"When the church hears the cry of the poor, it must denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises." - Archbishop Oscar Romero
Mission Initiatives in Compassion, Justice, and Community Building
The church is located in the La Mesa neighborhood, bounded by Central to the south, Wyoming to the east, Lomas to the north, and Louisiana to the west. We are near the Fairgrounds and in the heart of the International
District. The church sees its mission as grounded in this neighborhood, but global in reach. We seek to serve the
needs and aspirations of those who live in this community and share life together. We participate in direct service
efforts, as well as seeking more systemic justice remedies. Here is a sampling of some of our ongoing work:
The church is located in the La Mesa neighborhood, bounded by Central to the south, Wyoming to the east, Lomas to the north, and Louisiana to the west. We are near the Fairgrounds and in the heart of the International
District. The church sees its mission as grounded in this neighborhood, but global in reach. We seek to serve the
needs and aspirations of those who live in this community and share life together. We participate in direct service
efforts, as well as seeking more systemic justice remedies. Here is a sampling of some of our ongoing work:
EDUCATION
+ La Mesa Elementary School Partnership - We are adjacent to this school of approximately 800 children, all of whom are eligible for the federal free lunch program. Our partnership includes providing tutors during the school day, opening our building for meeting space, support for teachers, emergency assistance for families of children in need, supporting a uniform scholarship fund, and serving as fiscal agent for their after-school programs. Our Arts Academy is the centerpiece of the school's art and music after-school enrichment.
+ La Mesa Arts Academy - This is an after-school program that provides free art instruction for k-5th graders from La Mesa Elementary School three days a week. There are offerings in visual, musical , dance, and the dramatic arts taught by variety of skilled instructors. The Art Education Department of the University of New Mexico uses the Academy as a site for training art education majors in hands-on instruction. There is an art show at the end of every semester for the children to share their work with the larger community. The program began as an all-volunteer effort in 2006.
+ Albuquerque Interfaith - The church is a member institution of Albuquerque Interfaith, a community organization comprised of 25 congregations, schools, unions and non-profits, who bring their faith and democratic values into public life by shaping policies and advocating in the following arenas - public education, immigrant's rights, workforce training and GED preparation, and mental health and addiction funding and services.
+ La Mesa Garden Park - This is a joint venture, with La Mesa Elementary School and East Central Ministries, to create a green space in the heart of the neighborhood. It will function as a community gathering place and an outdoor classroom for La Mesa students to learn about agriculture and urban gardening.
+ La Mesa Elementary School Partnership - We are adjacent to this school of approximately 800 children, all of whom are eligible for the federal free lunch program. Our partnership includes providing tutors during the school day, opening our building for meeting space, support for teachers, emergency assistance for families of children in need, supporting a uniform scholarship fund, and serving as fiscal agent for their after-school programs. Our Arts Academy is the centerpiece of the school's art and music after-school enrichment.
+ La Mesa Arts Academy - This is an after-school program that provides free art instruction for k-5th graders from La Mesa Elementary School three days a week. There are offerings in visual, musical , dance, and the dramatic arts taught by variety of skilled instructors. The Art Education Department of the University of New Mexico uses the Academy as a site for training art education majors in hands-on instruction. There is an art show at the end of every semester for the children to share their work with the larger community. The program began as an all-volunteer effort in 2006.
+ Albuquerque Interfaith - The church is a member institution of Albuquerque Interfaith, a community organization comprised of 25 congregations, schools, unions and non-profits, who bring their faith and democratic values into public life by shaping policies and advocating in the following arenas - public education, immigrant's rights, workforce training and GED preparation, and mental health and addiction funding and services.
+ La Mesa Garden Park - This is a joint venture, with La Mesa Elementary School and East Central Ministries, to create a green space in the heart of the neighborhood. It will function as a community gathering place and an outdoor classroom for La Mesa students to learn about agriculture and urban gardening.
HUNGER
+ La Mesa Food Pantry - This food distribution site is one of the few daily food pantries in the city. Food is available Monday though Friday from 9-11 AM. We are affiliated with the Roadrunnner Food Bank and other efforts that glean food from local grocery stores. We are now offering produce twice a month to add more variety and nutrition.
+ Feast of Hope - This is a Thanksgiving Day meal that serves some 1,500 meals to the community. The majority of dinners are served to those who come to the church for the feast, but several hundred meals are also delivered to residents of homeless shelters, special needs housing programs, and home-bound senior citizens. We also have a clothing pantry for the day and a children's art area. Several hundred volunteers come to serve and experience the richness of a community celebration.
+ Bread for the World - We participate in advocacy efforts through annual letter writing campaigns and direct contact to encourage our state and federal lawmakers to insure just hunger policies.
+ Heifer International - This organization began after World War II to rebuild food systems destroyed in the conflict and has worked ever since to develop appropriate, sustainable agricultural systems globally, especially in poor communities throughout the developing world. They are sensitive to introduce crops and animals that are a good fit to that context and maximize indigenous empowerment.
+ La Mesa Food Pantry - This food distribution site is one of the few daily food pantries in the city. Food is available Monday though Friday from 9-11 AM. We are affiliated with the Roadrunnner Food Bank and other efforts that glean food from local grocery stores. We are now offering produce twice a month to add more variety and nutrition.
+ Feast of Hope - This is a Thanksgiving Day meal that serves some 1,500 meals to the community. The majority of dinners are served to those who come to the church for the feast, but several hundred meals are also delivered to residents of homeless shelters, special needs housing programs, and home-bound senior citizens. We also have a clothing pantry for the day and a children's art area. Several hundred volunteers come to serve and experience the richness of a community celebration.
+ Bread for the World - We participate in advocacy efforts through annual letter writing campaigns and direct contact to encourage our state and federal lawmakers to insure just hunger policies.
+ Heifer International - This organization began after World War II to rebuild food systems destroyed in the conflict and has worked ever since to develop appropriate, sustainable agricultural systems globally, especially in poor communities throughout the developing world. They are sensitive to introduce crops and animals that are a good fit to that context and maximize indigenous empowerment.
HEALTH
+ St. Joseph's Center for Children and Families -The church is a satellite location for the Samaritan Counseling Center, whose mission includes providing quality affordable, bilingual therapy to families in the community. There are three full-time therapists on staff and a navigator with the PATHWAYS program of UNM to help people access needed social services.
+ Blood Drives - The church sponsors community blood drives three times a year for United Blood Bank.
HOMELESSNESS
+ Heading Home - This is the lead agency that coordinates a city wide effort called Albuquerque Heading Home, that has housed over 300 of the most medically vulnerable people experiencing homelessness over the past three years. They also operate a men's shelter program called the Albuquerque Opportunity Center (AOC) which also has a respite care program for homeless men leaving local hospitals. The AOC also houses Vetran which assist veterans in their transition from the streets. The church sponsors a Home Team of volunteers who support people moving into a more permanent residence. La Mesa was instrumental in the founding of the AOC in 2004.
NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRY
+ Four Directions - This effort has provided support and advocacy for urban Native people since 2006. The church sponsors a monthly worship (2nd Sunday at 2 PM), a monthly Native Women's Prayer Circle (2nd Friday at 6 PM), and educational events for the church and larger community about issues of concern to the Native American culture.
+ Blue Corn Mothers - This is a non-profit whose mission is to provide support and housing for Native American women experiencing domestic violence. The director is a member of the congregation and the organization received a start-up grant from the Presbyterian Woman of Presbyterian Church (USA).
OTHER INITIATIVES
+ Samaritan Fund - This is a fund the pastor uses to assist people in the church and community with emergency needs, like rent payments, medicine, and transportation. The fund is replenished every month by generous members of the congregation.
+ New Mexico Women's Global Pathways - The church has been a longtime supporter of this grassroots effort to assist and empower refugee families coming to Albuquerque from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
+ Families4Peace - This is a non-profit that formed in response to the many shooting incidents in schools across the country, notably Sandy Hook Elementary, with a mission to create safe, child-friendly communities and advocate for mindfulness practices for peaceful relationships.
+ East Central Ministries - The church partners with this faith-based community development non-profit organization that provides a community clinic, a community garden and urban farming micro-enterprises, The Common Good Thrift Store, and youth programs.
+ St. Joseph's Center for Children and Families -The church is a satellite location for the Samaritan Counseling Center, whose mission includes providing quality affordable, bilingual therapy to families in the community. There are three full-time therapists on staff and a navigator with the PATHWAYS program of UNM to help people access needed social services.
+ Blood Drives - The church sponsors community blood drives three times a year for United Blood Bank.
HOMELESSNESS
+ Heading Home - This is the lead agency that coordinates a city wide effort called Albuquerque Heading Home, that has housed over 300 of the most medically vulnerable people experiencing homelessness over the past three years. They also operate a men's shelter program called the Albuquerque Opportunity Center (AOC) which also has a respite care program for homeless men leaving local hospitals. The AOC also houses Vetran which assist veterans in their transition from the streets. The church sponsors a Home Team of volunteers who support people moving into a more permanent residence. La Mesa was instrumental in the founding of the AOC in 2004.
NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRY
+ Four Directions - This effort has provided support and advocacy for urban Native people since 2006. The church sponsors a monthly worship (2nd Sunday at 2 PM), a monthly Native Women's Prayer Circle (2nd Friday at 6 PM), and educational events for the church and larger community about issues of concern to the Native American culture.
+ Blue Corn Mothers - This is a non-profit whose mission is to provide support and housing for Native American women experiencing domestic violence. The director is a member of the congregation and the organization received a start-up grant from the Presbyterian Woman of Presbyterian Church (USA).
OTHER INITIATIVES
+ Samaritan Fund - This is a fund the pastor uses to assist people in the church and community with emergency needs, like rent payments, medicine, and transportation. The fund is replenished every month by generous members of the congregation.
+ New Mexico Women's Global Pathways - The church has been a longtime supporter of this grassroots effort to assist and empower refugee families coming to Albuquerque from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
+ Families4Peace - This is a non-profit that formed in response to the many shooting incidents in schools across the country, notably Sandy Hook Elementary, with a mission to create safe, child-friendly communities and advocate for mindfulness practices for peaceful relationships.
+ East Central Ministries - The church partners with this faith-based community development non-profit organization that provides a community clinic, a community garden and urban farming micro-enterprises, The Common Good Thrift Store, and youth programs.
