Bridge of Faith was established in 1996 as a non-profit committed to help stop the high rate of recidivism in our prisons and to assist girls/women who have aged out of foster care, or who may be facing homelessness. The program helps residents with emotional healing to achieve economic self-sufficiency and emotional stability by instilling self-esteem. Bridge of Faith is committed to breaking the cycles that lead to poverty and self-destruction. “We believe all women can embrace who they are, can define their future, and can change the world.”

Partners in Mission: Whittier Presbyterian-Salem Lutheran Church

To learn more visit their website: https://www.bridgeoffaith.org/

Christian Outreach in Action (COA) provides hunger relief programs and basic necessities for 23,000 low-income individuals, including seniors and children, every year. COA serves more than 170,000 hot meals annually and is the only organization in Long Beach to serve hot meals 7-days-a-week. Every weekday, COA operates a food bank where low-income families can pick produce and groceries in a farmer’s market style food bank. COA also offers clothing and diapers fto families in need.

PLR’s support addresses the needs of homeless and low-income individuals and families in Long Beach as they continue to be impacted from COVID-19 as it stretches out over the next two to three years.

Partners in Mission: Covenant Presbyterian Church and Grace First Presbyterian Church, both in Long Beach.

To learn more visit their website: https://www.coalongbeach.org/

Affordable housing for working families is needed more than ever in Southern California, especially as we work our way out of the COVID 19 pandemic. To help answer this call, Habitat LA is constructing 36 affordable homes for deserving, lower-income families in the Washington Neighborhood of Long Beach (on 14th Street between Locust and Palmer Court), an area of high poverty and need.

PLR’s support goes directly to providing resources for building materials (siding, drywall, paint, etc.) to ensure the construction deadline is met. Habitat for Humanity LA is pleased to have multiple supporters for this project, including a mix of businesses, faith partners, individuals, public funding, and community partners who are committed to supporting the project thus far.

Partners in Mission: Grace First Presbyterian Church, Long Beach 

To learn more visit their website: https://www.habitatla.org/

Habitat OC will build two affordable single-family homes on Lacy Street in the French Park neighborhood of Santa Ana. This will help provide critical stability for two families, improve their children’s educational outcomes, and make a more significant economic impact on the community. The homes will be sold to moderate-income families who do not qualify for conventional mortgage financing. Each family completes homeownership classes, contributes sweat equity towards their new home, and is provided with a Family Partner to mentor them throughout the process.

Partners in Mission: The Presbytery Coalition, which includes some of the following PLR congregations: Anaheim First Presbyterian Church, Community Presbyterian Church, San Juan Capistrano, First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton, First Presbyterian Church of Orange, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana, Geneva Presbyterian Church, Laguna Presbyterian Church, Placentia Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Presbyterian Church of the Master, San Clemente Presbyterian Church, St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Tustin Presbyterian Church, Yorba Linda Presbyterian Church

To learn more visit their website: https://www.habitatoc.org/mission/

Read more: Los Ranchos’ Long History with Habitat for Humanity

Home for Refugees was started by PLR minister member, Rev. Minda Schweizer to work to resettle refugees during their first year in the United States by recruiting, training, and supporting volunteer teams to work with the refugees on all aspects of their resettlement needs. They partner with resettlement agencies like Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, International Rescue Committee, and Uplift Charity to provide maximum services for the newcomers in Orange County. Churches form a team, or combine efforts with other churches and individuals, to serve in team partnerships with a refugee family.

Partners in Mission: Trabuco Presbyterian Church, Placentia Presbyterian Church, Canvas Presbyterian Church and St. Mark Presbyterian Church

To learn more visit their website: https://www.homeforrefugeesusa.org/

Elizabeth began this role in February of 2015, though Presbyterians have been united in their dedication to accompany the poor and sick in Los Angeles for over 75 years. In the hospital, she serves as part of the Spiritual Care Department. She has lead responsibility for several floors where she does rounds, visiting room to room providing spiritual care to the patients and their families and the staff. She also responds to urgent requests for chaplain presence from all parts of the hospital. Each day brings something new.

As a multi-faith health care provider, the LAC+USC Medical Center stands at the crossroads of Pacific, San Gabriel and Los Ranchos Presbyteries and the Synod of Southern California, which together financially support the chaplain position through mission giving.

Partners in Mission: Presbyteries of the Pacific, San Gabriel, San Fernando and Los Ranchos and the Synod of Southern California

To learn more visit these websites: https://losranchos.org/medical-chaplain/ and  https://www.synod.org/chaplaincy/

OCRM’s flagship campus, Village of Hope, serves 170,000 meals per year. A new addition to the Rescue Mission is the Double R Ranch, a working horse ranch where men have a unique faith-based, educational opportunity to experience the healing effects of hard work in the outdoors with animals. This amazing facility gives its residents a safe place to heal, learn and start a new life. It also serves as a weekend retreat for Village of Hope families. The presbytery’s grant supported the following renovation projects: kitchen and cafeteria renovation and remodel; men’s building demo, flooring, lighting, and paint; staircase demo and window install; exterior landscaping; HVAC, and more.

Partners in Mission: First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton, Canvas Presbyterian Church

To learn more visit their website: https://www.rescuemission.org/

The Regional Service Program operates out of Pathway of Hope’s food and resource distribution center, the HUB of Hope, in Fullerton. Grant funds were given to support the HUB, as it plays a key role in the operations of the food program and the management of dozens of volunteers who provide critical labor on behalf of this program and the struggling people it serves.

Partners in Mission: First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton

To learn more visit their website: https://www.pohoc.org/

Currently assisting approximately 80 participants with food and 50 with showers every Tuesday and Thursday, The Shower Plus Ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove is central to the life and mission of the church. This ministry is continuing to expand its offerings to include food, clothing, and showers, as well as a barber who volunteers once a month to cut hair. A mobile health care unit also provides help with medical issues. There is also a resource professional assisting with housing for those in need. The VA also comes to work with the veterans.

Partners in Mission: Canyon Hills Presbyterian Church

To learn more visit their website: https://www.facebook.com/fpcgg

Much of the work that is done by the Syria-Lebanon Partnership is aimed at rebuilding and supporting schools that serve about 600 students from the Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon. These schools were set up by the NESSL and are staffed by professionally trained people from the churches in the Synod. New urgencies have arisen due to the pandemic and the political-economic crisis in Lebanon.

Partners in Mission: Rev. Tim McCalmont, Rev. Jonas Hayes

To learn more visit their website: https://www.syrialebanonpn.org/