The Presbytery of Missouri River Valley

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Castelar Presbyterian Church, working in conjunction with Missouri River Valley Presbytery, expanded its ministry in the growing Hispanic community in South Omaha. Castelar is the only Reformed congregation in Omaha with a Hispanic outreach. Since it is a relatively small congregation, the presbytery helped identify both people and financial resources to support the Hispanic ministry. Plans are to call a bilingual minister who will begin to establish a new congregation—Iglesia Presbyteriana Castelar.

The Anglo congregation at Castelar began reaching out to the Hispanic community through several programs, including a monthly Kids’ Night program, health fairs, and a summer campfire program. Based upon the wonderful response, it was evident that Hispanics were eager for a church that would minister to their families and attend to their spiritual and social needs. The new congregation plans to offer meaningful relationships in small group settings that will draw people closer to Christ.

Another new church development in the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley is known as The Oasis, whose purpose is to draw people to the well of life found in Jesus Christ. The Rev. Hart Edmonds and the Rev. Cheryl Edmonds, organizing co-pastors, were drawn to the vision of the presbytery to reach out to generations and groups of people who have become disconnected from the church and to engage in creative missional efforts in forming a new faith community. Members of The Oasis embraced this vision to become a missional church where community life, not individual life, forms the center of their ministry together. Creative and participatory worship is a vital aspect of The Oasis, as well as the call to service and support for making ordinary attempts to share faith with others.

Other churches reaching out in nontraditional ways include the former Clifton Hill Presbyterian Church and Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church. The Clifton Hill building is now the home of the Sudanese American Presbyterian Fellowship, and Underwood Hills opened its doors to those making the transition from prison and to their families through programs of Presbyterian Outreach.

The Missouri River Valley Presbytery has approximately 12,471 members in 56 congregations.