"For you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." I Corinthians 12:27

From its founding, over 240 years ago, Brick Presbyterian Church has been heeding the call to be the body of Christ - in its own community, across the nation and around the world. Located in the heart of New York City, it is a church with a long-standing commitment to mission outreach. "We are surrounded by a world of desperate human need, right outside our doors," says Michael Lindvall, pastor at Brick Church. "We don't have to 'leave' our neighborhood to be involved in mission. It is part of the daily life of this church."

But with such pressing local needs, stretching the time, talents and treasure of this 1,500-member congregation, how did they decide to pledge $500,000 to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands, in addition to their existing commitments? "It was providential in many ways," Clerk of Session Ellsworth Stanton explains.

"The organ literally blew-up during a Christmas Eve service which led to a building campaign for capital improvements." But, the campaign wasn't limited to meeting just the church's needs. Instead, Stanton says, it included the challenge that for every dollar raised for the building campaign, 50% would be designated for mission.

Just as Brick Church was launching its capital campaign, the PC(USA) was embarking on its own unique initiative to renew the church for mission, Joining Hearts & Hands. Michael Lindvall was a voting commissioner at the 214th General Assembly when the Joining Hearts & Hands initiative was approved. "It is an exciting, innovative program," says Lindvall, "providing congregations with the opportunity to have an active presence in global mission and to support critical evangelism efforts right here at home."

Brick's generous gift to Joining Hearts & Hands will be allocated equally between the two program components: new church development in the local presbytery and worldwide mission. "For every one church that is prospering in New York City, ten are not," Michael Lindvall commented. "We live in a vital growing city, but one that can also be frantic, alienating, lonely, selfish and cynical. We, as the church, are called to be a place that works differently than the world around us, to become down right 'countercultural.'"

Regarding their $250,000 commitment to worldwide mission, Brick Church has not determined the specifics of how their gift will be allocated. But that fact has not deterred them. Instead they are exploring overseas mission opportunities with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Worldwide Ministries Division, using this time to discern where God is calling them to be a witness in the world.

"There is great excitement and enthusiasm among our members about participating in the Joining Hearts & Hands initiative," says Stanton. "They feel a collegiality with the denomination, a very real connection, and recognize that by joining together and partnering with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), they can and will have a greater and more far-reaching effect."

In today's world where insularity is all too easy, Brick's participation in the Joining Hearts & Hands initiative is a manifestation of this church's commitment to bring the light of Christ into the world for others. The trustees, elders, pastors and members alike believe it is their duty "to reach beyond the corner of Park Ave. and East Ninety-First Street in Manhattan to be witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Or as Michael Lindvall explains, "Paul's words to the Philippians 2:4, 'Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others,' are foundational to Brick Church's mission outreach. Through Joining Hearts & Hands congregations big and small, urban or rural, with abundant resources or with limited means - all have the opportunity to live out this scripture and in so doing make a profound difference in God's kingdom on earth."

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