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Outreach Ministries |
International |
The Dominican Republic | South Africa | Jerusalem | Center for Reconciliation and Mission | Contact The Hummingbirds, the designation of St. Stephen's people in service at Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, have helped build a school, an elderly care center, and provided medical services. Annual medical mission trips have taken place, and construction teams travel to the "DR" at various times. A fact-finding team visited the Dominican Republic in July to meet with the bishop and other diocesan leaders about the future direction of our ministry in the "DR." The team, which included Bill Sachs, Judy Buchanan, Buck Blanchard, Sarah Morris and Martha Curry, learned that the work we have done in Boca Chica has born much fruit, and that our efforts are now needed in another part of the diocese. We are in the planning stages of our work in this region, but in the meantime, another medical mission trip is planned for Boca Chica, February 22-229, 2008. For information about our work in the DR, or to learn how you can participate, contact the Rev. Weezie Blanchard. Read a history of St. Stephen's work in the Dominican Republic.
Last year we began a relationship with missionaries who live and work with, and minister to, AIDS orphans in South Africa. In December 2006, two parishioners, Betsy Fauntleroy and Buck Blanchard,accompanied the Rev. Gary Jones on a fact-finding trip to South Africa. Their mission was to discover how St. Stephen’s might become more involved in tending to the tragic consequences of the AIDS pandemic in that country. After meeting with the diocesan bishop of Grahamstown, Bishop Thabo Makgoba, and many others, they realized that our church would be enthusiastically received as partners in ministry.
To learn more about future trips or how you can participate in this ministry, contact Janet Allen or Betsy FauntLeRoy. St. George's College, Jerusalem Understanding the Palestine of Jesus and Modern Arab/Israeli Relations is the focus of our relationship with St. George's College in Jerusalem. The Rev. Abbott Bailey, who has recently returned from St. George's College (October 2007) will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land May 22-27, 2008. Contact her for additional information. The Center for Reconciliation and Mission A January 2007 trip to the Middle East was the first trip under the auspices of the Center for Reconciliation and Mission. This trip involved clergy from St. Stephen's and other large churches from across the Episcopal Church. A team of St. Stephen's parishioners led by the Rev. William Sachs departed for the Middle East on Saturday, October 27, 2007. The group will speak at the December 16, 2007 Rector's Forum, and present slides from their trip. For additional information, contact Bill Sachs. More information about the Center is available here. For more information about getting involved in any of our outreach ministries, contact Deborah Lawrence, 288-2867, ext. 329, or the contact person listed for that particular ministry. |
In late October 2007, a team of 13 people left for South Africa and stayed for about 10 days.The team spoke at the Rector's Forum on December 9, and showed slides from their trip. To hear the presentation or see some of the slides, visit our 