Mission Committee Goals

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The goal of the Mission Committee is to instill congregational awareness of local, PCUSA and international outreach needs; to enlist congregational willingness to act on mission needs; and to provide the congregation with a framework of opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities in varying roles according to his or her time, talents and Spiritual Gifts.

Our ongoing efforts have included regularly scheduled speakers from the organizations we support giving a Sunday "Minute for Mission" to the congregation and providing financial support to the following programs and outreach programs:

  • Barrett House
  • Joy Junction
  • Menaul School
  • Salvation Army
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Dismas House
  • La Mesa PC Thanksgiving Meal
  • Samaritan Counseling
  • Martineztown House of Neighborly Service
  • Project Share
  • North Valley Advisory Center
  • CURE
  • ARTA
  • PCUSA Special Offerings
  • All Faiths Receiving Home
  • Alb Rescue Mission
  • APS Title I Homeless Project
  • Alb Christian Children's Home

We provide hands-on support to the following organizations and outreach programs:

  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Project Share
  • ARTA
  • Alb Rescue Mission
  • Martineztown House of Neighborly Service

Collection of items of need for the following organizations an outreach programs:

  • Martineztown House of Neighborly Service  
  • APS Clothing Bank
  • Rio Grande Food Bank
  • St. Martin's
  • The Storehouse
  • SOV Partnership with Cuba
  • Alb Rescue Mission

Our goal for the next five years is to expand the Mission Program and add new mission activities in an efficient, logical, compassionate and concerned manner serving to attract, stimulate, and increase congregational participation in the hands-on and financial support of the program.  We will do this in the following manner:

  • Ongoing and increased financial and hands-on support for the programs we have historically supported, as listed above.
  • Continue to build on the successes of our annual Chile Fest, which is the largest mission/evangelism outreach within the local community.
  • Host an annual church Mission Fair to help provide our congregation with the knowledge and awareness of the many needs internationally as well as within the Albuquerque community.
  • Begin a partnership with Christian Growth to provide the children in our congregation with ways in which they can be meaningful participants in mission.
  • Provide increased support to our SOV Cuba Interest Group.
  • Establish a Mission Program Bulletin Board at an appropriate location in the church to display current programs, offer informational brochures, promote sign-up for mission functions and report Program progress in our major initiatives.
  • Expand Mission information on the Church Home Page.  Add links to other sites such as ARTA, Project Share, etc to encourage members to learn more about the main programs we serve.
  • More fully utilize our expanded building facility for more mission projects.  This will include but will not be limited to becoming an active participant as an Interfaith Hospitality Network host church.
  • Develop partnerships with neighboring churches of many denominations.  This will begin thru partnering with St. Michaels All Angels to provide the necessary people power for hosting Interfaith Hospitality Network guest families.
  • Promote Mission in the monthly Chimes, including volunteer opportunities.
 

Project Share

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Project Share provides meals to low income and homeless families five days a week. Shepherd of the Valley has participated in this mission project for over ten years. On four Sundays during the year we make and serve food to 125+ families. It takes many volunteers to accomplish the food preparation, serving and clean up.

 

Chile Festival

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Our Chile Festival to Benefit Habitat for Humanity happens in August every year. Members and friends of Shepherd of the Valley join together for a fun community event that has raised over $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

The event features crafters, a silent auction, book sales, food and drink sales, bake sales, chile-roasting and children's events. There is something for everyone, including plenty of heat, great food, great music, and great friends.

 

ARTA

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Appropriate Rural Technology Association (ARTA). Shepherd of the Valley supports regular trips to ARTA's Mexican mission operations in the Sierra Tarahumara during 2000. 

Over the past ten years, many S.O.T.V. folks have worked with us in Mexico, and most have returned for additional trips. The poverty, hunger, and primitive living conditions continue to shock and affect all of us. As Christians, we wish to assist these Tarahumara subsistence farmers to help themselves. We are also grateful for the help of the Mission Committee and the Session.

ARTA is also grateful for the donation of funds, equipment, blankets, Bibles, and other things by S.O.T.V. members. Whenever we have asked the congregation for any needed item, we received response! We are unable to credit all of you who assisted us so we take this means of thanking everyone who contributed time, talent, and money!

Some of ARTA's major activities include:

  • Fertilizer trials with 38 subsistence farmers demonstrate that the yield from fertilized fields is increased multiple times and added food is produced. The soils have a lack of nutrients and the natural participation is inconsistent from year to year. The past two years have produced a serious drought situation with resulting crop shortages.
  • Planting carp fish fingerlings in four fish ponds.
  • Home garden and cold frames to start plants. We continue to sell over 1000 packets of garden seed each year at 2 cents a packet (the people have very limited sources for obtaining seed).
  • We continue to assist with drinking water and sanitation needs.
  • Technical assistance for utilities, and civil engineering of all types, is also within our capabilities.
  • One major project, in cooperation with "Friends of Literacy" will is the completion of the new rural junior high school.
  • During 2000 ARTA completed the water system, sanitation, kitchen and painted ceilings at the school.