Inasmuch
as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
so you
have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40
Missions activities at First Pres. are overseen by the
Witness Service Committee. We believe in being involved in missions outreach in
our own community as well as in the world at large. Approximately 10% of the
church’s operating budget is dedicated to our various mission programs, and we
strive to increase that percentage. This figure does not include the hours
donated by numerous members to the ministries mentioned below, and to some
ministries not mentioned.
There are four missionaries/couples in the foreign field,
all sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, who are currently receiving our
support. They are stationed in Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, and The Congo. Our
involvement in local ministries includes support of Greer Community Ministries,
Greer Relief, Centerquest (an after-school tutoring program), the Greer soup
kitchen (Daily Bread Ministries), Furman Westminster Fellowship (the work of the
Presbyterian Church on the Furman Campus), Greer Christian Learning Center,
Joshua’s Way, and others. During any given year there are typically one or two
adult mission trips and a youth mission trip. Recently our adult trips have
centered around Katrina relief on the Mississippi coast, which continues to
represent a pressing need long after the news headlines faded. A salient part of
our high schoolers’ year is their presentation of their mission trip experience
to our congregation.