Director of Mission Stewart Kerr talks about the initiatives by our Mission Partners and organizations in the community in response to the difficulties faced by our neighbors due to COVID-19. The First Pres COVID Fund supports the following initiatives: “Four Fellow Families” through Family Services of Lake County, Curt’s Cafe, PADS Lake County, Mano …
UPDATED MAY 6, 2020: Watch this video to see the impact of your donations to Beacon Place through our Food Depot. We continue to do weekly pick-ups of supplies to contribute to Beacon Place’s efforts in distributing necessities to the community, so we encourage you to keep dropping off donations when you can! If you …
Due to COVID-19, the May 2 Rummage Sale is postponed for the safety of the workers, shoppers, and the community. Be on the lookout for further details!
The Dakota Partnership 2020 Mission Trip Join Pastor Clint and Pastor Kristie on a mission to serve Native American children and their families with the Gospel in word and action. From June 20–26, our Pastors will join with other Presbyterians and friends across Chicagoland to journey to Sisseton, South Dakota, home of the Wahpeton Sioux …
May 2, 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the First Pres Spring Rummage Sale. Since it’s inception in 1950, the sale has raised over $6.5 million dollars for our mission partners. Annually, the sale raises 30% of the overall mission budget for First Pres, and people from all over come to volunteer and purchase items. …
Mission Partner Bravo Waukegan just finished its 9th season of Bravo Buddies Music Camp, a program available to Waukegan public school students (2nd – 8th graders). The camp took place June 17 through July 12 at Jefferson Middle School in Waukegan. Executive Director and First Pres member Karey Walker said, “We were thrilled to offer …
Mission Partner Bravo Waukegan celebrates record number attendance in their Music Camp! Read More »
Curt’s Café is a new Mission Partner at First Pres. Curt’s Café works with proven at-risk or formerly incarcerated young adults. What these young adults need most is a job. Without a job, many end up living on the streets and return to destructive habits, cycling through the courts, 86% of those released are sent …
Mano a Mano is a newer partner for First Pres. The agency, founded in 2000, serves the Latino immigrant population in Lake County. Over the past 30 years, there has been a shift in where immigrants are settling. The immigrant population, especially Latino communities, has been growing faster in Chicago collar counties than in the …
June Featured Mission Partner: Mano a Mano Family Resource Center Read More »
On December 12, Chip Hardwick, Cynthia Hessemer, and Nina Strnad spoke with Pastor Jacoub about his Christmas season in Fairouzeh, Syria. Our recap: A Muslim majority country, Syria’s department of education has declared trimester final exams on Christmas Eve, wreaking havoc with the worship schedule as well as participation by all the children who sing …
February 2019: Update on our Prayer Partner Church in Fairouzeh Read More »
As part of our faith in Christ, we care for those whom Jesus called the “least of these.” On Saturday morning, November 3, members of the Mission committee, congregation and staff lived into this by making short visits to two of our long-time mission partners. Team Haven was John Johnson, Geoffrey Luce, Jill Moot, Missy …
Mission Fan-Out Event at Lake County Haven and A Safe Place Read More »