Charlotte church participates in
Hands and Feet Initiative in Baltimore
Participants call visit a life-changing experience
By Rick Jones
Office of the General Assembly
When Mary Bowman came to Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, nine years ago as associate minister for missions, the church went through a discernment process. Active in missions, the congregation was trying to determine the best course of action for engaging with community.
"As we continue to go through discernment, we would like to have more opportunities of being with and working with our neighbors," she said. "We seek to balance out some of the ways we are giving and standing with our neighbor. That's how we think about mission."
Bowman heard about the Center in Baltimore and its work with migrant congregations and those living in poverty. Its mission mirrors the questions Selwyn members were asking: "To inspire and equip churches and individuals to engage boldly with their neighborhoods-to get involved where Christ's love and justice are already at work."
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The 'New Old':
Seniors bring new life
to the church
Redefining golden years and ministry
By Paul Seebeck
Presbyterians Today
Baby Boomer Pat Baker has been working in the field of aging for 45 years - mainly with the federally funded Older Americans Act programs, which have been providing seniors with services such as meals, caregiver support and transportation since 1965. When she first started, she was seeing people in their 60s and 70s participating in the senior programs. But now, as she herself retires, she has noticed a change. Participants are now in their 80s and 90s.
"People from 60 to 75 don't seem as old as I remember when I got into this," Baker said. "I saw more active people in their 90s than I saw in my first 20 years of work - and more people over 100 are participating in the senior center's activities."
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