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God is calling the church to serve those in need, which requires time, talent, and treasure. Palo Cristi emphasizes mission programs which aren't just a hand-out, but allow our members to engage with those being served.
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Family Promise
Family Promise is a proven program giving temporary shelter in churches to families who would otherwise be homeless. For one week, two or three times a year, Palo Cristi opens its doors to these families. We do all we can during the week our guests are with us to be caring and welcoming. Church members serve meals to the guests (who range in age from babies to adults), and spend time with them. During the day, guests go to the Day Center, school, and job training. About 80% of the families are transitioned into permanent housing.
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Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank
Founded in 1983, Agua Fria distributes food and clothing to needy individuals, babies, children, teens, and the elderly in an area of Arizona traditionally underserved by existing programs.
A round bin sits prominently at the entrance to the Palo Cristi sanctuary most Sundays and members deposit items purchased to go to Agua Fria. For the last two summers, we designated all we collected in our friendly "Food Fights" with other congregations to Agua Fria, helping it at a time of the year it needs donations the most. |
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Amor Ministries
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Habitat for Humanity |
Since 1980, Amor's mission has been to respond to the spiritual and physical poverty in the world by empowering groups and individuals to participate in an Amor House Building Mission Trip. One or two times a year (February and November), Palo Cristi partners with other local Presbyterian churches to travel to near-by Rocky Point, Mexico, for an intense weekend of building which starts with an empty lot and ends by turning the keys over to the owners of the new house.
Duet
Duet has been actively serving the Phoenix area since 1981, with the goal of helping older adults and their families with challenges related to aging. Duet helps homebound adults with getting groceries and rides to medical appointments. Duet also supports caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren. Many Palo Cristi members volunteer their time with Duet by visiting and transporting homebound adults and participating in Duet's Caregiver Mentor program.
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Habitat for Humanity builds, renovates, and repairs simple, decent and affordable homes in partnership with families in need. Palo Cristi members helped start the local affiliate which is one of the most active in the United States, having built, renovated, and repaired more than 825 homes in the metro Phoenix area since 1985. Each year Palo Cristi members participate in building a house with other churches and those receiving the house. In recent years, members of the congregation have traveled world-wide to help construct houses with Habitat.
Heifer International
Heifer works with communities world-wide to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. By giving families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, they are empowered to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope. Heifer is famous for providing animals to those in need, who in turn share the offspring of these animals with others. In 2009, children in the Palo Cristi Sunday School program started a five year program to "Build an Ark" by raising $5000. This was accomplished in only two years.
At special times of the year, like Christmas and Easter, members of the congregation purchase shares of various animals to further Heifer's goals. Members of the congregation also have worked on hands-on projects with Heifer around the world, and traveled to Heifer learning centers to get first-hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in ending hunger. |
Check out a highlight video about our trips with Amor Ministries!
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