Ever wonder what makes for a "good grant" over an "okay grant"? Ever wonder why your grant proposal didn't make it past the "first cut"? Got an idea but don't know how to put it into a grant proposal?

The Ardmore Presbyterian Mission Committee is a recipient of $15,000 for their All Aboard! Program. This program is a new initiative of their Build-It Bus ministry. All Aboard! Will be implemented on the Build-It Bus. The Bus will travel to urban churches, providing hands-on projects to support the biblical themes of Sunday Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, children's programs, and other educational events. In addition to underscoring biblical themes, this program provides an unusual way to attract neighborhood attention and build attendance for the church children's programs.

Christ's Presbyterian Church will receive $20,000 for two new initiatives: the South Philly Lighthouse After-School Ministry and "Building a Ministry of Health & Healing in Christ's Community". The South Philly Lighthouse will be expanded to include an after school ministry with the goal of sharing the Good News of Christ with neighborhood families by providing quality care and enrichment services for the children of their community. Through their "Building a Ministry of Health & Healing in Christ's Community" ministry, they plan to develop a ministry of health and healing in the Asian immigrant community it serves. Specifically, the project will build capacity by training a ministry team with roots in the community to be spiritual leaders and lay community health outreach workers.

$15,000 will be awarded to Podowan Korean Presbyterian Church for their Cell Group Ministry. The Cell Group Church Ministry model is in its second year of a five year plan. After the relocation of the church in April 2008, there were concerns regarding the viability of the ministry. Podowan was reaffirmed through Acts 2:42 that the ministry should be devoted to discipleship and began the creation of cell groups with the guidance of the church leadership. After grieving the transition and loss of membership, they began to believe that this disruption of relocation was indeed a calling by God to establish new ways to be the church and find new vision and ministry in this opportunity.

The Cedar Park Community Theatre project is a recipient of a $12,000 grant. Their plan is to strengthen the church-community relationship with the ultimate goal of increasing the community's involvement in the church. At the core of the project is a church-community theater that will be geared to embrace both youth and adults. Modeled after Cedar Park's successful after-school program that ran for several years, the Church-Community Theater is expected to attract youth and adults who have not been previously engaged in church activities.

The Berean Youth Ministry program of Berean Presbyterian Church will receive $10,000 for their ministry. The Youth Ministry program hopes to equip the youth of their community to grow spiritually and to provide them hope, ambition, love, trust, and fellowship. Their Youth Ministry has become multi-dimensional providing learning tools to meet the needs of the youth of their community. The ministry provides mentoring, electronic media, tutoring, recreation, off-site cultural events and ongoing Bible study. Berean's partnership with Temple University and Messiah College and their neighborhood school, Tanner Duckery Public School, has united the church and community with shared target missions.

 A $12,000 grant will be awarded to Broad Street Ministry for the BSM Market, an opportunity for hospitality and community nourishment. Through a partnership with Philabundance, BSM Market proposes a new take on the traditional supermarket experience. The Broad Street Market will provide the working poor and those on the brink of homelessness with healthy food for their families. Reimaging traditional food pantries where people are given pre-packaged food, The Market invites guests to push a shopping cart down aisles to select from a wide variety of foods including fresh produce. Patrons will have a wide variety of items available but no longer have to base their diet on price - this will be a store without restrictions. This new endeavor aims to increase the dignity and self-worth of people by allowing the food-insecure to have full choice as to what foods they want or need.

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Peacemaking Committee is a recipient of a $5,000 grant for Heeding God's Call, a multi-faith movement to prevent gun violence. Their goal is to unite people of faith in the sacred duty to protect our brothers and sisters and our children. They seek to do this through helping local faith communities organize advocacy campaigns to pressure gun shops to adopt a Code of Conduct, as well as provide support and resources for partnerships to form and get active in support of gun violence prevention (on both social and legislative levels). Additionally, Heeding God's Call will serve as a connection point for those congregations and partnerships to connect with, learn from and support the work of gun violence prevention organizations and advocate for the adoption of faith community resolutions to take action as congregational and judicatory levels.

Chester Eastside Ministries will receive $10,000 for their Peace Leadership, Youth, Arts and Exchange program. Peace in the Streets/Peace on Earth is a grassroots organization of concerned residents and their supporters in Chester and the surrounding communities. It works to foster peace and create awareness of the root causes of violence. It trains young people in alternatives to violence through programs in Chester schools and neighborhoods and through collaborations with local community action groups. By raising the level of awareness of the root causes of violence with youth at an early age, CEM's aim is prevention through education. The proposed expansion of PSPE under CEM, one of PSPE's founding member organizations and a continuing collaborator, simultaneously combines PSPE's vision of spreading the tools of peace with CEM's mission to be a witness for justice and change in Chester. 

Lombard Central is awarded a $20,000 grant for the expansion of their Soup Kitchen. The expansion project will provide services that will positively impact the community. The program will provide hot meals and emergency food bags for the homeless and other individuals and families in need. Each day of operation will include a fifteen minute Bible teaching and invitation to discipleship. Prayer and spiritual counseling will be available on an individual basis for those who request it. The Soup Kitchen will serve as a community resource center through collaboration with the community social service organizations and a local university. Services will include on site HIV/STD screenings and counseling and referrals to the many services offered by The Intercultural Family Services Inc.; blood pressure screenings; access to a social worker; access to referral services; access to services at the Health Annex Health Center; basic adult education; GED classes; resume preparation classes; computer literacy classes; and access to an on site computer lab.

The Cultural Arts Program of Oak Lane Presbyterian Church will receive $15,000. With the focus on Shalom, Mission, Music, and Movement, the Oak Lane Presbyterian church Cultural Arts Program engages in community outreach through the visual and performing arts and fitness activities, with the mission to spread the message of Shalom and Love of Christ through dance, music, theater, and other arts in order to re-invigorate current church members' engagement in the arts and other church activities; recruit and encourage new church membership and interaction; establish, increase and maintain collaborative partnerships with communities, organizations, and Presbyterian churches in the region to multiply the mission to spread the gospel and help those who are in need in our communities.

Oxford Presbyterian Church is a recipient of a $15,000 grant for their Bridge Builders ministry.  In partnership with Calvin Presbyterian Church, Lombard Central Presbyterian and New Spirit Presbyterian Church, Oxford is seeking to create a faith-based arts and education program, Bridge Builders, for youth age 12-18 that will strengthen the current youth ministry and provide a venue in which young people can learn the Gospel through self expression and achievement. Oxford plans to do this by using a multi-faceted approach of combining three main program areas - dance, theater, and education. The Dance Institute, the Theater Camp, and the Academy of Excellence will operate year-round starting September 13, 2010 to June 17, 2011.

The Presbytery of Philadelphia Urban Ministry Collaborative is a recipient of a $10,000 grant for the Focus on Renewal: Innovative Advocacy Ministry program. Calvin, Lombard Central, New Spirit, and Oxford are the four participating member congregations. This program is designed to create a Youth Urban Theology collaborative ministry partnership among the four partnering congregations. The intent is rooted in assisting and training youth to critically reflect on their faith, discipleship, and advocacy witness. Utilizing multi-media technology, youth participants will be afforded the opportunity to engage in narrative theology and social justice critiques through story-telling and faith-sharing.

Rhawnhurst's Turning Point, a cooperative urban mission partnership in NorthEast Philadelphia, has been awarded a $15,000 grant for their mission and ministry. Rhawnhurst is collaborating with Redemption Lutheran and All Saints Episcopal on this project. The mission of Rhawnhurst Turning Point is "to provide a center for youth and young adults where they can learn, grow, serve, and have fun in a safe environment supported by caring volunteers and Christian staff." The ultimate goal is to bring young people to a "turning point" in their lives where they will encounter the love of God in Christ. This mission outpost extends the mission of Rhawnhurst, Redemption Lutheran and All Saints Episcopal to young people beyond the walls of their churches into the Rhawnhurst neighborhood.

The Eden Project of Temple Presbyterian Church has been given a $15,000 grant. Temple is planning to establish an urban farm. The establishment and maintenance of this community agriculture project through the collective labor of the Church and volunteers from the immediate neighborhood will strengthen Temple's historic bonds with  the community, and enhance the Church's other ministries. The Presbytery owns a 4, 086.22 sq.ft. lot directly across the street from where Temple is located. Since 1967, Temple has assumed oversight of the property, the site where the old Temple Church building once stood. The Project seeks funding to transform this underutilized lot into a viable "green space" garden.

John Gloucester House is the recipient of a $5,000 grant for their Summer Camp program. The camp provides the families of the JGH community with meaningful and educational summer activities. The summer day camp includes Vacation Bible School. The summer program is not just for fun, but also provides educational programming for children. The Vacation Bible School affords JGH the opportunity to teach God's Word on a daily basis, through constructive Christ centered summer camp activities, reflecting God's Great Commission, teaching students to observe, learn, and become messengers of Jesus. The objective at John Gloucester House is to continually expose youth to God's word engaging them to become followers of Jesus Christ.

West Kensington Ministry will receive $10,000 for Crecimiento, a faith-based after-school program. It will focus on the students' enhancement of math and science skills as well as on learning the stories of the Bible. Students will enhance their math and science skills by being tutored in those subjects as they do their homework. Students will also learn the stories of the Bible by selecting a story from the Bible and producing a performance that will be held at WKM once per semester.

Germantown First is a recipient of $11,000 for their Creative Germantown Initiative Children's Defense Fund Freedom School. The Creative Germantown Initiative seeks to strengthen the Germantown Community through arts, education and recreation, serving people of all ages as they experience the joys and challenges of urban living. CGI aims to promote the value of urban living and educational and experiential opportunities in education, music and the arts and recreation for children, youth, and adults in Germantown. The program is Christ centered and takes place in an environment where children are supervised and treated with kindness and respect. The whole person is cared for at Freedom School. CGI will involve the parents of children in the community as well as volunteers from the congregation and community in achieving their goals.

The Philadelphia Project of Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church will receive $15,000. The Philadelphia Project is a Christian non-profit organization committed to the holistic development of neighboring communities in partnership with the local church. They seek to accomplish their mission through the creation of a vibrant, engaging, and safe community center as well as providing service opportunities caring for the homes of the elderly, poor, single-parents, and those plagued by hardships. All of which intentionally places them in relationship with their neighbors, engaging with them in the midst of their needs and life circumstances, in an effort to reveal the love of Christ through the outreach of the local church.

Latin Fellowship of Central Presbyterian Church Report

Covenant Fund Progress Report Nov. 2009

Latino Fellowship of Central Presbyterian Church

900 West Airy St. Norristown PA 19401

Telephone:  610-275-2732

Our mission project includes several activities that help the holistic growth of the church. Our main vision is to be a useful instrument, so that the good news of the gospel reach the Hispanic community of Norristown Pennsylvania. So, that the fruit of that can be people believing in the name of Christ and become efficient leaders. The vision is also to have a church that manifests the life style of Christ, so that everyone can feel invited to be a part of it. Our fundamental values as a church are: to know the biblical doctrines, evangelize, worship, serve others, and have a communion with one another.

The regular activities of the church are: worship service on Sundays from 4 to 6 pm. There are also classes for children, youth and a nursery for the babies. A community dinner after the worship service from 6 to 7 pm. Tuesdays, bible studies and prayer. Saturdays, meetings with the youth group from 5 to 7 pm. We have bible studies in the homes of some families and classes for new members. Music and singing practice for both bands of the church: young adults and teenagers. We are also supporting the church of Feltonville of Philadelphia in some activities. We helped with their anniversary by bringing our music band.

As Latinos we are cleaning the church building and fixing some parts of it. In this way we can cooperate in the general mission program of Central Presbyterian Church. Maria G. also helps in Inter-faith were clothing is given out to the community. We have received furniture donations to help families who are moving to a new home.

Other Special Activities in 2009

August 3-8, we had our Summer Bible School for children and teenagers. The attendance was of 45 people, plus teachers. We concluded with an activity for the parents where they could see what their children and teenagers had learned.

August 26, retreat to Gifford Pinchot State Park in Lancaster with 45 people. It was an event for entertainment, to find unity and to help the growth of the church. Some people who still don't attend to church also joined the group.

October 12, we participated in a meeting held in Philadelphia with several Hispanic leaders and others from different cultures to continue fighting for the legalization of millions of immigrants in the USA.

The congregation maintains a pastoral counseling program because it is a very important necessity in our community. People are suffering, they feel that they are alone, they have family problems, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Reached Goals

1. We have a group of active leaders in the areas of worship, social service, education, and visiting.

2. Five new people that are in the process of becoming members of the church.

3. A list of families that donate food for the Sunday dinners.

4. New people are coming to the community dinner.

5. A new band with 6 teenagers is beginning to be organized.

6. The community knows some social services better through the church: help with legal problems in different areas, institutions that give out food, etc.

7. A woman who graduated from Palmer Seminary accepted to be the teacher for the class of teenagers.

8. We are more known in the community and we are opening more contacts with other organizations that help in the community, like Family Services and ACLAMO.

9. Two new babies were born! Adiel and Ramses.