Mission and Witness Grants, which are administered by the Mission and Witness Committee, makes its funds available to congregations and individual members of the PTCA. The purpose of the grant is to initiate new projects or establish ongoing ministries of justice and care, which demonstrate the good news of Christ's Grace on behalf of our neighborhoods in need in the greater Twin Cities area. The grant can serve as a witness of our great love to our neighbor, and to serve as an inspiration and encouragement to action for other congregations and groups within the PTCA.

In 2012 Mission and Witness Grants, funded through Mission Giving went to support many ministries in congregations throughout the Presbytery.  A few of them are listed below.

Kidzone

First Presbyterian Church
Albert Lea, MN

First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea, MN received a $1500 grant  for their KidZone Wednesday, after school program. The grant  helped First Albert Lea  improve our program for the Kindergarten through Fifth graders that attend each week during the school year. Through the Mission and Witness Grants, the congregation could purchase additional athletic supplies for games, better craft materials and healthier snacks and meals for the kids.

 

Community Clothesline

Community Presbyterian Church
Plainview, MN

In 2005, Community Presbyterian purchased the house adjacent to the church building and property. This house  became the "House of Hope" and is a gift and resource to the community. Behind the House of Hope (and next to the church)is a two-car garage that has been used as storage.

In the summer of 2011, the Mission Committee at Community Presbyterian Church made tentative plans to open the garage up as a "Community Clothesline." The hope and vision of the clothesline was to provide affordable (nearly free) clothing and household goods to families in the Plainview area.

The Community Clothesline was open for a limited time in August and September of 2011. It was discovered that there is a great need in our community to provide affordable clothing to many underserved populations.

The congregation used $500 of the grant  to purchase paneling and material to build shelving units and storage space.  The church spent $100 of the grant to advertise in English and Spanish.

 

Dayton Avenue Clothing Center Laundry Center

Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church
St. Paul, MN

Many years ago,  Dayton Avenue Presbyterian in St. Paul started a free clothing center. Housewives helping in the program would wash, iron, and fold items that needed cleaning.  At the present time, most of the volunteers are working men and women who don't have the time or energy to take clothes home to clean.  The Clothing Center  have over 10 volunteers every other week from Dayton Avenue, House of Hope Presbyterian Church.  Two other PTCA churches, North Presbyterian, North St. Paul runs clothing drives for the center while First Presbyterian Church, Farmington, sews quilts for the center.  The $1500 grant allowed Dayton Avenue to purchase a washer and dryer in the center to clean clothes before distributing, since many donations are not clean and fresh. This installation can also used as an emergency cleaning center for families in the neighborhood and congregation that cannot afford a Laundromat's services.

 

 

Click here to find out what other churches are doing though Mission and Witness Grants.  To learn more about Mission Giving and Special Offerings, go to our What Is Mission Giving? page.

To download a Mission Giving Pledge form for your congregation, please click here.