I’m thrilled to share that in April, Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church contributed $11,000 to One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering of our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). One Great Hour of Sharing goes to address disaster, hunger, and oppression throughout the world, through several Presbyterian agencies—Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. This special offering is in addition to the generous support WHPC already gives its local and global mission partners each year.

Many in our congregation are familiar with "Blue Bag Sundays," where once a month we shop at the grocery store for a list of requested items and return them to the church in cobalt blue bags. I loved participating in this simple ministry for years, but I have to admit I did not really know where those bags were going. I knew that the ministry was a "food pantry," but I did not comprehend the gem of a destination for our particular goods that is Manos de Cristo until I delivered the blue bags collected by our congregation to their office one weekday morning last year.

One of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church’s longstanding local mission partners is the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) here in Austin.

Through FCA, Westlake High School (WHS) hosts several bible study gatherings called "huddles." Two student-led huddles meet every week, on campus, during the student’s two lunch hours, 4th and 5th period. Coach Jeff Montgomery and Mrs. Clements help host and facilitate these huddles, which attract between 10 to 40 students at each lunch hour. That means that each week, as many as 80 students gather together to enjoy fellowship in a safe place, to pray, to hear the Word of God, and to listen to a testimony from a fellow student or invited guest speaker.

The year has barely begun, and already our church has undertaken two significant mission projects to address hunger, both locally in Austin and in impoverished areas around the globe.

For this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring Smackdown, our middle school students led a can drive to benefit the food pantry run by WHPC mission partner Manos de Cristo. Over the course of January, the congregation donated a grand total of 2,609 cans. Church members made weekly deliveries as donations came in, helping to keep Manos’ pantry well stocked throughout January.

Associate Pastor Claire Berry previews multiple ways for our congregation to share with our neighbors during Advent and Christmas, including the Christmas Eve Offering.

We’re sharing stories from WHPC members who are out there in our local community being “secretly incredible.” Our second post is from high school student Brittany Barre. Read on to hear how Brittany is making a difference with Community First! Village.

For the next couple weeks, we’re excited to share stories from WHPC members, “hidden figures” who are out there in our local community being “secretly incredible.” Our first post is from elder Kenny Rahmeyer. Read on to hear how Kenny and friends are repurposing abundance right here in Austin.

On May 16, a small team from WHPC visited ministries in McAllen and San Benito that provide relief and support to refugees and asylum seekers. Learn about our trip here written by our very own Rev. Claire Berry.