Threshold Ministry of Decatur Presbyterian Church 2015 Annual

Threshold Ministry of Decatur Presbyterian Church 2015 Annual Report “Am I my brother’s keeper? The answer to that question is no, I’m my brother’s brother. ” -- Rev. William Sloane Coffin, via Rev. Ken Hughes Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Threshold Ministry, DPC n n n Welcome visitors to a safe and supportive place Listen, attentively Help with needs, as we are able; facilitate referrals Offer empathy, prayer (Threshold Prayer Cards), involvement in DPC activities Allow the members of DPC to experience new dimensions of God’s grace 2 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Percentage Males below Poverty Level Decatur Georgia 3 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Percentage Females below Poverty Level Decatur Georgia 4 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Development of Threshold Ministry n n n Our location puts us in a unique position to respond Built on DPC Door Ministry 2012 - Rev. Dr. Ken Hughes: “The persistence of poverty stands as a constant challenge to the Christian Church. Unlike any other institution, the Church is called by its foundational scripture and theological convictions to be brother and sister to those in need. ” 5 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Operations of Threshold n n n 3 ¾ years in operation Began with 3 mornings per week, now 2 Staffed by volunteers with help from congregation and neighborhood Ty, aged 7 Sunday School Youth 6 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Quick 2015 Threshold Facts n n Most clients of Threshold Center are not residents of, or homeless in, zip code 30030 Clients are as often female as male The percentage of families with children needing assistance have increased Special skills are not needed to help Threshold Ministry— just a love for the teachings of Jesus. 7 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Client Encounters to Date n n Year 1 ( partial 2012): 1025 Year 2 (2013): 1119 Year 3 (2014): 2176 Year 4 (2015): 2380 6700 client encounters to date 8 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

2015 Experience n n 236 new clients; 617 unique clients in database Equal numbers of males and females 9 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Threshold Requests, by Category, 2012 -2015 * *Threshold closed 3 weeks, July 2015 10 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Registered Referral Site, Furniture Bank of Atlanta www. furniturebankatlanta. org 11 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Furniture Bank – New Procedures All clients receive delivery (no warehouse pick-up) n Priority clients include: – Those moving from homelessness to housing – Those living with HIV/AIDS – Those fleeing domestic violence – Those dealing with challenging situations or changing life circumstance In 2015, we helped 27 families furnish their homes n 12 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Partner, Atlanta Community Food Bank www. acfb. org 13 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Threshold and Hospitality Ministries n n n Provide healthful sack lunches between 9 am and noon each day the DPC Office is open Lunches are provided by Sandwich Brigade and Threshold, through an endowment grant in 2015 In 2015, we distributed over 7, 000 lunches, an average of 145 per week. 14 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Collaboration with Decatur Cooperative Ministry We are an Assistance Station associated with DCM: n n n Facilitates purchase of lower cost MARTA cards Allows use of Pathways Database at no cost Designated as temporary emergency shelter for residents of Hagar’s House 15 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

We Love our Threshold Volunteers! 16 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Threshold Lunch ‘n Learn Sessions n n n In 2015, Threshold hosted quarterly Lunch ‘n Learn Gatherings for volunteers, their guests, other interested DPC members, First Baptist Assistance Volunteers Light lunch prepared by Zest Atlanta Discussions: – Pathways: Data management System – Dealing with people in difficult circumstances – Health care – Prayer with Threshold Clients (Joan Gray, Vernon Gramling) 17 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

Threshold Database n n Pathways database Funded by DCM grant from County (HUD) Allows more effective client service Provides data for accountability, and for this report 18 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

What do we Need? n n n Come visit (Mon, Thurs 9 -11: 45 am) Join us: see sign-up form available from Threshold page of DPC website Organize a Break Bread Group, Sunday School Class, school or neighborhood gathering to collect items for hygiene kits, lunches, winter kits Include children in discussion/activities about poverty Pray for us, our clients, and particularly those people who never make it over our threshold! 19 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed

And Remember…. . The Poor make the Church Faithful to its vocation…. The Poor are given to the Church so that the Church, as the body of Christ, can be and remain a place of mutual concern, love, and peace. -- Henri Nouwen 20 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed