First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara is engaged broadly and deeply in God’s mission. Led by two session elders and a commissioned lay pastor for mission, the mission team leads the congregation in its mission engagement. The congregation provides prayer support and partial financial support to numerous global missionaries, hosting them when they visit our area. “First Pres” supports many local missions, and many church members are actively engaged in local ministry. The congregation participates in short term mission trips, either with IMPACT or with its own leaders. Out of one of those trips has come the sister-sister partnership with First Church Chiang Mai, Thailand. First Pres hosts an Ethiopian congregation. For 21 years First Pres has hosted the Santa Barbara Mission Conference, joining with local ecumenical partners to plan and produce the annual event.
This week in Mission News…
All Are Invited
All are invited to a reception 7:30 PM, June 7, Anderson Lounge.
Come meet or renew your friendship with Pastor Ying and Dr. Golf of First Church Chiang Mai, our sister congregation in Thailand. Their last time here was June, 2019, when we celebrated our 150th anniversary. They are good friends of our congregation, and they look forward to renewing acquaintances with our members. Also, we are starting to plan our mission trip to Chiang Mai in June, 2024, so anyone interested in going will enjoy meeting Ying and Golf.
Jacqueline’s IMPACT TRIP June 2023 – Jui Valley, Romania
This June Jacqueline Smith will be traveling as part of an outreach team with the organization
I.M.P.A.C.T. (International Missions Partnerships & Cross-cultural Training). Her
adventure will take her to Romania where she and others will serve the impoverished coal-mining
town of Lupeni in Jiu Valley, which is an economically depressed area, where people
seek work, basic needs, and a vision for the future. Romania is a part of the world she has
never visited and she is excited to find a connection with the youth there and deepen her
faith by sharing her Christian values.
She will be responsible for raising the funds necessary for her personal trip.
Please consider a donation to IMPACT Jacqueline’s name! Her fundraising deadline is May 31 and donation instructions can be found below.
More important than your financial support, are your positive thoughts & prayers for her and her team while they work to change lives – including their own.
Donations can be made directly to I.M.P.A.C.T. by mail or online at
www.aplos.com/aws/give/impact1
Please be sure to note her name: Jacqueline Smith.
Checks may be sent to
IMPACT
2060 D Avenida De Los Arboles
Suite 343
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Mission at First Presbyterian: A History of Service
From the very start of our congregation in 1869, our church has been involved in the preaching, teaching, and healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Here in our community, and around our world, we want our neighbors to receive the love of Jesus.
- We’ve played a key role in the multiplication of Presbyterian churches in our community: El Montecito (1887), St. Andrews (1959), and Goleta (1960).
- First Presbyterian Church has sent young people to seminary to prepare for service in mission and in pastoral ministry.
- We co-founded Transition House and have served for years at Santa Barbara Rescue Mission and Community Kitchen.
- We reach out with compassion and resources to our neighbors without homes, participating in Safe Parking and the Freedom Warming Centers.
- Working with the Red Cross, we have provided shelter for victims of fires and other disasters.
- We have been actively involved in the mission work of our presbytery.
