With a Christ-centered focus, through prayer and common vision, this group is led to come alongside Christians in Europe and North Africa. In unity through the Holy Spirit, they celebrate one another's differences and opportunities for cross-cultural ministry. They emphasize relationship-building, and in humility serve with interdependence. Loving God and one another, they follow Jesus to renew the Church and reach the world.
They also support outreach to Muslims in France and North Africa by supporting the work of UPC-supported field personnel working in the area. They send teams to work alongside their partners there in helping prosper evangelistic opportunities. They also support a partner ministry in Italy by selling fresh salmon at the Ballard Seafood Fest every year to raise money for evangelical outreach materials.
Contact us for meeting times and locations.
Fred & Ardi Lupton, 206.526.0470
2nd Tuesdays at 7pm, Tom and Heidi Garren's home
The Balkan Task Force is involved in supporting ministries of humanitarian aid, evangelism, reconciliation, and discipleship in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Kosovo) through prayer, mission teams and fundraising activities. They also sponsor young leaders from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds in attending an annual reconciliation conference. Additionally, they provide funding to elderly people who can't afford to heat their homes in the winter.
Linda Quist, 206.524.8336
Seattle is recognized as one of the leading centers for global health world-wide. Our city is uniquely blessed not only with well-established secular organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, UW Department of Global Health, Mercy Corps, Fred Hutch and more, but also outstanding faith-based organizations such as World Vision US, World Concern, Medical Teams International, and others.
As a community of believers seeking to carry out God’s work in our world, University Presbyterian Church members and friends have much to contribute to this conversation. Whether you are directly engaged in the medical community or elsewhere, we invite you into this conversation as we explore our individual and collective roles in global health.
Contact Shelley to get involved!
Shelley, 206.524.7301 x533
Lead by former missionaries to Haiti, Ray and Sandra Van der Pol, this group meets monthly on Sunday afternoons to support UPC ministries and partnerships in Haiti, primarily Haiti Foundation of Hope, and the work of Bruce and Deb Robinson, who currently serve in Haiti. Gather for a time of fellowship with this team as they pray for and learn more about ministries serving the people of Haiti. All are welcome!
Sandra Van der Pol
This newly-formed partnership began with a short-term mission trip to Peru in March 2011 to support Ryan and Angela Smedes and their ministry with
Food for the Hungry. The team has created a partnership between UPC and the Catorce de Febrero community near Lima. They are committed to sponsoring children in the community and will return in February 2012 to continue to build relationships with friends there.
Chelsea Peterson
The mission of the Ukraine Task Force is to be a permanent bridge between UPC and ministry efforts in Ukraine by supporting the people of Ukraine with prayer, supporting existing ministry and newly identified opportunities, informing and educating our community about Ukraine and its needs, and facilitating short term mission opportunities to Ukraine. Gather with us as we pray for, support and learn about a variety of ministries based in Ukraine. Call or email for meeting times and locations.
Karen Greenwalt, 425.438.0452
Our mission is to inform and mobilize UPC and the larger Christian community to action on behalf of those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally and locally. We do that through these three projects:
1.
The SCOPE Project: Strengthening Care Opportunities through Partnership. UPC and the UW Dept of Global Health are engaged in a ground-breaking partnership with the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. These partners have entered into a creative collaboration to improve access to and delivery of care to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Nancy Andrews
2.
The AIDS initiative provides micro-loans to Ethiopian women infected with HIV/AIDS who are supporting their families through cattle fattening, goat rearing, dairy farming, small grocery, poultry, barber/hair shops, etc. Loan amounts range in size from $125–$300 US, and are operated and managed by the Kale Hayet Christian Church. Our UPC program began in 2008 and aims to reach 300 recipients, helping over 1,000 mothers and children to achieve financial independence. Our first intake of women is now completing their third and fourth loans and they have become fully self-supporting.
Brian Ratzliff
3.
The Communities of Care Grants Program identifies and supports community-based ministries that provide direct care. For example, Betsy Meyer is a UPC field worker who serves as the director of
Thembalethu Care Organization. Thembalethu (Zulu for "our hope") supports home based caregivers who serve their neighbors infected with HIV/AIDS and orphaned and vulnerable children. Their community center provides hot meals after school activities and tutoring, clinic services, social services assistance, and pastoral counseling.
LuAnn Carlson