Missions Team
Outside & Inside Canada
Each year, both the Missions Team and Session choose to support particular individuals, organizations and projects that glorify God and promote the work of drawing people closer to him. There are local, national and international missions to which we contribute through our givings to Missions and to Presbyterians Sharing.
One such mission is the Canadian Bible Society to help fund their project of translating bibles to indigenous languages in Canada. Over 1.6 Million people in Canada identify as Indigenous and 63% of First Nations people in Canada self-identify as Christian. The projects supported translating the Bible into the Mohawk and Inuktitut languages, along with other languages read by indigenous people in Canada.
Closer to home, our financial support helps the Scott Mission in Toronto and area to meet the ever-increasing needs of a community facing difficult economic situations. We help fund the Angel Tree initiative of Prison Fellowship Canada which reaches out to the families of incarcerated parents each year at Christmas. We have recently started to provide financial support to Fight4Freedom an organization that serves as an active voice and advocate of justice for individuals, communities and families impacted by sex trafficking.
Outside Canada, we support Rescue Cambodia, a mission in Cambodia for helping orphaned and at-risk children, destitute elderly women, and families with HIV/AIDS. A major emphasis is on education, with classes provided for all grades K-12 and dormitory facilities for when students continue on to university.
Each year well over 100 shoeboxes are lovingly packed and sent via Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child” to children in developing countries worldwide. Financial support is provided to Literacy Evangelism International for the creation of teaching materials that encompass the Good News of Jesus.
The Christian Salvage Mission collects and distributes new and surplus Bibles and other scriptures, devotionals, Christian learning materials, and audio-visual aids to help pastors and to strengthen believers in developing countries as well as in Canada.
In addition to these organizations we fund others so that, together with the Mission Team, God’s Word will be heard and seen in action.
St. Paul's Love Bags
Spreading the LOVE of the Lord and the LOVE of our neighbours, the distribution of St. Paul’s Love Bags began December 2021. Since commencing the Ministry, St. Paul’s has distributed over 1400 Love Bags to those in need as of the fall of 2024. The Love Bags contain a devotional, personal hygiene items and cleaning products that are essential but often times not affordable to some during these challenging times. At the beginning of the year we started a once a month ‘diaper day’ where recipients with babies and toddlers can pick up diapers, baby shampoo, baby wipes and baby wash. It has been worthwhile to be in person with some of these recipients to connect and identify their needs more personally.
We have experienced a 30% Increase in the number of recipients in 2024. This increase is primarily due to the rising cost of inflation as well as seniors with no, or insufficient, pensions. The Lord has continued to provide and guide us in this Ministry. We Praise Him, Praise Him for his Faithfulness. We also give thanks for the ongoing support of the congregation as well as donations from the community which is how we are able to provide these very important items.
The Love Bags are packaged by Nancy Boyd and Ida Haesler. The Love Bags are distributed on the third Saturday of each month when recipients also pick up their Food Bank supplies. Anyone wishing to donate items for the Love Bags may contact Nancy Boyd to arrange drop off of items. Nancy can be reached by email at nancy.boyd@sympatico.ca. Items in regular need are: Tooth paste, tooth brushes, men and women’s deodorant, shaving cream, razors, body, hand, dish and laundry soaps, body moisture creams, foot creams, mouth wash shampoo and conditioner, household cleaning products, diapers, wipes, hair combs and brushes.
Currently, we provide Love Bags to 85 families, singles and seniors which equates to 253 individuals in need.