Banner Elk Presbyterian Church

Giving Back

Banner Elk Presbyterian is dedicated to helping the community, locally and globally. Below are some of the projects we are involved with. Contact us if you wish to help.

Guatemalan Ministry with sister church Arca De Noe

Since 1997, Banner Elk Presbyterian has nurtured an enriching relationship with Arca de Noé (Noah's Ark) Church in Morelia, Guatemala. Our Partnership grows stronger each year. We visit Guatemala at least twice a year and have been blessed with visits from some of our brothers and sisters from our partner church as well. We are partnering with Arca de Noé in a children's scholarship program. There are 33 children from both the church and the community receiving support for school supplies and tuition. Each time we visit, we purchase hundreds of pounds of rice, beans, sugar and other essentials for the poor of the community. The sisters of Arca de Noé bag them and distribute them as one of their most important ministries. We are so blessed to have the opportunity to have these wonderful people as part of our family in Christ.

Barbara Hosbein: Contact

Mission in Haiti

For several years now, our church has sponsored a delegate to go to Haiti to help impoverished peoples in that area. Martha Garris represents our church by bringing materials and supplies to people in need, as well as helping to provide a medical clinic.

Prison Ministry

Volunteers from the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church are members of the High Country Prison Ministry at the Avery/Mitchell Correctional Institute.

The High Country Prison Ministry Mission Statement (HCPM) is as follows: HCPM is a gathering of Christians seeking to encourage and support the spiritual life of prisoners in cooperation with the chaplaincy program of the Avery/Mitchell Correctional Institution.

We seek to embody the love of Christ in the prison community through the following activities:

1. Help to create a hospitable place of healing, acceptance compassion and hope in Prison.
2. Develop meaningful relationships with the prisoners.
3. Participate as volunteers as time permits and interest dictates.
4. Recruit other volunteers for the programs i.e., Bible study, Yokefellows, Sunday School, worship services, discussion groups, etc.
5. Be a catalyst for informing the wider community about prison life and the ministries of the Office of Religious Services.
6. Be an outside support for the Chaplaincy staff through prayer and encouragement.
7. Support a part-time or community chaplain financially.

Hospice of Avery County

Avery County has a very active Hospice with the office located in Newland. Executive Director, Mary Ellen Shea, and many volunteers and health specialists make up an an outstanding team to minister to the terminally ill in our county.

www.hospice-nc-sc.org

RAM

Banner Elk Presbyterian members consistently support the work of this local agency. RAM (Reaching Avery Ministry) consists of a food pantry and thrift shop. Gifts of food, good used clothing, household items and money are contributed to assist those in need in our area. Items needed are soups, canned vegetables and fruits, meat substitutes (ravioli, hash, etc.), and disposable diapers. These items can be left in the box in the left narthex at the front doors of the church at any time.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is an international Christian organization to build homes for the underpriviledged. As one of our covenant ministries, we have agreed to donate funds to the group, provide volunteers, and to pray for its work. Several of our members are regular volunteers and coordinators for the program and since 1991, we have helped to build 24 homes in Avery County. Phone number for the Avery Habitat is 828-733-1909.

www.habitat.org

MCCSAC (Mission Committee Community Service for Avery County)

MCCSAC is our name as we share the Face-to-Face ministry to local folks. We have built two ramps, a set of steps and will build another set of steps soon. These services are given to those who are elderly, infirmed or need the physical help to improve their living conditions.

Feeding Avery Families

This ministry provides local food distribution from Manna Food Bank. Contacts from this congregation are John Cox and Phyllis Clemmer.

Additional Outreach

Mom's Morning Out
This program for children ages 2-5 is much like a preschool with learning activities including crafts and music for each age group. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00-12:30. Call the church for more information.

5 Cents a Meal
To keep up with inflation, our 2 cents a meal has been increased to 5 cents. At the end of the month, families bring in their pennies and loose change that they put into a canister at meal time, remembering those who do not have food. Amazingly, this small amount has grown enormously, enough to help people throughout the region, including our own.

Comfortmakers
Women of the church piece together comforters for good causes. They have given these lovely, handmade blankets to those who are in need, to hospitals, to medical students and to special needs organizations. Our Comfortmakers have made over 170 comforts since 1990. Call the church for more information.

Columbarium
Banner Elk Presbyterian is home for a beautiful and dignified Columbarium. Contact Jim King through the church for more information.

Mug Ministry
In order to welcome guests who have moved to the area, resident visitors are given a special coffee mug with information about the church.

Created on 01/14/2006 06:36 PM by admin Updated on 11/10/2009 03:45 PM by washburna