Missions & Outreach

Here at First Pres, we value the Biblical principle of spreading the Gospel in word and in deed. Our service to the needs of our community and the world at large are guided by our service to Jesus, who said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

LOCAL OUTREACH

Our local outreach is guided mostly by our downtown location, where the homeless population is ever increasing and the needs of the community are clear. While we base our outreach on providing for physical needs, we also strive to build relationships with the people we serve, which addresses emotional and physical needs.

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FOOD PANTRY

Our food pantry is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to noon and is led by an amazing group of volunteers. The pantry provides snack bags, sack lunches, and family food boxes. 

KOINONIA LUNCHES

One Sunday a month (typically the 3rd Sunday), our kitchen team puts together a fantastic (and free!) lunch that brings the needy members of our community together with our church members for food and fellowship.

MISSION PARTNERS

In addition, we have several mission partners locally and all over the globe who we support financially, believing that our partnership and support enables the spread of the Gospel into territory we could never find by ourselves.

Agape Flights – For over 35 years, Agape Flights has been providing excellent aviation service delivering cargo, mail and humanitarian aid to missionary partners serving Christ in the nations of the Caribbean.

 

Anchor House – The mission of Anchor House, Inc. is to reach out to international seafarers, truckers, and the community at Port Manatee, FL. Motivated by the command of Jesus Christ to “love your neighbor as yourself,” Anchor House strives to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Port community.

 

Beth-el Mission – Located in Wimauma, FL, Beth-El Farmworker Ministry strives to the feed the mind, spirit, and body of the Manatee County farmworking community by offering hunger relief, education, healthcare, and spiritual growth.

 
CareNet – CareNet ministers to the needs of women and men faced with pregnancy decisions by empowering them to choose life for their unborn children and abundant life for their families. This is done by offering compassion, hope, and help through realistic alternatives and Christ-centered support.

Cedarkirk – Cedarkirk is a year round camp and conference center owned by the Presbyteries of Tampa Bay and Peace River. The camp is located on the Alafia River within 170 acres of nature, and is dedicated to providing a place for individuals and groups to have the opportunity for spiritual renewal and growth in a natural environment.

Christian Care Alliance –  serves Manatee County by screening and verifying the needs of those in crisis across the community on behalf of local churches.

Manatee Food Bank – The Food Bank of Manatee provides nutritional assistance and caring, supportive services to individuals in need throughout Manatee County by distributing food through over 65 local non-profit partner agencies and food pantries.


Medical Benevolence Foundation – MBF has supported healing ministries and programs in over 100 hospitals and clinics throughout the world since 1964, by supporting medical ministries in developing countries. MBF is a validated mission working in partnership with PC(USA), congregations, individuals, and mission networks.

Peace River Presbytery – The Peace River Presbytery is a governing body of the PC(USA) that oversees 37 congregations (including First Pres), and is called to assist and support these congregations, to connect disciples in mission, and to be the body of Christ together.

 

Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – A program under Franklin Graham, to send gifts in “shoeboxes” i.e. school supplies, hygiene items, a few toys and some clothing items, hair items, jewelry, etc. to children in orphanages, hospitals, and areas devastated by war, famine or natural disasters.

Suncoast Youth For Christ – YFC reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to prayer and the Word of God, passion for sharing the love of Christ and commitment to social involvement. The purpose of Suncoast YFC is to pursue teens at high schools, middle schools, and juvenile detention facilities from Venice to Pinellas County, build authentic relationships with them, and open the door for sharing the life-giving message of Jesus Christ.

Thornwell Home for Children – Founded as a Presbyterian ministry in 1875, Thornwell is committed to providing Christian love and support to hundreds of children and families throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina through foster homes, academic and community-based programs, and professional counseling and therapy.

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I am sorry to say that we will NOT be having live, in-person worship services on Sunday, October 25, 2020, due to Covid concerns in our church. In lieu of in-person worship, we will have ONE service streamed online (facebook and YouTube) at 11:00am, with a new sermon from Pastor Dino.

The Session held an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the spread of Covid amongst the church staff. It was decided that it was best, out of an abundance of caution, to close the church for Sunday service this week, sanitize the church as best as possible, and get back to regular worship the following Sunday.