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Mission Ministry
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Grace Of Christ Embraces A Long History With Global Missions
When First Presbyterian was founded in a tent, part of our focus was on serving others. This took the form of serving the poor, volunteering in civic organizations, and being leaders in progress.
• By 1900, the congregation became self-supporting
• As time went on, we sent money to help struggling young churches and to support missionary activities abroad.
– Tent to Tower, p. 179
• Ef fie Swier was the first member of our church to go overseas to do missions. She went to Korea in 1920.
– Tent to Tower, p. 180
• Fred and Daisy Russell were a missionary couple in Ethiopia from 1921-1961. They later came back home and were strong members of our church. Their son Murray Russell (1) and wife Esther (2) went to Ethiopia in 1952 and remained till 1967. Their son Peter Russell (3) is a missionary in Africa.
• The First Presbyterian Congregation was closely connected to and prayed for the foreign missionaries. Starting in the late 1950’s, missionary names and locations were listed on the back of the bulletin right after the Staff, and right before the Session.
1948: Paul Fernandez-Ceballos – Encrucijada, Cuba
Archie Crouch – Chungking, China
Carl and Muriel Blanford - China
1962: Carl (4) and Muriel Blanford (5) – China (Island of Hainan)
Jack and Mrs. Brown – Brazil
Dick and Mrs. Wichman –
Cameron House in San Francisco
Ralph and Mrs. Lewis – Indonesia
1967: Carl and Muriel Blanford – Thailand
Dick and Mrs. Wichman – Cameron House
Ralph and Mrs. Lewis – Thailand
Murray and Esther Russell – Ethiopia
Alwin and Mrs. Zakhary – local missions
Alwin and Mrs. Gall –
James and Mrs. Woodring –
Not only did our church support foreign Missionaries, but they developed them as well. Charles Lewis, Wendy Lewis, Della Weyrick Johnson, Sadie Koostra Ackley, Millie Koostra Redding, Cap Stebbart, Betty Rosenbaum Adams, Delores Meyer Gunningham, Tom Adams, Joann Hoge McLain, Miriam Rosenkranz, and Mina Hutton all went into mission work at home and abroad. Carol Hull (6) led a School of Missions each year.
