Mission Outreach

SERVING AND HELPING OTHERS

Immanuel responds to God's love by reaching out to others in need. Christ calls us to reach out, to give more than money, to give our time and our love to create a better world. We support several mission programs that serve the immediate Tucson community, and we reach out and give of ourselves beyond Tucson. There are lots of ways you can be involved in this amazing ministry—

Border Ministry

Presbyterian Border Ministry, a joint ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, is called to share a holistic gospel with those who live along the 2,000-mile US/Mexico border. PBM's mission, carried out at seven ministry sites along the border, is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through:

New church development

Empowerment of people and communities

Bi-national mission education and experiences

Support of border churches

Promotion of justice in all areas

Immanuel supports two of these ministries: Companeros en Mision, which is based in Nogales, Arizona, and serves 5 mission churches across the state of Sonora; and Frontera de Cristo, which is based in Agua Prieta, Sonora, across the border from Douglas, Arizona. Frontera consists of one established congregation, one community outreach center, and various social outreach ministries.

Just Coffee

To support Presbyterians in Chiapas, we use "Just Coffee" at home and at church. Just Coffee is a fair-trade coffee

cooperative in which coffee farmers in Chiapas can receive a just price for their coffee, a price that would value their work and enable them to remain on their land. In addition to receiving 3 to 4 times the price they would otherwise receive from large coffee cartels, the members of the coffee cooperative will share the profits from the sale of coffee.

Casa Maria Lunches
Immanuel is one of many Tucson organizations who regularly help to feed the hungry through donations of lunches to Casa Maria. Every 4 weeks, the Deacons of Immanuel coordinate the making and collecting of 500 lunches for Casa Maria. Different organizations in Immanuel take turns coming to the church at 8:30 on our "Casa Maria Saturdays" to make 300 sandwiches and assemble 150 lunches from supplies bought by the Deacons. The remaining 350 lunches are made at home by Immanuel families. Everyone is welcome to participate in this local ministry of compassion. Can you make a pledge to help us meet our goal of 500 lunches every month?

Mission Trips

Adult Mission Trip. Every so often, Immanuel sponsors an adult mission trip. In the spring of 2003, a group of 12 adults from Immanuel traveled 8 hours south of the US–Mexico border, to the coastal Sonoran town of Navojoa. There, in cooperation with Companeros en Mision, we worked side by side with fellow Presbyterians to build their first church building.

We ran electric cable, installed insulation, and hung sheetrock. But more than just a meeting place was built. As we made tortillas together, mixed and poured concrete for a new home, and celebrated birthdays, friendships were cast, the Spirit moved, and a faith congregation called El Buen Samaritano Presbyterian Church. Check out photos from our trip to Navojoa. celebrated the beginning of a new future together.

More recently, members of Immanuel traveled to the Gulf Coast with Presbytery de Cristo to help with rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina.

Youth Mission Trips. Tijuana! Alaska! Nogales! El Paso! Chinle! Hollywood! Hollywood?? Junior and Senior High youth groups from Immanuel each participate in a mission trip every year to work, teach, and help others. In a children's home in Juarez, Mexico, our Middle School youth led the children in games and crafts. At a mission church in Hoonah, Alaska, the Senior Highs assisted in leading Vacation Bible School. But Hollywood? Immanuel's youth groups eagerly await each year's opportunity to lend a hand and be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Hollywood Urban Plunge witnessed a group of Immanuel Middle Schoolers helping out in the after school program. This year, our Senior Highs' mission trip took them to San Diego, California, to help families who lost homes in the fires of October, 2007.

Habitat Workdays

Habitat for Humanity of Tucson has built over 100 homes since 1980. These three bedroom homes are built cooperatively with the family who will reside in the house. Immanuel sponsors Habitat workdays for adults who want to participate in this world wide ministry. Immanuel entered into a partnership with three other eastside churches to fund and build a new habitat home.

Ulster Project

Ulster Project is a program of reconciliation that enables 12 youth from families in Ireland, both Catholic and Protestant, to come to the US and live with an American family for the month of July. Immanuel began the Tucson project in 1993. The young people meet both Catholic and Protestant American youth and participate in activities designed to bring about renewed faith, friendship, understanding, and peace.