Outreach Foundation

First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville, GA

800 South Enota Drive Gainesville, GA 30501

Home About FPC Worship Fellowship Programs/Ministries Links Pledge online

Directions Meet our Pastors Church Officers "The Call" Newsletter Find Support Contact Us

OUTREACH/MISSIONS IN ACTION

The Outreach Foundation

Individuals in our church began to directly support sick infants, orphans and other vulnerable children in South Africa seven years ago. The work is done through The Outreach Foundation, a validated mission support group of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Outreach Foundation does not receive funding from the General Assembly, but only through individuals who want to spread the love of God.

The FPC work began with our first World Mission Conference in 2001. In 2006, the World Mission Conference contributed $21,082.21, and the BASIC Sunday School class contributed $1,795. Jean Roberts, the FPC’s mission advocate for The Outreach Foundation, stays abreast of projects and provides information for supporters. The FPC supports three crisis nurseries in Lusaka, Zambia, that work to save the lives of 80 to 85 children each day. We began supporting the third crisis nursery by partnering with Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church in New Jersey.

The Alliance for Children Everywhere, which manages the crisis nurseries, became concerned about the need for schools, and the FPC work expanded. Eleven Faith Works Schools now provide free primary education to orphans and vulnerable children between the ages of 7 and 18 in Lusaka. The schools are run through partnership with the churches and the community.

More than 50 teachers provide learning for about 3,700 students, but it is not enough. Each school has a long waiting list. The condition of the schools would appear very primitive here in Gainesville, but, for these children, they are wonderful. Some of the students walk several miles each day to school, and discipline is not a problem.

Remember that the work is done through individuals who want to spread the love of God. Recently two families in the FPC congregation joined forces to build a new church in Siavonga for the Tonga tribe. Contributions from individuals at FPC also have built a girls dormitory for 40 orphans at the Namumu Orphanagein Siavonga.

The Namumu Orphanage has about 100 children, and contributions from our church helped buy a Kapenta fishing boat to assist in feeding the orphans and also provide a product to trade for other food. Other individuals have provided medical equipment to aid in caring for the very sick infants and a water tank for the House of Moses to ensure water during the dry season. The House of Moses is the FPC’s first crisis nursery and takes care of sick infants up to 1 year of age.

The FPC Wonderful Works group has made blankets and clothing for the fragile premature infants as well as stuffed animals, baby caps and many other items. During the World Mission Conference, FPC children prepared pencil cases for the Faith Works students while the youthdesigned a special tee-shirt as a gift to the older students.

The Outreach Foundation, headquartered in Franklin, Tenn., is under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Rob Weingartner. It is independently governed by a board of trustees who are pastors or officers in their respective congregations. Project proposals come from the World Mission offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA), partner church leaders in other countries, missionaries on the field and local presbyteries. Each Outreach Foundation project is researched and cannot be met without special gifts.

More information is available at www.theoutreachfoundation.org.

First Presbyterian Church shares the love of Christ with those in need across the world through a variety of programs and benevolences. Click the links below to learn more.