“‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ “
- Building congregational vitality by challenging people and congregations to deepen their faith and get actively and joyfully engaged with their community and the world.
- Dismantling structural racism by advocating and acting to break down the systems, practices and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice and oppression of people of color.
- Eradicating systemic poverty by working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.
Learn more about the Matthew 25 vision here: bit.ly/3tXChWc
Since our decision to become a Matthew 25 congregation, we have raised awareness of this initiative by becoming more purposeful in our social witness outreach. Now, a Matthew 25 team is moving forward with ACTIONS – activities, relationships, advocacy, financial support, and continued education – to address the three focus areas of Matthew 25.
PCCH Mission Partners
Your financial support of PCCH through the annual stewardship campaign enables the Social Witness Committee to provide support, through the budgeted mission tithe of congregational response, to the Presbytery of Philadelphia’s mission budget as well as to a number of partner organizations:- Achievability – strives to permanently break the generational cycle of poverty for West Philadelphia families through higher education, affordable housing, supportive services, community and economic development and accountability.
- Dawn’s Place – Philadelphia’s first residential recovery home and program for women recovering from the trauma of sex trafficking.
- Face to Face – relieves suffering in their guests by giving them support to meet their immediate needs through the core programs of Meals, Legal Center, Health Center, and Social Services.
- Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry – connects at-risk Northwest Philadelphia residents to resources within themselves and the community that resolve their crises, stabilize their lives and equip them to take the next step(s) toward self-sufficiency.
- Northwest Victim Services – provides prompt, effective, holistic services to all victims of crime in Northwest Philadelphia while increasing strategies to elevate community safety.
- Souls Shot Portrait Project – brings attention to and memorializes the lives lost and tragically altered due to gun violence by linking fine artists with families or friends of victims of gun violence, to create artwork that has the unique ability to call out the souls and profoundly affect those who see them.
- Urban Resources Development Corporation – works to stabilize housing and communities in Germantown, Mt. Airy and East/West Oak Lane through rehabilitation of homes for seniors and low-income people.
- West Kensington Ministry – West Kensington Ministry (WKM) is a faith community of the Presbyterian Church, USA. WKM seeks to be relevant to those we serve as we follow Christ’s lead to serve others. WKM meets its community members where they are and serves as a one-stop-shop fulfilling basic needs and offering hope and healing. WKM transforms its community by connecting residents with access to food, clothing, weekly worship and youth and adult programming. WKM gives voice to activism on critical issues such as immigration and criminal justice reform and participates in ongoing civic engagement opportunities. Our strength is listening to the community and responding in real time to the constant cycle of changing needs. WKM is a place of gathering in a neighborhood where all are welcome.
- Whosoever Gospel Mission – provides shelter, food, clothing, education, counseling, rehabilitation and other assistance to homeless and/or needy men, women and children in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, specifically Germantown.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency states: “The work of Matthew 25 is a direct response to the good news of Jesus and a faithful expression of what it means to be Christ’s disciples in this time and place.” Your donations of money, time, food, gifts, and other in-kind support means the world to these organizations, and help PCCH as it strives to live its Matthew 25 commitment to build congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism, and eradicate systemic poverty.