your prayers.
Contact: Jeanne Armstrong, 359-8907
Good Samaritan Mission
Good Samaritan Mission is a mission to the largely Hispanic migrant community located in Wimauma in eastern Hillsborough County, Florida. It is supported by many denominations. Dr. Douglas Perry was a founding member of this mission. Church of the Palms contributes financially through the Mission Budget. The Children and Youth organizations and the Presbyterian Women contribute school supplies, shoes, food, clothing and household goods.
Contact: Wayne Kindt @ 342-6494, or, patwayne83@verizon.net
Grace Point Ministries
This is a new program at Church of the Palms and is a result of Dr. Paul Eckel expressing his concerns about the economic crisis affecting our community. A number of people in our congregation have been working to provide a direction for help through our church and community resources. We now have a brochure available in both sanctuaries and the church office. The committee continues to work on other forms of assistance such as budgeting classes, training counselors and guest speakers.
Contact: Robert Baarson @ 922-3547
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses, providing shelter for more than 1 million people worldwide. Habitat is a grassroots movement with a presence in more than 90 countries and all 50 of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Families that put sweat equity into their house, building it along with volunteers and assisted by trained supervisors, purchase the Habitat house. Houses are sold to the families at no profit, with no interest on the mortgage. Individuals, corporations, faith groups and others provide financial support. At the Church of the Palms our work during the past three years has been directed to the rehabilitation of homes. This project is called, Operation Rehabitat.
Operation ReHabitat
Church of the Palms’ involvement with Operation ReHabitat started in 2006 as a result of the 90 Days of Blessing, the “faith in action” component of the Global Day of Prayer. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity, approximately 50 Church of the Palms volunteers began to work each Saturday morning throughout the summer on homes of low-income elderly residents in Newtown. In 2007, over 60 volunteers returned to Newtown for another season of hard work as they labored in love to restore the home of an elderly couple. In 2008, the ranks of our volunteer workforce increased to over 75, this time tackling an “extreme makeover” in Kensington Park for a young mom and her three daughters. As one volunteer said, “The work is not what I’d call pure fun, but it is pure joy. I love the camraderie that has developed among the volunteers. I love the short prayer time that allows me and others to really appreciate why we’re there. We are the face of a loving and caring Jesus, not only to the mother and her children, but also to the neighbors who are probably wondering what made all these crazy strangers show up at the house to work in hot, dirty conditions. Working on Rehabitat has been a time of spiritual growth for me. The pay is great.”
Contact: Mark Usher @ 923-7275
Hogar (Habitats in Honduras)
After 12 years of involvement by the Church of the Palms in El Progreso, Honduras, through the eye clinic and vacation Bible schools, we are beginning to extend our outreach in this community by building homes for the poor. The first home will be constructed in September 2008. A group of eight men from Church of the Palms will be involved in the project and by God’s grace many more teams will be sent from our church to minister in this needy country.
Contact:
Dale and Mary Ann Vollrath @ 586-1143, or, Dale.maryann@verizon.net
Kalish House
Kalish House, a teenage boy’s shelter program operated by the YMCA, is undergoing some major changes at this time. The boys shelter has been transferred to the Bowman Ranch, a co-ed facility, and the Kalish House facility is being used for transitional housing for those who have completed other programs. It is hoped that the future direction of this program will be solidified before the end of 2008. Contact Gary Olson
Contact: Gary Olson @ 346-0378
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is a program to provide hot nutritious meals to people in Sarasota who need them. These are individuals who are unable to shop or cook meals for themselves because of illness, disability or infirmity due to age or recent hospitalization. The majority receive their meals free of charge; less than one third contribute what they can up to $2.50 per meal. The program receives no government funds. Broad community support is essential to sustain the program. Over 550 meals are prepared and delivered daily. Volunteers are needed to help deliver the meals one day a week, or more.
Contact: Roger Wollstadt @ 925-0454
Resurrection House
Founded by six downtown churches in 1989, Resurrection House is Sarasota’s only faith-based daytime resource center for our homeless population. Its mission is committed to the alleviation of the suffering of the homeless by providing physical, emotional and spiritual assistance. The ultimate goal is to replace homelessness with hopefulness, and the main focus is on the client’s successful return to a productive life.
Some basic services that are giant steps toward progress for those in desperate circumstances are: showers, laundry, caring counseling to include securing an I.D., job-search and housing assistance, in-house medical clinic, clothing, mail service, bus passes, haircuts, use of phone. Presently, more than 200 men, women and children each day seek help. Supported by private donations, RH receives no government funding. Church of the Palms, through our Mission Committee, annually contributes financially to RH. For our Church membership, “donations to RH” is a household phrase. Boxes of donated clothing, toiletries and other items are collected and delivered on a weekly basis. Volunteers are urged to inquire about this very rewarding street-level ministry.
Contact: Keith Hirst @ 921-3213
Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast
At Samaritan we seek God’s leadership and empowerment to provide a wide range of spiritually sensitive, high quality, cost-effective, behavioral-health services to our community. These services, including mental-health counseling, family life education and consultation, are provided in a compassionate, professional manner and are guided by the values of the Judeo-Christian heritage. In addition to being the founding church, Church of the Palms participates in a variety of salient ways to enable Samaritan to successfully accomplish its mission. Some of the ways Church of the Palms participates include: providing quality leadership through participation on the Board of Directors, helping us to keep our overhead down by providing us free dedicated space and covering the cost of electricity, security, internet access, and some office equipment, offering substantial annual contributions to the Client Assistance Funds, encouragement from many church members, and passing on the community goodwill that Church of the Palms has earned through years of serving the community.
Contact: Rick Howell @ 926-2959
Time Tithing
Inspired by the mission work of Dr. Douglas and Maxine Perry, the first Time Tithing chapter was established in 1999 by members of the Men’s Wednesday Morning Bible Study group at Church of the Palms. Our chapter is an organization of individuals who pledge to the Lord that they will try to devote at least one-tenth of their discretionary or “spare” time to studying His Word and doing His work. We incorporated in 2001 as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit Florida Corporation. The current Board of Directors consists solely of members of Church of the Palms. The program is designed to increase the involvement of church members in service to the Lord and to spread the Gospel through EVANGELISM BY EXAMPLE. Individuals may pursue their personal mission alone or as a member of a small group at the church.
Call: 941-927-8585 to learn more or to join the Time Tithing Chapter
Contact: Wayne Kindt at 342-6494 to assist with shipments to the Honduran Eye Clinic, or George Weirich at 349-2370 to work with home repair teams in the community.
Presbyterian Women Involvements
All women who are members of the church are considered to be members of Presbyterian Women and are encouraged to join a circle. Circles provide an opportunity for Bible study, mission involvement and fellowship. Church of the Palms presently has 10 circles. The following list of mission opportunities is not inclusive as the involvement by each circle often changes on a yearly basis. The Presbyterian Women also give financial support to additional missions such as Kalish House, Habitat, Food Pantry, Senior Friendship Center and Doctors Without Borders to name just a few. One mission event that is ongoing is the “2 Cents a Meal.”
Contact: Louise Christopher (Moderator) @ 342-0202
Condolence Ministry
Volunteers bake and deliver cookies to church members who have lost a loved one.
Contact: Penny Mathews @ 907-2641
Duval House
This is a State facility for autistic and disabled persons. Women in the various Circles save and collect stamps, Campbell soup labels, tabs from soda cans, ink jet cartridges and cell phones (there are bins in the church office work room). These items are delivered to Duval House where volunteers separate and count them to be redeemed for purchases of equipment, such as new vans, for the facility.
Contact: Gloria Knox @ 371-0848
Palm Knitters
Volunteers knit, quilt or crochet items for the elderly, the Veterans Hospital and for infants and children with First Step and Healthy Start programs.
Contact: Alberta Adams @ 924-8464
Reaching out to Children – Bassinet Ministry
The Bassinet Ministry is a county effort to support health needs of uninsured women through funds provided by grants and by Church of the Palms. Bassinets are purchased and delivered to the Sarasota County Clinic to be given to mothers of newborn infants to provide for safer sleeping. First Step and Healthy Start are some of the programs.
Children & Youth Mission Involvement
Our youth have a very important part in the life of our church. With a Christ-centered purpose, youth are encouraged to explore their faith through a variety of mission experiences that seek to build up the body of Christ. There are a variety of activities planned during the school year that are age-appropriate for all of the youth. During the summer months, there are mission trips to destinations where the participants are able to serve others who find themselves in desperate situations and need some kind of assistance. They repair homes, clean up after disasters, and work in inner city missions to feed and clothe those who are in need. Locally, our youth ministry offers various types of service projects once a month. Our projects get youth outside the walls of the church and into the community doing good work. Not only do the service projects expose youth to great Christian ministries serving in the area, but also allows them to see faith in action. The service projects are designed for youth and their families to serve together.
Contact: Derek Thompson @ 924-1323
