Global Missions
The world is at once a big place and quite small. From our corner of Birmingham, Alabama, South Highland Presbyterian Church actively supports missionary efforts around the world. From financial support for denominational mission offerings to building homes in Mexico to personal visits with missionaries in central Africa, our church is taking the love of Christ and the message of His redemption to all corners of the globe.
Constructores Para Cristo (CPC) is a ministry that provides basic housing, medical care and education for the poor, working Mexican families who live in desperate conditions. Mission teams travel to the border town of Piedras Negras where they build a house in a week. South Highland has supported a mission team every year for the past 23 years. This year we partnered once again with First Presbyterian of Auburn and sent 18 people to build a house. No experience is needed, just a willing heart and no fear of physical labor. Contact Debbie Perkins for more information.
Developments in Gardening (DIG) is an organization with a mission to improve the health and well-being of HIV-positive and other at-risk individuals in developing nations. We do this by teaching the skills and providing the infrastructure to create sustainable community gardens, thereby empowering people to improve both their nutrition and earning potential. South Highland helps support this effort through our mission contributions. Sarah Koch is the administrator and coordinator.
Liaison with Missionaries: Our program of correspondence with the missionary families who are specifically supported by SHPC allows us to educate our congregants about the church’s global mission fields, as well as to give the missionaries support in work they are doing in response to God's call.South Highlands contributes to the support of six missionary families/individuals.
- Democratic Republic of Congo<, Africa: Dr. Mike and Nancy Haninger
- Lesotho, Africa: Dr. Frank and Nancy Dimmock and family, Nathan, Moses, Jessica, Katie, Andrew, Alifa, Isaac, and Jackson
- Zambia, Africa: Rev. Ted and Sue Wright
- Madagascar, Africa: Dan and Elizabeth Turk and family, Robert and Frances
- Lithuania(Eastern Europe): Rev. Jane Holslag
- Central Asia: Nathan and Koolyash Fleming and family, Joshua and Asena
One Great Hour of Sharing: SHPC participates in this offering. One-third goes to PCUSA Hunger Programs; one-third funds Self Development Of People programs and one-third goes for Presbyterian Disaster Relief. SHPC Contact: Greta Clark.
Peacemaking: SHPC participates in the Peacemaking Offering on World Communion Sunday. One-fourth of the offering goes to support efforts toward peace in our community, one-fourth to Presbytery programs, and one half goes to General Assembly program.
Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship (PFF) works to see that every ethnic group has its own church, reflecting its own cultural characteristics. They want every Presbyterian church to have a mission vision, in particular a vision to reach out to peoples who have no church. Dr.Cody Watson is an associate director of PFF and keeps us informed on activities throughout the world in areas where there is no exposure to the gospel.
Short Term Mission Trips: We encourage and support financially South Highlanders doing mission in other parts of the world. Past trips have included medical mission trips to Honduras, water treatment system installation in Mexico, and partnership meetings with presbyteries in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Water Purification Project: Living Waters for the world (LWW) developed a complete program for successfully creating partnerships with groups in need of water purification in such a way that the recipients can operate and maintain a fairly simple water system that will provide them with more than clean water. A higher standard of living is achieved through reduced cost for clean water and improved health from following the health practices taught along with installation of the mechanical equipment. For more information call Jim Price who coordinates the mission.
Witness Season: Each year a mission emphasis season showcases missionaries and speakers to educate South Highlanders in being Global Christians through personal participation. Your support-financial, prayers, and hands-on mission volunteer work-enables SHPC to participate in programs such as Constructores Para Cristo and to be connected to persons doing God's work in many parts of the world. Much of our mission activity is supported in part by the annual Witness Season Offering. SHPC Contact: Marty Keller.
For more information on South Highland Missions, contact Debbie Perkins