Missions & Outreach

Committed to our call to service as disciples, First Presbyterian Church has long been active in mission in our local community, our nation and our world. Our purpose in mission is to respond to God’s love manifest in Jesus Christ and to promote Christ’s continued work in the world. Transformed through service, members of the congregation contribute their time, their gifts, and their resources in support of a wide variety of ministries.

Local ministries include the Providence House, the Noel Memorial UMC Food Pantry, the Highland Center, the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank, Mercy House, Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries, and the Vera Lloyd Children’s Home.

National and international ministries include the Fuller Center for Housing, Community Renewal International, Montreat Conference Center, Church World Service through the annual Shreveport/Bossier CROP Walk, the Heifer Project, and Joy to the World Ministries located in Malawi, Africa.

In addition, we promote economic justice initiatives through our annual Alternative Gifts Fair in cooperation with neighboring congregations, and our participation in the Presbyterian Coffee Project. We serve only fair trade coffee and sell in our Book Nook hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and chocolate produced by farmers in developing nations. Our purchases help assure that these farmers and artisans receive a fair price for their goods.

Current Service Opportunities

Noel Food Bank- On the third Saturday of each month, we gather to organize volunteers for the Noel Food Pantry which provides groceries for families in the Highland neighborhood. Email Lisa Schrott to request more information, or to sign up.

THE HIGHLAND BLESSING DINNER, Following Christ's commandment that we love our neighbors as ourselves, volunteers from eight churches host a free, family-style dinner every Thursday night at 6:00 at the Highland Center, serving as many as 75 hungry guests. Our guests are primarily the working poor from the Highland Community, but nearly one-third are children. Coordinators from the sponsoring churches attend each week and volunteers are always welcome! Every second Thursday it is First Presbyterian's turn to host, and twenty FPC volunteers are needed from 5:00-7:00 to set up, serve, join diners at the tables as host, offer a brief devotional, and clean up. On months with five Thursdays, all churches share the responsibility. Contact FPC Coordinator Cathie Dodson for more information and to volunteer (dodsons3@aol.com/834-3314).

Want to learn more about Outreach opportunities at FPC? Want to see pictures from the 1 House at Time project last weekend? Want to incorporate the Prayers for Bangladesh into your prayer life? Then check out the FPC Shreveport Outreach blog at http://fpcsoutreach.wordpress.com/ At the bottom of the page, you can enter your email address to subscribe to the blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.