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Christ Church Global Outreach
GSP works through the Sister Parish organization to partner spiritually with a congregation in Central America. Our sister congregation is a lively community of Mayan Indian people in San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala. We visit with them, exchange letters, and invite them to visit us. Christ Episcopal Church sent a group of four to Guatemala in 2006, which for the first time included three young people. They helped paint the school attended by our scholarship students. For four years we helped support 20 children so they could attend elementary school. Much thanks for the degree of financial support on the part of our congregation.
Elizabeth Struthers Malbon Chair
Christ Church American Indian Ministry (CCAIM)
CCAIM is part of the Christ Church Mission & Outreach group. Although much of the church’s mission work is abroad, we also recognize that some of the most extreme needs are right here in our own country. Several years ago, we began our work with the Mattaponi reservation here in Virginia and more recently have focused on helping Lakota Sioux people in the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Pine Ridge Reservation is a very desolate, isolated, and poverty-stricken place. Although we are taught that we are all related in Christ, American Indians are, for the most part, invisible to the rest of our society.
In 2005 and 2006, we maxed out what we could do with our local resources, so this past year or two we started a new national American Indian support organization, called ONE Spirit, of which CCAIM is an important part. Active programs include child sponsorships, SHARE food distribution, clothing, beds, LP gas and firewood for heat, urgent needs, economic development, a theater project, an art market program, and the gift box program.
One of the most exciting new projects last year was the Buffalo Children's Society, and CCAIM is an active part of this Pine Ridge Reservation initiative advocating for youth in Allen, SD. The goal is to provide the youth with positive, productive free-time alternatives to self-destructive behavior. Our initial effort focused on the Allen Art Project, but we continue to support Autumn Custalow, a young Native American woman who is nearing graduation from her studies at art school.
The Gift Box Program has been a huge success, locally and nationally, providing Christmas gift boxes for children at Pine Ridge. Each gift box is packed with books and other educational items, crayons, pens, pencils, water colors, coloring books, fun toys of all kinds, candy, games, personal hygiene items, warm hats, gloves, scarves, sox, and other winter comfort items. We will soon be starting up the new Gift Box campaign; so look for this activity in October and please participate!
Rex Hartson, for CCAIM
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Christ Church
P.O. Box 164
120 Church Street,NE
Blacksburg, VA 24063-0164
540.552.2411
fax: 540.552.2534
email: Church Office
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© 2009 Christ Church.
All rights reserved.
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