Guatemala Partnership of New Castle Presbytery lauds the effectiveness of Presbyterian generosity
Partners are benefiting from One Great Hour of Sharing gifts
During the latter part of Lent up to Easter Sunday, Presbyterians across the nation give offerings to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). As you prayerfully consider your gift this year, we wanted to share how your generosity is directly benefiting our partners in Guatemala through the Guatemala Partnership of New Castle Presbytery. OGHS supports three PC(USA) programs: the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. As of this year, our partners are now benefitting from all three!
Presbyterian Hunger Program
Last fall, the staff and Board of the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development submitted a grant application to the Presbyterian Hunger Program requesting $10,000 for its Revolving Funds project. This was the group’s first experience filling out an application of this magnitude, and the group’s efforts were paid off with the full amount being granted for 2025! This money has already been used to launch two new revolving funds groups (30 women total) who had been waiting for more than a year for the capital to enable each woman to buy a cow. Jenny Vicente, the program's coordinator, reports that "the women would like to thank everyone for supporting this project as it will be of great benefit to each of the women and their families, and now they have their own money and can put more food on the table." In addition to the amazing day-to-day work the association members do in their communities, we are so proud of them for growing and fine-tuning their fundraising skills!
Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People
Some readers are familiar with the Utz Pan bakery and our ongoing support of the youth participants who are benefiting from this innovative project initiated by Jesus es El Camino church. In 2022, the church received an SDOP grant of $10,000 to purchase ovens, mixers and other supplies to get this project off the ground. The bakery is still going strong, graduating skilled bakers and inviting new students to get started year after year.
And just this week we learned that another one of our partners has been awarded a SDOP grant for 2025! AJPU, who makes the fuel-efficient stoves, will receive $7,500 to purchase new tools and machinery that will increase their efficiency by 25% while decreasing their costs by 10%. This is good news indeed! We are grateful to yet another partner, CEDEPCA, the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America, which serves as the in-country organization that awards and manages all SDOP grants in Guatemala for PC(USA). Thank you!
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Finally, CEDEPCA also receives funding from PDA when there is a catastrophic event in Guatemala, such as hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes and civil unrest. CEDEPCA's Disaster Ministry team uses this money to respond with material aid and psychological and spiritual support, continuing to work in affected communities long after the initial emergency has passed.
We are grateful to our supporters, the PC(USA) and our many partners in Guatemala as we join together in this meaningful and heartfelt work. We hope you will be generous with your One Great Hour of Sharing offering in these next two weeks so we can continue. Happy Easter!
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