Current Mission events include God is at work in Nicaragua. This is an multi-church event on Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 pm.
Be part of the Mission Division where making a difference is part of everyday life, where thoughts and concerns become round-table discussions, and discussions turn into actions!
Where do you fit in all of this?
What talents do you have to share, and how much time do you want to invest?
We have an
opportunity for you!
Help make the difference. If you’d like more information, please click here Opportunities in Community Ministry or look for our booklet on the information tables in the Church Education Building. Call Sue Webster, Director of Community Ministry, 343-8961, to find the right opportunity for you.
The very generous giving of our
The very generous giving of our congregation is in action through the grant funding made
possible by the Mission Component of the Capital Campaign.
On December 12, 2010, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Nancy Proffit Agsten House - a home donated by Leslie Clay
and Carl Agsten to Covenant House to be home to four AmeriCorps workers. First Presbyterian Church along with many other churches throughout the valley were involved in the financial
support and labor to renovate the home.
Below is a letter that was read at the ribbon cutting ceremony and corresponding photos.
Dear Friends in Charleston,
This little house on Dixie Street represents for us the many twists and turns of God's surprising grace, and we are sorry to miss this special day of dedication. We bought the house on a freezing day in December, when somehow Leslie had convinced her friend Bill Dunn (known by many as Aqualung) to accept her offer of shelter. Bill liked the little house on the hidden side of Dixie Street. It even had a 'garage' for his grocery cart of essentials. He stayed there for 1-1/2 years, but one day in summer he left without a word. We miss Bill very much and pray for his safety.
Our next improbable tenant was George Bartlett, who preferred to be known as Elizabeth. She found the house as suitable as Bill did, and stayed there for over two years. Before we moved to Nicaragua, we came up with the plan to gift the building to Covenant House for two reasons: first, because we knew that Covenant House was founded on the values of compassionate service, justice and advocacy for the 'least of these,' and second, because we knew they had the special skills needed to work with Elizabeth. Covenant House drafted a contract that allowed Elizabeth to stay there for at least another year, with the provision that the house could be used for other purposes if they found suitable housing for Elizabeth elsewhere.
After the year was up, Elizabeth was convinced by an amazing Covenant House caseworker named Briana Martin to write a message to her family after 27 years without contact. So the incredible story of Elizabeth's reunion with her mother and her sisters began. You can see a great music video of the reunion on YouTube by searching "George Bartlett What Faith Can Do."
Charleston is blessed with caring and tolerant people. We believe this is why folks like Elizabeth and Bill made it their hometown. We decided to name the house in loving memory of Carl's mother,Nancy Proffitt Agsten, because she was another special Charlestonian who cared actively for people at risk. Nancy worked diligently for Daymark in its early years, and even brought young runaways to stay at her house on Bedford Road before Patchwork was built.
We are thrilled to know that this house will lodge many young people who have chosen to give their time and energy to compassionate action in our town, and that Covenant House will continue its work for support of our most vulnerable citizens. We look forward to seeing the beautiful renovations and to meeting some of the people who will use it as a home base for their service activities.
We send our love to all who are there on a cold day that probably resembles the day we bought the house. We wish we could be there to celebrate the partnership of this surprising little house and the grace-filled ministry of Covenant House.
Carl Agsten and Leslie Clay