Gilroy Presbyterian Church may be one of South Valley’s most
active congregations in reaching out beyond its own membership to
help others.
Gilroy Presbyterian Church may be one of South Valley’s most active congregations in reaching out beyond its own membership to help others.
They have traditionally provided strong support to St. Joseph’s Family center, Gilroy’s local program to assist the poor. Each spring, teens from the church travel to Mexico to teach and help with construction projects. This summer, a contingent of youth and adults labored in Fresno to minister to that city’s needy.
But for the past two and a half years they have reached even farther – to the southern African nation of Swaziland.
Since its independence in 1968, the small, land-locked country has been able to preserve much of its uniquely African tribal culture despite being severely impacted by economic difficulties such as drought and hunger.
Although ruled by a monarch, it is relatively stable compared to surrounding nations.
With the world’s highest rate of HIV and AIDS (above 33 percent), there is a high mortality rate among adults, leading to a population of more than 70,000 orphans.
When combined with other vulnerable children whose parents are either ill or destitute, that number climbs to 130,000.
In 2008, Gilroy Presbyterian Church began cooperating with World Vision, an international non-profit organization dedicated to serving the world’s poor in nearly 100 countries.
A unique aspect of World Vision’s ministry is that the agency doesn’t take control of projects. They emphasize local relationships, letting locals discover their own goals, and then empowering them to accomplish these tasks. Since 2008, members of GPC have sponsored 130 desperately poor children in the community of Maphalaeni.
World Vision provides background information on “special children.” This includes the child’s name, gender, birthday, photo and biographical information.
Sponsors choose a child and contribute a monthly donation of $35 to help meet his or her basic needs.
In addition to the financial help, sponsors have the opportunity to forge a personal relationship with their children, exchanging letters during the year and sharing in significant events in their children’s lives.
Two members of GPC, Linda Ramirez and Annie Fortino, visited Swaziland in the spring of 2008 and reported back to the Gilroy congregation about their experiences.
When it became apparent that funds were not available for a repeat visit this year, alternate plans were made.
Two pastors from Swaziland will visit Gilroy next month. Amon and Bonginkosi, both of whom are involved in community development work in Swaziland, will speak at both the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services on Oct. 3.
They will give a report about progress being made in improving the lives of native children and explain what still needs to be done.
At noon, there will be a Sponsor Thank You Luncheon at the church – an opportunity for Gilroyans to meet the visitors and ask questions about the program.
Local residents are invited to attend this event to hear the inspiring stories told by these two men. Materials will be available for people who would like to sponsor a poor child in Swaziland.
To reserve a space at this free luncheon, e-mail [email protected] or call (408) 842-3000.
