Support of charities and missions are an important part of what we do at Westminster Presbyterian Church. We encourage our members to be involved in a wide variety of mission projects in our community.
Our Mission Committee has the joyful task of contributing to charities and missions in Nacogdoches and throughout the world. We give ten percent of the total church budget to local charities, and we give ten percent to missions of the Presbytery. This amounts to approximately $25,000 to $30,000 annually.
Following are some of the local and worldwide charities and missions to which we contribute.
Community Rx
Providing prescription assistance for low income applicants, particularly for the elderly, to help reduce the cost of medication needs.
Theological Education Fund
The only source of denomination-wide funding for theological seminaries related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Funding is provided by voluntary contributions from congregations.
One Great Hour of Sharing
An annual offering which began over 50 years ago when a nationwide broadcast supported by a variety of denominations called Christian’s attention to the pain of the world after the WWII. Americans responded to the broadcast’s call to share sacrificially in their congregations the next morning. They responded so overwhelmingly that what had been intended as a one-time campaign became an annual offering.
Love in the Name of Christ
A network of Churches that work together to address the needs of people within their community. Reaching individuals and families in need through the people in the pews, volunteers from local churches provide an array of services for those in need in the community.
Brown Family Health Center (formerly Health Horizons)
This full-service family clinic started as a non-profit based organization that provided HIV/AIDS and related services in twelve counties in rural east Texas. The counties included in the service area are Angelina, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Polk, San Jacinto, Houston and Trinity. HHET currently provides a wide array of services including dental care, health care evaluation, medical assistance, routine blood work, case management, buddy program, counseling, education and HIV testing, housing and utility assistance, insurance assistance, legal services, support groups, and transportation assistance. HIV testing is provided.
American Cancer Society
Funds are used to support cutting-edge research, provide life-saving education and information, and deliver person-to-person patient services to cancer patients and their families.
Nacogdoches County United Way
United Way provides funding for a number of organizations that are tax exempted. United Way solicits monies for agency activities and projects for community use. Every June the committee selects applications for funding consideration. All agencies receive funding for the following year. Yearly fund-raising drives to schools, professionals, industry, and individuals provide revenue to support future projects.
Women’s Shelter of East Texas
Provides the abused refuge, professional counseling, information and referral and group therapy. A 24-hour hotline service is provided in addition to a follow-up program in an effort to break the cycle of violence.
Nacogdoches Project HOPE
Provides a food pantry for low income families and individuals operated with the assistance of volunteers and funding from various churches.
Mobile Meals
Provides one nutritionally balanced meal each day, 5 days a week, 250 days a year.
Nacogdoches Senior Center
Helping seniors daily with activities and fellowship and various programs including:
• Income tax aid: January through April trained volunteers through A.A.R.P. counsel senior citizens on their income taxes.
• Recreation: Art classes, bridge classes, bands, group singing, holiday celebrations, table games, and day trips.
• Health Related Services: Blood pressure checks.
• Telephone Reassurance Program: A service of the Nacogdoches Senior Center, the program utilizes volunteers to phone senior citizens who need daily reassurance and security.
The Salvation Army
Provides emergency service to citizens of Nacogdoches County in the form of food, transportation and medical aid, as well as helping fill prescriptions for the needy. Also provides a camping experience for underprivileged children each summer.
Presbyterian Children’s Homes
Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services provides Christ-centered group homes, foster homes, crisis intervention and family preservation programs, and advanced education and after-care to children to families in need.
The Valentine Project
We assemble Valentine boxes full of baked goods, crackers, gum, snacks of all kinds, pens, pencils, and Valentine fun stuff for our members in the military, in and out-of-town college students, church staff, choir students, and shut-ins.
Project Belize, Inc.
Project Belize is a non-proft corporation located in Nacogdoches, Texas, that annually sends a group of doctors, nurses, and other members travel to the Central American country of Belize. The group provides medical treatment to approximately 1,000 people living in the remote villages of southern Belize. The group has also welcomed several nursing students from SFASU, providing them with an excellent experience in cross cultural primary health care.
The group has limited most of its work to visiting the most remote villages, using mules and hiking to reach several of the more remote. Each clinic is usually held in the school house in the village or a community building. Some education on general hygiene and dental care is also provided.
Participation in each year’s trip is dependent on past years’ participation, one’s physical condition, and what someone can offer the trip. Medical orientation is helpful, but it is not necessary. Participants must pay their own way or raise the funds for their costs for the trip.
For questions or information, email Bruce McNellie or visit the Project Belize website. >