Matthew 25 Church & Covenant Network of Presbyterians
Matthew 25 Church – Northminster took a bold step in 2020 and committed to becoming a Matthew 25 Church. Using the scripture of Matthew 25:31 – 46 where Jesus is clear when He says what we do matters to God, and how we treat others is important to God, the missions at Northminster focus on three premises:
- Building congregational vitality
- Dismantling structural racism
- Eradicating systemic poverty
Covenant Network of Presbyterians – In 2022 Northminster became a member of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians and agreed to:
- Support the mission and unity of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Articulate and act in the church’s historic progressive vision
- Work to be a fully inclusive church
- Find ways to live out the graciously hospitable gospel by living together with all our fellow members in the PC(USA)
To learn more about opportunities or to get involved with Northminster Mission projects, contact Mission Team Chair Susan Holewinski.
Current Mission Partners
Umoja Partnership - The Umoja Partnership believes that education is the key to a better future for the orphans and vulnerable children of Kenya. They change lives by keeping children in school. In 2023 NPC gave $10,000 for student uniforms and $2000 to supplement their food program.
Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis – They are a partnership of congregations and community organizations responding to the crisis of children and their families who are homeless. One hundred percent of any mission funds go to Family Promise’s Family Assistance Fund (FAF). The entire fund is spent on expenses incurred by families on the path to securing or retaining housing. NPC gave them $4000 in 2023.
Gleaners Food Bank - The goal of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is to lead the fight against hunger. Northminster’s grant of $3000 allows Gleaners to continue providing hunger relief services throughout the Indianapolis area.
Raphael Health Center - Their mission is to provide community-based, full-service health care of the highest quality with respect to dignity for all people including the underserved and uninsured within a setting that shares the love and healing of Jesus Christ. They will use the $8000 grant from NPC to help support the purchase of a retinal camera.
March 2023 Partner Highlight
The Raphael Health Center’s mission is to provide community-based, full-service health care of the highest quality with respect to dignity for all people including the underserved and uninsured within a setting that shares the love and healing of Jesus Christ. How will a gift from Northminster assist you in reaching your goals for 2023? Raphael will use this funding to help support the purchase of a retinal camera. This has been a significant “win” for our patients as there are few Optometrists who will see the uninsured or those on Medicaid. Our Optometry Clinic is fully equipped, and we are thankful. However, this one piece of equipment could make a significant improvement in the care we provide.
Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity - Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. NPC’s gift of $5000 supports the First Time Homebuyer Program which encompasses numerous activities that range from recruitment and training of future homebuyers to construction of the homes that families purchase with an affordable 0% mortgage.
The Julian Center - The Julian Center helps victims of domestic abuse become survivors through support services, education: cooperative partnerships that foster hope; promote self-sufficiency; rebuild lives. A grant of $2000 from NPC makes every program, every meal served and every night’s stay possible.
The Little Timmy Project – This organization promotes positive pregnancy outcomes while addressing the maternal and infant health crisis in Indiana. The funds of $9000 from NPC will provide free resources to clients including doula services to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) pregnant folks.
Wheeler Mission Ministries - NPC granted $3500 to Wheeler Mission Ministries. The goal of Wheeler Mission is to provide Christ-centered programs and services for individuals experiencing homelessness and those in need. The gift from Northminster will bolster operational and staff capacity.
Westminster Neighborhood Ministries – They provide education, support, access to basic needs, and community connections to empower neighbors and strengthen youth and families on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. With $4000 of support from NPC, Westminster can continue supporting its important ministries to its neighbors.
Back to School Extravaganza – Washington Township School Foundation - They connect private funding, community, and alumni with Washington Township Schools to support and enhance the unique educational experiences of our students. The $5000 grant from NPC purchases school supplies for social workers to distribute to students in July of 2023.
Community Food Box Project - Established in 2016, Community Food Box Project provides 24-hour emergency food assistance in neighborhoods facing food insecurity. They partner with schools, churches, community centers and businesses to install little free pantries for those in need. With a $16,000 grant from NPC, this program will centralize their distribution facility and coordinate all their locations around Indianapolis.
2022 Mission Team Projects and Activities
(from the 2022 Annual Report)
As a Matthew 25 church and a member of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, the 2022 Mission Team set goals to engage with neighbors near and far in Christ’s love, serve the local and global community, dismantle structural racism, eradicate systemic poverty, and support the church’s progressive vision of unity and inclusiveness for all. Here is our story.
Neighbors Near
Members of Northminster are generous with their time and resources. They serve the hungry at Westminster food pantry every second Monday of the month and collect much-needed toilet paper to keep the pantry stocked (over 1200 rolls) with this essential item. When Westminster called and needed shampoo for Christmas baskets, members of NPC responded by gathering over 350 bottles. When Covid ended church stays with local congregations, we responded by donating linens and other supplies to the Apartment Shelter project, part of Family Promise. Eight volunteers “cleaned up and wrapped up” a Habitat for Humanity build in November.
As part of the Back-to-School Extravaganza 18 members organized school supplies that were delivered to 14 schools in Washington Township to help over 4000 students prepare for a new school year. Through the Adopt-a-Classroom program, we supported Ms. Whitney Miller’s 5th-grade class of 21 students at Clearwater Elementary School for the 2022-2023 school year. We provided tuition assistance for a young woman’s nursing degree at the University of Indianapolis. We helped the youth with the costs of the summer trip to Montreat with a portion of the Pentecost Offering.
When extra medical equipment was discovered in Calvin Hall closets, members inventoried equipment and delivered the extra equipment to FAME – Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism – where the equipment was shipped locally and globally.
The big event of the year was the Day of Caring. Over 100 members cleaned indoors and outdoors at Joy’s House, planted 25 mums and more at Dayspring Center, visited 11 homebound members, filled 70 Blessing Bags for the homeless, wrote 29 letters addressing hunger for Bread for the World to Indiana senators and representatives, and made 8 chicken pot pies, 12 pots of chili, 4 dozen cornbread muffins and 4 dozen brownies for members and non-members for times of need. The team also helped fund the Playground Project so neighbors have a safe place to gather and get to know each other.
Neighbors Far
We hosted the A-Maizing Lunch and raised $1790 to benefit the Umoja Partnership, an organization that keeps western Kenyan children in school. Any remaining 2022 Mission funds will buy uniforms for the students.
In September Hurricane Ian devastated parts of the southeastern US, so we responded and sent funds to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Seeing an additional need, we partnered with NPC youth to fund, pack and send 100 Hygiene Kits as part of the Gift of the Heart Kits with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
In planning for 2023, the Mission Team sent applications to past recipients of NPC funds and agreed to reduce the number of projects we support so our money has a bigger impact on the organizations we help. The team selected nine organizations to sponsor for 2023 as well as continuing support for Westminster Neighborhood Ministries and the Umoja Partnership.
Did we meet all of the goals we set at the beginning of 2022? Yes, but there is always room for improvement. Everyone on the team radiates the love of God and sees the light of God in every person our missions touch and those we hope to reach.
Members of the 2023 Mission Team:
Connie Coleman Beth Cornelius
Ned Edington Nancy Flamme
Molly Winkler Carol McDonald
Brenda Reed Carrie Savage-Zimmerman
Tom Stayton Bo Walker
Susan Holewinski, Chairperson