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The Presbytery of New Covenant
Texas
 Volunteers from Memorial Drive Presbyterian prepare vegetable and herb gardens for students at Piney Point School to plant, care for, and harvest. Photo by Jan Roe.
As part of the community outreach component of Luis Palau’s 2006 CityFest Houston, Memorial Drive Presbyterian sponsored a workday at an elementary school. Its purpose was to spread God’s love in tangible ways outside the walls of the church. God led the church to Piney Point Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District. The school, built in the 1940s, has a high concentration of children from low-income families. Though designed for 200 students, 900 are enrolled. Most classrooms are in temporary buildings and had window air-conditioning units that were old, moldy, dirty, and so loud that the teachers had to turn them off to teach.
On a Saturday in August, over 400 enthusiastic church volunteers arrived at Piney Point School with shovels in their hands and love in their hearts and worked for nine hours, in three-hour shifts. A transformation took place in the hearts and lives of the volunteers, teachers, staff, students, and families. Supporters donated enough money to replace all of the window air conditioners. Several Piney Point parents vowed to get more involved in the school. The PTA has since grown from five members to over fifty.
“Operation Compassion” was the beginning of a growing relationship with the school. Church volunteers continue to serve on a weekly basis at Piney Point, where they are lovingly called “the church people.” God has poured out many blessings on this precious school, but those most richly blessed have been the volunteers. Just ask any one of them.
The Presbytery of New Covenant has 105 churches serving 38,284 members.
Presbytery Staff
Rev. Mike Cole, general presbyter
Rev. Wendy Bailey, associate general presbyter for evangelism/renewal and new church development
Elder Mary Marcotte, associate general presbyter for discipleship and leadership development
Rev. Diane Prevary, stated clerk
Elder Forbes Baker, director of business affairs and finance
Patricia Brantley, database coordinator/receptionist
Elder Sharon Darden, coordinator for COM and CPM
Sandra Lopez, assistant for finance and administration
Elder Janice Schessler, coordinator for administrative, constitutional, and ecclesiastical relations
Elder Carrie Walker, coordinator of conferences and graphics
Elder Helen Wolf, editor
Scott Young, webmaster
Rev. Mary Currie, volunteer in mission
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Lydia Yost, BOP
Carmelita Young, GAMC
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the rich blessings your people receive through the relationships created by the work at Piney Point Elementary School. Continue to bless the school families and the volunteers who go out from the church to serve in your name. Amen.
Ps. 116, 149 Ps. 119:1–24, 27
2 Chron. 24:17–22
Acts 6:1–7; Acts 7:59–8:8
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