Mission News
Something is always about to happen in Mission. Here you'll find news and information about Mission activities and how YOU might help. As a congregation we are very interested and involved in hands-on mission projects in our Broad Ripple neighborhood and throughout Indiana.  Helping those in need is one way we can share the love of Christ. See if one of these projects might fit the gifts and talents that you have. Contact Volunteer Mission Coordinator Tony Dzwonar at 317-585-8474 or

Christmas Joy Offering - to be received on Christmas Eve
A cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Because Advent and Christmas shine a light not only on our world's greatest
hope but also on our world's greatest need, the PC(USA) provides this timely opportunity for congregations to support causes specifically designed to bring Good News of Great Joy to the poor in circumstance or spirit. Alongside the message of promise and fulfillment in
Luke's Gospel, we also hear the clear call to God’s people to respond in faith as Christ calls us: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” (Luke 12:48). Undesignated gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will be distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to support student scholarships at
Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.

Living Gift Market from Heifer International

Here's a good story from the Heifer International gift catalog:  Recently, large state orphanages went bankrupt in Lithuania.  Bringing small groups of orphan children to live together in family homes with loving house parents is a new idea.  Heifer International is helping 11 homes with dairy goats.  Children enjoy fresh milk and learn how to make cheese.  They care for the animals and have fun playing with them.  They are especially proud to pass on one of their goat's offspring to another family farm.

What do you buy the person who has everything?  How about a goat for Lithuania, or sheep for Peru or bees for Uganda or a tree for Tanzania?  Sponsoring animals or plants like these can provide food and income for hungry families through Heifer International.  You'll get a handsome card to give and a hungry family gets hope.  Shop online at www.heifer.org.  This is a really great idea! 

Our Future is Now Capital Campaign Missions

After several months of research and help from the congregation, the Mission Team has selected five missions who will share 10% of the Our Future is Now capital campaign funds equally.

The Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis will celebrate its centennial in 2012 by joining with Habitat for Humanity in building new homes and reenergizing the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood.  Ten homes and a park sounds like a very good start.  Oh, and we'll show up for the building, too.

Dayspring Center is looking for a new kitchen to assist in feeding the many homeless Indianapolis families looking for a safe refuge from domestic violence, financial collapse, or illness.  Dayspring's Camp Discovery addresses the specific therapeutic needs of homeless children.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance arrives early and stays late on the world's most serious disaster sites, and the least publicized, too.  PDA comes from our connective church and shows up in the saddest of times, the natural (storms) and unnatural (crime scenes.) Our gift will help them get there with arms full.

Interfaith Hunger Initiative was selected because this organization wants to end hunger in Indianapolis and in Africa, and has programs in place that are succeeding.  We want to, too.

Indianapolis Public School #55  is one of only two public elementary schools north of 38th street and a neighbor of ours.  We have had a nice partnership going and are looking forward to doing more. 

Interfaith Hunger Initiative

In the fall of 2008, Northminster signed on as a convenant partner with Interfaith Hunger Initiative. One of the agreements we made was to raise awareness about the extent of hunger globally as well as locally. In January, Northminster presented IHI with a gift of $10,000 from the estate of an anonymous donor.  The gift was designated for programs that benefit children and was divided between the weekend sack lunches for Indianapolis children and food programs in Kenya.  It will feed 225 Kenyan children for a year.  Somebody up there is happy. 

Food Assistance for Westminster Neighborhood Ministries

This year-round project involves the whole congregation of Northminster. Folks are encouraged to bring food items to church. The food is collected and taken to the food pantry at Washington Street Presbyterian Church on the west side of Indianapolis. Volunteers are needed to bring in food contributions and to help deliver food to Washington Street.

Christmas Clothe-A-Child Project - December 1, 2011

Each Christmas season our congregation contributes over $11,000 to help clothe needy children for the winter months. For the past several years we have taken children from School 55 on this shopping trip to Sears in Castleton Square mall with lunch provided after shopping. A few weeks before Christmas 50-60 volunteers shop with the children and take them to lunch. Volunteers are needed to shop (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and to contribute financially. This is a really fun day for both the children and the shoppers, and it is a great way to begin the Christmas season of sharing.

This year's Clothe-a-Child event at the Castleton Square Sears store is thursday, December 1st.  To make a financial donation, look for the Clothe-a-Child envelopes at church or just send a check designating the project.  For real fun, join the shoppers.  Contact .

Heifer Project

Heifer envisions a world of communities living together in peace and equitably sharing the resources of a healthy planet. Heifer's mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Its strategy is to "pass on the gift". As people share their animals' offspring with others - along with their knowledge, resources and skills - an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe. For almost 60 years the simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief has given millions of families in 128 countries the gifts of self-reliance and hope.

Our Church School children use their weekly offering to buy animals for people in need through Heifer Project. With help from some of the adults in the congregation they have bought a heifer, fish, ducks and a goat in 2006. Contact for more information.