On December 3, 2005, the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys became the seventh and latest presbytery to unite with Joining Hearts & Hands by receiving and affirming a plan to raise a total of $60,000 over the next three years through and with the Mission Initiative.
The Minnesota Valleys campaign will raise funds for three different projects: $20,000 for the Institute for the Development of Lay Ministry (IDLM) to train church leaders; $20,000 to continue the international partnership between Presbiterio de Occidente and the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys; and $20,000 to support Young Adult Volunteers who serve one-year assignments in the Occidente Presbytery.
“Our efforts may appear small,” said Beatrice Ourada, treasurer for the presbytery, “but the hearts of our members are big.”
“We plan to have a bucket prominently placed at the presbytery office and presbytery meetings, ‘Coins for Hearts & Hands,’” Ourada added, “encouraging folks to get rid of their loose change, and seeking to have the leadership match the congregations’ challenge of $2 per member per year.”
“In fact,” Ourada said, “I nearly had our first donation when one of the pastors at the December presbytery meeting dug out $2 and attempted to hand it to me right then and there!”
“Because I couldn’t quite reach it, we don’t have our first donation yet,” she said.
For further information on the programs of Minnesota Valleys Presbytery, visit their Web site. |
