Growing Christ’s Church Deep and Wide

Presbytery-by-presbytery, the Presbyterian News Service is reporting on congregations around the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who are engaged in innovative outreach programs in order to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” – a churchwide emphasis adopted by the 218th General Assembly (2008) to help congregations grow through evangelism, discipleship, servanthood and diversity.

Beautiful days in the neighborhood
San Antonio congregation thrives by reconnecting with community

Life at the Cross Roads
Merged Kiskiminetas congregation finds renewal in outreach

Reflect, refresh, retool, reach: An experiment at work in Yellowstone Presbytery

Church-hosted tent city helps more than just the homeless Three-month stay results in ‘countless loaves-and-fishes stories’

Hot wheels
Skateboarding ministry revitalizes Cimarron Presbytery congregation

Relationships and reconciliation
Charlotte, NC, church does hard work ‘worth doing’

Called to take a risk

Pillows talk
Sunday School project provides comfort and transforms a church

Orlando churches join to tackle homeless problem
First Presbyterian leads effort to open downtown homeless service center

Just because
Tampa Bay Presbytery’s REACH Initiative leads churches ‘outside ourselves’

Fast forward
Monthly fast deepens Maryland church’s anti-hunger effort, discipleship

One church’s ‘crazy idea’ allows another to be reborn
California congregation reaches out to one in New Orleans

‘Something out of nothing'
Clergy couple building new church in South Carolina

Guess who’s coming to dinner
Iowa congregation reaches out with mealtime community gatherings

Going the distance
Presbytery of Yukon partners with Taiwanese presbytery to better serve each other’s indigenous groups

Rest for the weary
Alzheimer’s center provides community, respite for afflicted and caregivers

Finding a vision for the future by discovering the past
Presbyterian church first established in 1846 to be demolished to provide affordable housing for seniors

Small is beautiful
In sparsely Presbypopulated Maine, church reaches out to Sudanese

Stepping out
Florida Presbytery promotes simple actions that can make big environmental difference

Something old is new again
North Carolina congregation is reborn in newly-renovated sanctuary

Ready to roll
Bike fix-up project energizes small church, touches community need

Face to face
Virginia Beach church uses volunteer ‘blitz’ to meet more neighbors

Store of success
Churches in Winnebago Presbytery ‘pay it forward’ with donations for thrift stores

Going the distance
Pennsylvania church has special connection to Kenyan Presbyterians

The Breakfast Club
Two Redwoods churches feed teenage bodies and spirits each morning

Building blocks
10 Presbyterian churches construct houses, relationships in Fort Collins

Partnering for success
Sister churches in Iowa work together to help their town, increase support for public assistance

No joke
PUN brings together Presbyterian congregations in Portland, OR

Grace in the streets
Atlanta church joins with other groups to combat child prostitution

Back from the edge
Tennesseee church boosted by immigrant congregation

New Day
Texas congregation reaches out to homeless children congregation

ABCs
Tutoring program revitalizes Detroit neighborhood, congregation

Artful wonders
After-school program revitalizes small Alabama town, 8-member church

All kinds of carpenters
Project that began at Presbyterian church now involves entire city

Lessons for life
Crestline, Calif., church runs literacy program for inmates nearing release

‘Hungry to make a difference’
San Francisco church’s ‘Welcome Ministry’ transforms lives, members

Beyond the walls
Small West Virginia churches look outward to surrounding communities

Back to school
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery provides school supplies, services to area students

What’s in store
New church development plans to open thrift store, reach out to neighbors

Knit together
Sweater-knitting ministry unites church, community in service

Crossing obstacles
New church development, church in New Mexico work, thrive together

Serving up hope
Full-service, ecumenical ministry provides meals and more

From greed to need
Pastor is still in the investment business, going from large firm in Houston to small church in North Texas

Unusual loan revives two weeklies
Philadelphia PC(USA) church brings newspapers to life

Faith in the future
Flint, Mich., church inspires hope in hard-hit town

A place to call home
Homeless men find community at First Thai-Laotian Presbyterian Church