Mission
Christian Community Presbyterian Church is a mission oriented church. We believe spiritual growth is manifested through the practical application of the teaching of Christ.
Mission Council
The Mission Council is the link between the resources of CCPC and the needs of the local, regional, national and the world communities. We at CCPC are called to minister to those who have never had the opportunity to experience God's love and grace, to those who are poor in spirit, and to those who need a helping hand or an encouraging word in times of trouble.
Mission News:
CCPC is partnering with Common Ground Outreach for Christ, Inc. as part of our mission program. Amanda (Campbell) and Brian Salveron are founding members of Common Ground that was created to bring the Gospel and hope to an impoverished area of West Baltimore known as Sandtown-Winchester. The area is challenged by many urban ills, including poverty, unemployment, poor health, low student achievement, illiteracy, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse. Common Ground started in the Spring of 2003 and it currently has 7 energetic members. They are seeking support from suburban churches to help families in Sandtown-Winchester. They need all types of support—financial, in-kind and hands-on. The Mission Committee overwhelmingly voted to support Common Ground. The committee started with an up-front donation of $5,000 and will mobilize volunteers to support projects that the Common Ground team establishes. Project details will be discussed at the Mission Committee’s next meeting on April 4th at 7:00 PM in the conference room. Anyone who would like to get involved is welcome to attend. The Mission Committee feels that Common Ground’s efforts fit ideally with the direction that CCPC members want to take our Mission Programs.
In addition to supporting Common Ground, the Mission Committee plans to pursue hands-on projects that use our facility as a base for these projects. This is one of the ideas that came up at the mission forum and is supported by many CCPC members. The committee is examining several ideas, such as financial management or tax assistance training for lower-income families. We also are considering a proposal to set up a health clinic to provide basic health care to low-income families. The Mission Committee is looking for volunteers to lead these projects. If you are interested in helping to organize some training classes or exploring the possibility of setting up a health clinic, please contact Paul Sell, the Mission Committee Chairman. You do not have to teach the classes or run the clinic. We are looking for people who will help organize the programs or investigate the possibilities.
Mission Committee Report for 2004
Summary: CCPC supports national and international mission programs but the majority of our effort is focused in our local community. Throughout the year the committee allocated the remaining funds to a wide variety of mission-related programs with an emphasis on providing food, clothing and shelter to those less fortunate than us.
Support to Mission Programs in our Community
- Warm Nights – As part of Prince George's Community Ministries' Warm Nights program, CCPC houses men and women who are seeking food and shelter. Many volunteers from our congregation serve breakfast and dinner, do laundry, prepare lunches, and stay overnight to assist our guests. CCPC has participated in this program for two decades. CCPC provided food and shelter for 25 to 30 homeless people for one week in February. Warm Nights: Read More
- Christmas Families –Food, clothing, presents and school supplies were provided to approximately 37 families with 170 people, including 135 children. Christmas Families: Read More
- Bowie Community Pantry –One of the more visible missions of CCPC, the Bowie Community Pantry is a store of non-perishable items used to provide needy families with emergency food. For many years CCPC has been the storekeeper for the goods collected from our members and the community at large. Other area churches and Bowie High School also support the pantry.
- Bowie Emergency Aid Fund – The Bowie Emergency Aid Fund provides short-term monetary relief to local residents facing unemployment, eviction, unexpected medical bills, or funeral expenses. The program is funded with individual contributions, a pledge from Mission Council, and donations from other organizations. CCPC has supported this effort since it began in 1969.
- Hudson House – CCPC provides emergency housing for people referred by Prince George’s Community Ministry. The frequent use of CCPC’s efficiency apartment is testament to its importance. The sheltered family’s or individual’s length of stay varies depending on their needs. Additional assistance is often given in helping residents locate suitable permanent housing.
- Day Care – CCPC provides space for four different nurseries: The Bowie Therapeutic Nursery, the Belair Co-Op Nursery, the CCPC Nursery and the Even Start Nursery.
- Community Forums/Meetings – CCPC opens its facilities to a variety of local groups, such as the Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts, for meetings and forums.
- Community Cafe – CCPC members support the Community Café in Prince George’s County. Our volunteers make and serve warm meals and bag lunches, and provide personal care kits for 60-70 people every other month.
- Christian Children's Fund – CCPC sponsors two children through the Christian Children’s Fund. Ajay Singh, a boy from India, and Semi, an Indonesian girl, receive monetary support from us, and we exchange letters and photos. Ajay is in school, and Semi recently left the program to be married to a man in a neighboring village.
- Refugees - CCPC’s strong commitment toward sponsoring refugees began in 1980, with a family of seven from Vietnam. Others have come from Ethiopia and Romania. Most recently, a Bosnian family found a new life with us in Bowie. The refugee mission draws on the resources, compassion and generosity of numerous CCPC members.
- Presbyterian Mission - CCPC pledges each year to carry out national and international mission work through our local Presbytery. Missions are supported in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South and Central America. CCPC directly supports two missionaries’ work in Ethiopia and Honduras
- Campus Ministry - CCPC supports campus ministries at the University of Maryland and at several universities and colleges in the mountains of Virginia. Our connection to students does not end when they leave their home churches after high school graduation. Campus Ministries allow students to explore their spirituality and offer Christian values as part of college life.
- Presbyterian Coffee - CCPC supports a co-operative of coffee growers in South America by participating in the Presbyterian Coffee Project. When we purchase coffee from the co-op for use in our fellowship on Sundays, the money is supporting fair payment and marketing practices over drug lords who seek to control local markets.
Support to National Mission Programs:
- Campus Crusade for Christ -CCPC provided support to the Ministry of Kim McCarty who is working with over 3,100 international students at Penn State University.
- The Souper Bowl –CCPC collected donations on Super Bowl Sunday in support of this program sponsored by Church World Services that provides food and clothing to the needy.
- One Day’s Pay –CCPC members provided between 150 and 200 hours of volunteer service in support of this program designed to honor victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
- Relay for Life –CCPC members participated in this relay sponsored by the American Cancer Society to raise funds for cancer research.
- Investment in Hope – CCPC supported this program sponsored by Okiocredit and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that provides affordable credit to mission-oriented non-profit groups.
Support to International Mission Programs:
- Medical Benevolence Program –A program that provides medicines and medical support to individuals in various countries around the world.
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Fund –A program that provides assistance in response to various disasters, such as droughts, famine, etc.
- Missionaries –CCPC provides financial support to two missionaries abroad—JoAnn Griffith in Ethiopia and Tim and Gloria Wheeler in Honduras.
- The Kenya Partnership –A Presbytery-to-Presbytery Partnership between National Capital Presbytery and Elburgon Presbytery in Kenya. CCPC donated funds to support the construction of the Egerton Ngondu Girls Hostel that will provide appropriate housing for young women attending Egerton University.
The Bowie Therapeutic Nursery Bus
