2023 Christmas Eve Offering Recipients
Every year, WHPC hosts a special offering on Christmas Eve. In 2022, you all raised $100,000 that went to the Afghan Refugee Ministry and Memory Care Academy of Austin.
Please enjoy the 2023 CE Offering video!
Afghan Refugee Ministry
In 2024 we have high hopes to bring independence to our Afghan Refugee women.
Our refugee women rarely if ever leave their home. The local mosque here in Austin contacted us and asked us to encourage the women to experience community and education beyond their homes. They have encouraged the women to come to the Mosque during the day so that they can receive English as a Second Language classes while free childcare is provided. The mosque is eager to see the women break the cycle of dependency!
We believe, based on our strong relationship with the women, that we can help them contribute to the larger needs of their homes and community by equipping them with driving training and vehicles.
Africa - 3 Unique Opportunities
1. The Westlake Prayer House
In 2015, a portion of WHPC Christmas Eve offering was given to our African partners in the Lusaka area, specifically for the purpose of constructing a new prayer house for the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (Synod of Zambia). The new structure, called the Westlake Hills Prayer House is located near the John Laing/Makeni Road area about 30 minutes southwest of the capital of Lusaka, Zambia. Our partner made a good start to the prayer house by installing most of the cinderblock walls and metal roof, but the funds were not sufficient to complete the construction. The building still lacks solid flooring, windows and doors. See the photos attached.
For the history of the church, see History | Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Synod of Zambia (ccapzambia.org)
2. Faith in Christ Ministries International
FICMI began the radio ministry in 2020 as a way to reach more people with the Gospel and love of Christ in a country where wifi and electricity often are not available or don't work well. Radio is generally available.
It currently reaches more than 17,000 people in twenty cities and fourteen villages in Liberia and The Ivory Coast.
FICMI broadcasts once a week on two different stations
It includes Gospel songs, teaching, preaching, Gospel dramas, and games for children who win prizes for answering Biblical questions or reciting Bible verses.
in both Liberia and Ivory Coast are benefiting from the broadcast
Faith in Christ Ministries International (FICMI) was born in 2003, after the civil wars, when Pastor Thomas Jeah, his wife Marie, and their congregation returned to find their church building and village burned to the ground. They said, “All we have left is our faith in Christ.” Thus, the name of the ministry.
There are seven congregations of FICMI plus four informal preaching gatherings (known as preaching points) in Liberia and Ivory Coast. These sites are all satellites of the main congregation in Monrovia. Currently there are over 570 people attending the services at these churches and preaching points.
Pastor Moses Blayee is the head of Faith in Christ Ministry International located in Liberia. Pastor Thomas Jeah is the founder of Faith in Christ. He, his wife Marie, and his son Daniel immigrated to the US about 15 years ago, relocated to Austin, and are members of WHPC.
WHPC has been giving mission support to the ministry since 2019. The support has primarily been used to fund three conferences each year which bring all congregations and preaching points together for worship. A couple from WHPC financed a five-year seminary education for Chancy Jeah, son of Thomas and Marie. Chancy is now a pastor serving FICMI.
3. The African Partnership Relationship Building Conferences
Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church has been part of the ZZMUSA Network for several years. The Zambia-Zimbabwe-Mozambique-USA Mission Network is a community of Presbyterians, formed by the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s World Mission, sustained by partnership, mutual respect, compassion and gratitude that we are united as "one family." We are a link among sessions, ministries, missions, presbyteries, synods, denominational entities, theological institutions, community agencies and individuals in seven denominations in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the USA.
The Synods of Harare and Zambia of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa in Zambia and Zimbabwe have invited key leaders to travel to Africa and visit them and other partner churches. Our Coordinating and Leadership Team (CLT) of the ZZMUSA Network has accepted that invitation to travel to Africa, tentatively scheduled for September 8 through 21.
We are looking to deepen the relationships within the Network, strengthen ministries in all places and enlarge the ways we can work and serve together. Specifically, with the theme, "One in Christ," we are coming together with “Insaka”, a time of sharing and learning, a gathering of deep listening and collaborative responding and an opportunity for building closer relationships in all parts of the Network. In that time, we also hope to engage with theological institutions and press forward in providing ways for those preparing for ministry to truly become part of a global church. Our focus will be on visiting theological institutions, but we also plan to visit church and health institutions.
The nine persons invited to attend from the United States will be responsible for their costs of travel and in-country accommodations. But we know that the six lead pastors from Zambia and Zimbabwe will struggle to meet those financial obligations. Our goal is to raise funds that will enable our African lead pastors to take part in these gatherings across central Africa. These scholarships will help defray the costs of lodging, meals and local travel for our underfunded sisters and brothers in Africa.
As you consider your gift, please remember ...
· We are a unique bridge among diverse Presbyterians in four countries, united by faith in Jesus Christ.
· We communicate with them through regular newsletters, providing opportunities for critical and interconnected issues to be acknowledged and celebrated.
· We know that to "be church" anywhere in the world is a struggle and so we give the opportunity for all to be lifted in prayer across the Network through a WhatsApp Prayer Group.
· We have created a Network of shared leadership in all parts of its life.
· We have brought leaders together in planning groups, virtual conferences, panel discussions and informal conversations.
· We aim to enhance collaboration among churches and health professionals.
· Our goal is to partner in preparing the next generation of leaders for the worldwide church.
And you are part of it all!
Thank you for your global efforts and anticipated contribution.
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Finkel
Larry Bloomquist, Mission Committee
Hillary Files, Mission Committee
Patty Praytor, ARM Team Leader
