This month we celebrate giving the first gifts from Southminster’s Mission and Benevolence Endowment. This endowment fund was established in 2023 following the merger of Shades Valley and Southminster. The sale of the Shades Valley property enabled us to set up endowment funds to support the ministry of the merged church as well as vital mission efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. In September, our Session approved our first distributions. For 2024, our mission giving from the endowment totals $111,020.
Our congregation has identified four priority areas for our mission giving and service: hunger, housing, children and youth, and health and welfare. In addition, as a Matthew 25 congregation, we are committed to eradicating systemic poverty, dismantling structural racism, and building congregational vitality. We sought to support both local and international organizations, and to balance our support of ministries of direct service, empowerment, and advocacy. Our contributions this year reflect these priorities and values.
This year, 60% of our giving is directed to local partner organizations, 30% to international partners and Presbyterian Church (USA) mission co-workers serving internationally, and 10% toward advocacy work on systemic and structural change. We provided larger gifts of $17,000 each to two organizations, Living River and the YMCA Roebuck Collaborative, along with gifts to other vital partners. We celebrate the opportunity to partner with others as we seek to love our neighbors and support God’s mission in the world.
Local
Living River stewards a sacred space on the Cahaba to foster connection to self, others, nature and God. Living River will use this gift for needed repairs and maintenance of the Shades Valley Lodge.
The YMCA Roebuck Collaborative is an exciting collaboration between the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, and Christ Clinic for revitalization in the Roebuck community. This initiative will provide for educational and health care services for children and youth as well as safe and stable housing through the construction of 22 new Habitat for Humanity homes.
Firehouse Ministries offers a continuum of services for homeless men in Birmingham
First Light provides shelter and services for women and children experiencing homelessness in Birmingham.
The WellHouse provides residential, therapeutic programs to female victims of human trafficking who have been sexually exploited, offering medical, spiritual, mental, & emotional care.
Stillman College is a Presbyterian historically black college located in Tuscaloosa.
Kairos Prison Ministry offers retreats to develop Christian community inside prison walls.
King’s Cross International is a PC(USA) worshipping community that meets at Southminster and focuses on outreach to international young adults in Birmingham.
Vestavia West Food Bags is a Southminster ministry providing food for children at risk of hunger at Vestavia West, the public K-5 elementary school next door to Southminster.
The Matthew 25 Committee at Southminster supports mission needs throughout the year, including paying for food for meals at First Light and Firehouse.
The Pastor Discretionary Fund at Southminster provides financial assistance for church and community members in times of crisis.
International
Congo
Mission co-workers Jeff and Christi Boyd
Mission co-workers Larry and Inge Sthreshley
IMCK / Congo Partnership provides support for Good Shepherd Hospital and other medical ministries in DR Congo.
US/Mexico Border
Mission co-workers Mark Adams and Miriam Maldonado Escobar
Frontera de Cristo is a Presbyterian border ministry located in the sister cities of Agua Prieta, Douglas and Sonora.
Ukraine
Camino supports small, grassroots organizations in Ukraine providing food, shelter, and support for civilian casualties of war
Israel/Palestine
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offers support for war-affected communities in the Middle East.
Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance International offers support for international communities experiencing crisis and catastrophe, directed to areas of greatest need.
Advocacy
Alabama Arise is a statewide, member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty.
Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership is a coalition supporting refugees and asylum seekers through direct assistance, education, and advocacy.
Greater Birmingham Ministries is a long-time partner organization that seeks to address systemic poverty by building the power and amplifying the voices of those most directly impacted by social and economic policies.
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