This year St. Matthew CPR (Christ Powered Running) Team will be running to monetarily and spiritually support the construction of a guest house at Evangelical Fellowship Church in Awassa, Ethiopia.

The guest house will be rented to missionaries that are being trained on how to reach Muslims for Christ. Upon completion of their education, they will spread out in predominately Muslim areas and start new churches.  The profits from the rent will then be used to support the missionaries in the surrounding areas.

So, your donation is not just a one-time benefit. It is self-renewing. Donations are tax deductible and will be accepted through November. Please go to the church website under upcoming events to support a specific runner or the whole team.  

May you bless those as God has blessed you.

November 22, 2012

Presbyterian Night Shelter Thanksgiving Meal has been served by St. Matthew for several years.  We prepare made from scratch food for over 800 homeless people.  We provide ham, turkey, dressing, mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, rolls, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, pies, coffee and tea.  Over 75 hams and turkeys are smoked and the rest is prepared in the ARC kitchen and delivered to the shelter on Thursday morning.  The grocery items are purchased at cost from local grocers and desserts (fried pies) have been donated by the Miller family the past 2 years. 

It takes many St. Matthew servants to provide this blessing.  Last year over 75 turkeys and hams were donated.  Over 40 servants prepared the food over 2 full days.  More than 55 servants traveled to the shelter Thanksgiving afternoon to serve the meal.  The PNS clients were seated and served at the decorated tables.  They normally go through a food line, but we wanted it to be special and serve them.  Many take this opportunity to serve as a family.  The children assist with drinks and dessert.

The shelter clients are very appreciative and we received many "Thank you" and "God bless you" comments.  Other clients reminisced about their family Thanksgivings.  We are able to bless them with a wonderful meal and christian fellowship.

Please sign up to donate or serve in whatever capacity you can.  It is a very rewarding opportunity.

http://www.stmattcpc.org/outreach/ 

• Praise VBS- supported the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home in Denton, TX.  You generously donated 221 books, 31 bedding items, 22 towel items, 129 art supplies, 50 makeup items, 135 games and over $425 in cash and gift cards.  Your unselfish giving has impacted and is still impacting numerous children and families. Thank you!

• Shoes for Orphan Souls- collected 127 pairs of new shoes, 7 pairs of used shoes, 356 socks and 6 shoelaces. The shoes have been processed, packed and are ready to be delivered to orphans and vulnerable children around the world. There was a shipment that went to the Dominican Republic, one is going to victims of Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, and a shipment to Honduras.  Thank you for donating shoes and socks!

• Harvest Run- We had over 375 runners this year at the 20th annual Harvest Run! We raised over $3,000 that was donated to Harvest House. Thank you to all the sponsors and runners!

• Mission BBQ- The BBQ raised $1,738.47.  The feedback from this event was awesome. The money from the BBQ was donated to the Pregnancy Aid Center. 

• Little Red Schoolhouse- Thank you so much for all of your school supply contributions to this years program. We were also able to make a monetary donation toward purchasing school uniforms.

• Coats and blankets- St. Matthew collected 208 coats and 49 blankets!  These coats and blankets will go to the people at the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth. 

• In September, construction began on the girls Hostel in Ethiopia.  75 girls will have the opportunity to live in a safe environment as they attend High School.  The building will be completed in May of 2013. Your Birthday Gift to Jesus made this project possible.