Missions Ministry at Sardis Presbyterian

September 2022

“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” ~Luke 3:11

Through October 9 we will be collecting the most needed items for Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Donations can be dropped off in the donation bins in the Education Hall during this time. There will also be drive-thru donation days on September 28 and October 5 under the Sanctuary Covered Drive at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. View the full list of items needed here.

On Sunday October 16, Sardis members will be taking part in the Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk. We will have lunch in the Sardis House at noon (RSVP to Vicky Hovis by October 10), then participate in the walk at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk will support three local agencies to help the fight against hunger in our communitiy (Loaves and Fishes/ Friendship Trays, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Crisis Assistance Ministry).

How can you make an impact?

Join our team and use your steps to raise awareness of the hunger crisis in our community. You can also fundraise to make an even bigger impact.
Make a gift to support the Sardis CROP Walk team's fundraising efforts.
Through Sardis, make a gift online or with a check made out to Sardis Presbyterian Church with CROP Walk in the memo line.

Planting Seeds of Hope

In 2008, Sardis Presbyterian Church formed a partnership with Rama Road Elementary School. At that time, a committee called Planting Seeds of Hope was formed with Sardis members interested in helping. Members of the committee are encouraged to participate in any of the activities listed below. Opportunities are communicated either through email or Sign-up Genius. We are always looking for new members to help with this important ministry. Please contact Susan Aulebach if you are interested in any Planting Seeds of Hope opportunities.

Hospitality

Welcome back teachers to school by volunteering to help at Teacher Orientation hosted at Sardis House. Volunteers sign up via Sign up Genius to help prepare and serve breakfast and lunch. (August)
Volunteer to serve ice cream at Rama Elementary at the back to school social. (August)
Prepare snacks to be served at the school once a month during school year.
Serve Pizza during Art & Writing night. (March 30th)
Prepare and serve lunch to teachers and staff at Rama during Teacher Appreciation week. (May 3rd)

Annual Programs

Second Harvest Backpack Program: Pick up backpacks from Second Harvest and deliver to Rama once a week.
Tutoring Program: Volunteer Tuesday and or Thursdays from 2:30 - 4:00 at Rama to help 1^st and 2^nd graders with Reading or Math homework
Angel Tree Christmas Program: Help sort and bag gifts to be transported to the school or for home delivery. (December 5th) Gift Delivery on December 10^th.
A Book of My Own: Help place Sardis labels in each book given to students at Rama. (May)
Pool for School Tools Drive: Donate requested items at Sardis or directly through Amazon Wish List.

Other Ways to Volunteer at Rama Road

Become a HEART Math tutor
Become a reading buddy or lunch buddy
Volunteer at the Book Fair held December 12-16
Volunteer to Proctor for EOG’s May 26 - June 8

Other Ways to Support Rama Road

Link your VIC card to Rama Road Elementary
Select Rama Road Elementary as your Publix Partner
Designate Rama Road Elementary as your Amazon Smile charitable organization

Downlaod this flyer for more information.

Changing Lives

Reflecting on Keyna Mission Trip

In July 2022, Leigh Sellers, Lee Knox, Jung Lee, Jim Hollern, Trish Hollern, Joe B. and Allysen traveled to Kenya for an inaugural visit with our new church partners at Macedonia Presbyterian Church, Baraka Parish. Macedonia Presbyterian Church is a part of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa which spans across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Staff members from the PCEA worked to connect us with a PCEA congregation who was interested in an international church partnership and who shared similar passions for mission as Sardis. God’s Spirit led Sardis and Macedonia together! We were overwhelmed by their hospitality and genuine desire to be in relationship with us. During our time in Kenya we built fast friendships with the Pastor, Elders and other church members and we have enjoyed staying connected via WhatsApp now that we are back home.

The purpose of the partnership between Sardis Presbyterian Church and PCEA Macedonia Church is to build a relationship between our two congregations, to learn about our commonalities and cultural differences, to grow in our Christian faith and learn from one another. During this trip, we were blessed to be guests in the homes of our Kenyan partners. We each stayed overnight with a different church member and were blessed with bountiful meals and joyful laughter each evening. We were inspired by Macedonia Presbyterian Church’s mission work that we experienced in action. We witnessed sincere love, compassion, humility and partnership in our Kenyan church partners as we spent time with them at the Mother Esther Rescue School for Girls and with the newer church developments in rural Shompole. We look forward to welcoming our Kenyan Partners here in Charlotte (sometime next year we hope!) and look forward to seeing how God will work in our lives as our partnership grows.

Click here to connecte with PCEA Macedonia Church on Facebook!

Mission Ministry Members Tour New Roof Above Facility

This month, many members of our Missions ministry, as well as Allysen and Joe B, toured the newly opened Supportive Housing Community, SECU Rise apartments on Clanton, run by Roof Above.

The facility has 88 apartments, 45 already occupied by residents and more residents moving in each week. It is one of the few permanent, independent living residencies for our most vulnerable neighbors in Charlotte who experience chronic homelessness.

This housing community includes beautiful common spaces for residents to enjoy together and onsite staff, laundry, health care, case managers, and group classes.

Roof Above supports a “housing first” model and a community that provides holistic care. We were amazed at all we saw and learned during our tour! We look forward to learning about more ways that Sardis can be involved in supporting our mission partner Roof Above and the SECU Rise community!

Room In The Inn at Sardis Has New Co-Coordinators!

Mission Ministry is pleased to announce that Sallie Crossley and Kay Taylor will be the co-coordinators for RITI for the coming season.

Sallie and Kay have begun their planning and recruitment of team leaders. You will be hearing more about volunteer opportunities in the near future.

Thank you Sallie and Kay for agreeing to lead this important community service opportunity.

Former FFC Family Success Program Participant Becomes Program Director

Families Forward Charlotte is celebrating five years serving the Charlotte community and the amazing success stories they have been able to achieve because of support from people like you Sardis. FFC is excited to highlight one of their former Family Success Program participants, Tatiyana Laws. Does her name sound familiar? It should because she is now their Program Director! When she joined the Family Success Program in 2020 she knew she needed to find better employment and when FFC needed a Program Manager her Family Liaisons suggested she apply. The rest, as they say, is history!

Click here to read her amazing success story!

Coming Up...

Update from OFCB Ministries in Bayonnais, Haiti

Sardis continues to graciously support OFCB Ministries in Bayonnais, Haiti. These valuable gifts enable the Bethesda Clinic and the ICB School to provide health care and education to our brothers and sisters in Bayonnais. 2022 has been a very hard year for Haiti with political unrest and kidnapping, and food and fuel shortages, topping the list. Because of these issues, the start of school has been delayed for one month. Actionnel had planned to travel to Charlotte in August, and tried again in September, but the roads were not safe to travel the 100 miles to the airport in Port au Prince. Currently, the possibility of a video connection between Sardis and the church in Bayonnais is being explored so that we can stay better connected. Having the stable presence of access to health care and education, provides hope in these difficult times. Your gifts to Sardis allow the mission budget to share the love and kindness of our church with the people of Bayonnais. Support is also generously provided through the Alternative Gift Market each year. Please keep OFCB, and all the people of Haiti, in your prayers.

If you have questions, or are interested in student sponsorship, please contact Brenda McKay.

Sardis Presbyterian Church | www.sardis.org