Outreach Ministry

LOCAL MISSION PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVING OPPORTUNTIES

ChildSHARE – Provides support, hope, advocacy, resources and encouragement to those caring for abused and abandoned children in the Southern California foster care system.  Their highest need is to find volunteers to provide loving foster homes. http://childshare.org

CROP Walk for Hunger – A 3-mile interdenominational walk sponsored by Church World Services. It is neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world, both locally and globally. http://www.crophungerwalk.org; https://www.crophungerwalk.org/riversideca

Food Assistance Programs – Magnolia is involved in three regular on-going opportunities to serve those in need of food:

1. Path of Life Ministries Homeless Shelter at Hulen Place – One Saturday per month we partner with Path of Life Ministries and participate in the “Guest Chef” program in which our volunteers buy, prepare & serve a meal at the shelter. http://www.thepathoflife.com
2. Sack Lunch Distribution – On the 2nd Saturday of each month MagPres. volunteers prepare and distribute sack lunches in the Calvary Presbyterian Church parking lot.
3. Stater Bros. Cards and Care Packages – Distribution of Stater Bros. supermarket gift cards and distribution of care packages for those in need that come to the MagPres office.

Habitat for Humanity – Is a non-profit ecumenical Christian housing organization providing simple affordable housing in partnership with people in need.  Volunteers can get involved with building/renovation projects, the MagPres “Brush with Kindness” project and through the Habitat Re-Store operations (secondhand building supplies). http://www.habitat.org; http://www.habitatriverside.org

Operation Safe House – With a location in the heart of Riverside, Operation Safe House provides emergency shelter for teens, youth events and programs to enable teens to deal with the pressures and the triumphs of young adulthood.  Support for this organization comes through MagPres Peacemaking offering in the Fall. http://operationsafehouse.org/safehouse-riverside/about/

Sleeping Bag Ministry – MagPres provides sleeping bags during the colder winter months to the homeless and those in need.

Teen Challenge – Christian based center that helps people overcome drug and alcohol abuse.  They have a high success rate.  Located at Riverside’s Benedict Castle, there are many opportunities to support this ministry. http://www.teenchallenge.org

​Young Life – A ministry that seeks to reach out to Middle School and High School students through relationships and introducing them to Christ.  We provide office space for the Area Director and financially support their outreach and fundraising efforts.

GLOBAL MISSION PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVING OPPORTUNTIES

Compassion International – A Christian child advocacy ministry that supports children in need throughout the world through child sponsorship.  Sponsors are encouraged to correspond with their child by writing letters. http://www.compassion.com

Operation Christmas Child – Through the Christian humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse, every year before Christmas, we collect shoeboxes full of gifts and goodies for children around the world. We were a small part of the over 11 million shoeboxes (2015) that are distributed through local churches in a variety of countries worldwide.  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child

PCUSA General Mission – This is our contribution to the mission work of the General Assembly, Synod and Presbytery.  These funds support ministries of the PC(USA) in compassion, peace & justice,  evangelism & church growth.

POWER Ministry (Purposeful Outreach With Eternal Results) – Interdenominational Christian Men’s ministry supporting ministries along the Texas/Mexico border areas.  http://www.powerministry.com

​Short Term Trips
Short term mission teams from MagPres have served in a variety of settings in countries outside of the United States as well as here in the U.S.

• POWER Ministry along Texas/Mexico Border (yearly since 2004)
• El Salvador (2015)
• Peru (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008)
• Menaul School, New Mexico (2003)
• Mexico (2002)
• Zimbabwe (1996-2000)

 Support for our International Missionaries 

• The Coult Family – Serving in Mexico with FLOW International Ministries https://operationflow.org/
• Kristi Van Nostran serves the people of El Salvador through the Joining Hands Network, an initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program. http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/world-mission/

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SPECIAL MISSION OFFERINGS

Advent Calendar Offering – Offering taken during Advent to support POWER Ministry, as well as raise awareness of global concerns such as poverty, housing, nutrition and special construction projects. http://www.powerministry.com

OGHS (One Great Hour of Sharing) – For over 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided Presbyterians a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world. http://specialofferings.pcusa.org/oghs

​Pentecost Offering – unites us in a church-wide effort to support young people and inspire them to share their faith, ideas, and unique gifts with the church and the world. https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/pentecost/

​Peace & Global Witness Offering – encourages the church to cast off anxiety and fear, discord and division, and embrace our reconciling God's mission to those around the corner and around the world. https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/peace-global-witness/

​Christmas Joy Offering – By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor God's gift of Jesus Christ by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/christmas-joy/​