The First Presbyterian Church of Elko conducts
outreach through a variety of mission projects. It
donates 2% of its yearly offering to help Friends in
Service Helping (FISH) in Elko.
It also donates 2% of its yearly offering to be
spent on special needs, either in the community or
the country. In the past, the Session's Mission
Committee has used that money to help the Committee
Against Domestic Violence (CADV), Horizon Hospice,
the Ruby Mountain Resource Center, and Family
Resources. This money is also used for scholarships
for summer youth activities, which can be through
the church, another church camp, Kids' College, or
recreation programs. Individuals' needs are also met
with these funds, such as providing a transient with
a sleeping bag or paying a church member's gas bill.
The Deacons also have access to this money to help
meet community and individuals' needs.
The church allots .5% of its yearly offerings for
foreign mission projects. In the past, this money
has gone to specific programs run by the
Presbyterian Church. For example, church funds have
helped Presbyterian churches in Baghdad, a bicycle
mission in India, and earthquake victims in
Pakistan. For more information about Presbyterian
disaster assistance worldwide,
click here.
The church's Mission Committee meets on the
second Sunday of most months, immediately after the
fellowship time. Anyone interested in the church's
mission activities is welcome to attend these
meetings.
Special Offerings
The church supports Presbyterian Church (USA)
national and foreign mission projects by
participating in its April One Great Hour of
Sharing and its Christmas Joy Offering.
Regular church attendees will find special envelopes
for these offerings in their box of weekly offering
envelopes.
Heifer Project International
Mike Jones shows
off his Heifer Project cap.
The church annually participates in this
international project that uses donations to
purchase farm animals to donate to individuals in
underdeveloped countries and/or disaster areas. To
raise money locally for this project, the Heifer
Project committee sponsors a Heifer Brunch in
September. Preceding the brunch, the Sunday church
service is held outdoors and is attended by a
variety of farm animals in addition to the
congregation. The animals represent the various
types of animals that the event's free will offering
will purchase. In both 2004 and 2005, Heifer
Project donations of over $5,000 allowed the
church to purchase an "Ark" for the Heifer Project
International. Representatives of Heifer Project
International attended a Heifer Dinner at the church
each following spring to present the church with a
plaque in honor of its Ark purchase.
Habitat for Humanity
Adult members of our church family have the
opportunity to serve on the board of a local group
that is currently becoming an affiliate of Habitat
for Humanity, International. This group meets at the
church at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each
month. Those interested in helping build affordable
housing in the Elko area by participating in this
group may contact Pastor Pat at
PastorPat11616@frontiernet.net or (775) 738-3430.
