Beyond These Walls

Beyond these walls you bid us journey, Lord
To share with all, the hope within your word.
Beyond ourselves, our comfort and our fear
You call us, Lord, to travel forth from here.
Beyond These Walls,by Steven D. Harrington (August 1995 version)

History
The Beyond These Walls Committee held its organizational meeting on Jan. 30, 2003, continuing a mission which began in 1998 to recommend the projects GPC would support with the 10 percent pledge from the Building Campaign.

The vision shared unanimously by the Beyond These Walls Committee members was that “because of GPC’s financial support through its building fund tithe of at least $250,000, worthy and needy programs/projects will be able to provide new or expanded services that touch and improve people’s lives in terms of Christian life and belief, improved education, expanded skills, better housing, more acceptable medical care, and increased wage earnings. “

The Beyond These Walls effort would be “evidence that GPC is bearing witness to the hope we have in Jesus Christ, and fulfilling the Great Commission, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation’.  Mark 16:15”
(excerpts from the Beyond These Walls report, completed in August, 2003)

Original members of the committee were Stuart Fleishman, chairman, Gary Gordon, Jack Harris, Rev. Mary Beth Lawrence, Mary Wasik, and Francie Whitlock.  Representatives from the Witness and FASM Ministries have also served on the committee.  GPC artist Pat Deckert has created the large checks for the presentation.

When the rebuilding team from GPC, led by Dr. Seckman, traveled to the gulf coast in April, 2007, checks for $26,710.50 were presented to the Presbytery of Mississippi for repairs of homes and to the Lakeview Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of South Louisiana to help with rebuilding that church.

Members of the church have returned each year since 2006 to help rebuild homes and lives in either Louisiana or Mississippi.

Good news from Lakeview Presbyterian Church:  When we last visited Lakeview Presbyterian Church, the sanctuary was complete but the rest of the facility was under construction. 

A recent note from the administrator states:  “Our preschool will reopen after Labor Day with full roster of children.  It will also be self-supporting for the first time since Katrina.  We are so thankful to the Presbyterian Women's Birthday Offering Grant that made it all possible.”

For more information: Presbytery of South Louisiana Website

HUD Grant for Presbytery of Mississippi:  The Presbytery of Mississippi has received a HUD grant for $2.5 million for the building of 40 homes in the flood damaged area. They are recruiting teams to complete this work by mid-2010.

Abe Schuchman, the Executive Director of HUI, visited GPC on April 10, 2005, and was presented a check for $10,000 by Stuart Fleishman.

On June 6, 2006, Francie Whitlock presented the final check for $43,421 at a reception at HUI headquarters.

Interfaith Housing Coalition

IHC is an interfaith, non-profit organization which provides affordable housing and case management to formerly homeless families. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Community Ministry of Montgomery County.

Jeff Ritchie from Outreach Foundation came to GPC January 21, 2007, to accept the check for $53,421 to construct roofs on churches in Ghana. 

Juliana Ziorklui, who is originally from Ghana, presented the check and will be GPC’s representative to an Outreach Foundation conference of Presbyterians in Ghana in July.

Outreach Foundation - Churches in Ghana have roofs: Recent communications from Outreach Foundation indicate that many churches have new roofs while others still under construction will be completed soon. Before and after pictures of a couple of these churches show the dramatic improvement of these structures.

For more information: Outreach Foundation Website

Medical Benevolence Foundation - Maternity Clinic in Congo

Funds from GPC are making possible the construction of the first floor of the Mudishi Maternity Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Lynn Swinke Workman from MBF and Larry Sthreshley, PC(USA) missionary who will over see the clinic construction came to GPC on November 13, 2005, to receive the check for $33,421, presented by Johanna Moller. 

The follow-up check for  $20,000 was given to MBF representative Pam Ator on April 2, 2006.

Medical Benevolence Foundation - Mudishi Clinic in Democratic Republic of Congo nearing completion: News from Larry Sthreshley, the PC(USA) missionary in charge of the construction of this medical facility for women near Kinshasa, relates that the clinic is in need of $40,000 for completion of the interior and for furnishings and medical equipment. He hopes that the clinic will open in late 2009 or early 2010.

For more information:

Medical Benevolence Foundation Website

Larry Sthreshley's Website