Mission and Outreach

As a congregation called to serve others in Christ, we believe:

  • The love of God revealed in Jesus Christ calls us to a new way of life…so outreach ministries are transformative learning experiences. (Col 3:17, Luke 12: 33-34)
  • Christ calls us to serve neighbors near and far…so we offer outreach opportunities as close as our backyard and as far as Honduras. (Luke 10: 25-37)
  • The Holy Spirit invites us into new relationships in a nurturing community…so our outreach experiences help us connect our faith with everyday life.

“For as you have done to the least of these who are my brothers and sisters, you have done unto me.”    (Matthew 25:40)

Mission and Outreach committees meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7pm either in-person at PHPC or on zoom. Any member or visitor is welcome to attend. We receive updates from our members who serve as liaisons to our mission partners (see below), discuss upcoming events and how our congregation can support the needs of each of our mission partners. Contact Pastor Jennie Sankey if you have questions or would like to get involved.

Find emergency assistance resources for local residents here.

Our Mission and Outreach programs include:

Clifton Sanctuary Ministries: Begun in 1979, Clifton Sanctuary Ministries is the first and oldest faith-based emergency shelter for homeless men in Atlanta. Their mission is to “show compassion to the men we serve…and expect accountability from them. Through faith in God…and by working as a team…we strive everyday to transform lives and change our world for the better.” On the third Saturday of every month, PHPC members provide dinner to the 18-24 men who reside at Clifton. The church also regularly collects toiletries and clothing donations for Clifton residents.

Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op: The Hands of Christ Duluth Co-Op, which was formed in 1992 by 10 area churches including PHPC. Hands of Christ Duluth Co-op brings our community together to provide food, emergency assistance and hope to our neighbors in need with the goal of preventing hunger and homelessness in our city. PHPC members assist by donating food and gently used children’s books, picking up donations at local Kroger and Sprouts stores, and by volunteering at the Co-op.

Rainbow Village: Rainbow Village is a nonprofit organization located near downtown Duluth. Their mission is to transform ” the lives of homeless families with children by providing a stable community and services that instills initiative, self-development and accountability for future generations.” Church members volunteer to help with meals that are provided to families during the week, participate in the Big Recess program and serve as a tutor in the After School program.

Laundry Love: Through our Laundry Love program, we offer free laundry services every month at the laundromat at 2880 Simpson Circle in Norcross, GA. Laundry has to get done, but can be really difficult to manage on a limited income. The Pleasant Hill Presbyterian congregation donates quarters and laundry detergent, and Laundry Love team members volunteer to help staff the machines. Just as importantly, we listen to people’s stories, build relationships, and create community. For more information, please check out our page.

Little Free Pantry: We are part of the Little (Free) Pantry Movement–a grassroots, crowd-sourced solution to address immediate and local need. Whether a need for food or a need to give, the Little Free Pantry facilitates neighbors helping neighbors, building community. Our Pantry is stocked with non-perishable food, toiletry items and diapers. PHPC collects food donations for the pantry on the first Sunday of every month. Signs on the doors and inside the box invite people in the community, particularly those who cope daily with food insecurity and hunger, to “Take What You Need, Give What You Can.”

Refugee Ministry: Since 2011, Pleasant Hill has sponsored 40 refugees through Atlanta-area refugee agencies. Prior to a family’s arrival in Georgia, the congregation collects home furnishings and sets everything up in a local apartment complex. Church members help connect families to one another and get settled into their new life in the United States. Volunteers also take time to do some reading and tutoring for the children in each family.

International Mission Trips: We are involved in international mission work and provide numerous opportunities to help our siblings around the globe. Teams of adults travel to Honduras (working with HOI, Honduras Outreach International) and Guatemala (working with CEDEPCA, The Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America) to serve the local community in several projects. Church members said of this ministry, “Before I went on the first trip I wondered if I would want to make the trip again. Upon returning I wondered why I had waited so long to go.” Through the benevolence offerings of Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, we also support the global missions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and financially contribute to organizations with a similar mission.

North Georgia Mission Lodge: We regularly send adult, youth, and intergenerational groups to the North Georgia Mission Lodge, who “provide a safe and welcoming home base connecting volunteer teams to service opportunities with our North Georgia Neighbors.” Mission teams partner with Habitat for Humanity and other local nonprofits to work on projects in the rural communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia.

Presbyterians for a Better Georgia: Presbyterians for a Better Georgia is a nonpartisan public policy advocacy coalition made up of PCUSA congregations and nonprofit partners. Pleasant Hill partners with P4BG to advocate to effect legislation that supports vulnerable Georgians on the issues of housing and healthcare with our local and state government.

Blood Drive: Pleasant Hill has a long history of hosting Red Cross Blood Drives. The benefits of donating blood include helping people injured in accidents, undergoing cancer treatment, and battling blood diseases, among other reasons. Three to four times a year, church members and community members host a drive to provide lifesaving care for the community.