Ministries of Compassion and Justice
Serving human need is a major part of the mission and ministry of our church. Our sense that the church is called to community service grows out of our conviction that Jesus calls us to practice neighborly love and to respond to the needs of "the least among you".
We believe in applying our faith through action. A big part of our church life is outreach and support of local community agencies and national and international ministries.
Members of Faith Presbyterian Church support:
Faith Food Pantry
The Faith Food Pantry helps about 300 persons in 70 families per month, with an all-volunteer staff filling requests for food that we receive from other churches and social service agencies, who call the pantry's unlisted telephone number to request groceries for their members or clients. The history of our church's food pantry includes an effort in starting four other Austin pantries, and in working to begin the Capital Area Food Bank.
The Faith Presbyterian Child Development Center
This is a full-day child care program for working families with small children in our community that our church has sponsored for over 40 years. Our nationally accredited program and experienced staff provides quality and affordable care for children ages 18 months to 5 years of age during the weekdays in a specially designed child care building on our church campus. For more information about this community ministry service of our church check out the CDC website at http://www.faithcdcaustin.org/.
Budgeted Benevolences and Other Community Involvement
Each year, we budget the first 10% of our projected income from offerings for ministries beyond our church. Many of our congregation are directly involved in the activities of service organizations and missions to people in need, such as the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (AAIM), South Austin Area Ministries (SAAM), the South Austin Caregivers, and Manos de Cristo. We also provide financial support to organizations such as Casa Marianella and the Foundation for the Homeless.
Special Offerings
Periodically during the year, we give special offerings that are sent to the Mission Presbytery and/or the Presbyterian Church (USA) for work to relieve hunger and other hardships in developing countries; to support the church's connection with youth; to support peacemaking efforts; and to support pensions for retired workers and missionaries from racial ethnic colleges and ministries.
Other Community Involvement 
Our congregation has also taken on through the years a variety of community service projects including building homes with Habitat for Humanity, caring for the homeless, working for living wage jobs, promoting peace-making initiatives, sponsoring an economic development project in Concepcion del Oro in Mexico, participating in Austin's annual CROP Walk, developing eco-justice programs, and holding an alternative gift market at Christmas to support Third World human development projects.
We also sponsor and host groups for fun and therapy in both our church and in our community. You can find more information about the dates and times for these activities on our News and Activities page. Come join us for:
- yoga (Monday at 6:30pm)
- square dancing (Thursday at 7:00pm)
- monthly women's fellowship gathering
- support group for parents of adult children
- monthly book study group (Saturday mornings and Monday evenings)
