"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
- Mark 16:15
ABOUT FIRST PRES SERVE MINISTRY:
The SERVE Ministry exists to inspire and equip our congregation to be the hands and feet of Jesus, demonstrating the love of Christ to our neighbors through ministries of service and compassion. We focus on:
- Providing opportunities for service and generosity in supporting community partners, as well as more global ministries
- Connecting the unique gifts and talents of church members to God’s purposes locally and globally
- Being wise and faithful stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us in order to engage our members and lift up our neighbors
MISSIONS:
- ANGEL TREE
Each year, First Pres partners with Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program to provide Christmas gifts to children of incarcerated parents on behalf of their parent. The ministry provides approximately 400 gifts for 200 children and welcomes families to a celebration in the Neumann Center with games, crafts, pizza, snacks, and photos with Santa. Through these gifts and personal connections, Angel Tree helps nurture the bond between children and their absent parent while sharing Christ’s love with families who may be facing significant hardship. - BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACKS
Each year, First Pres provides more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to community organizations and schools serving children in need. The backpacks are blessed during a Sunday service before being sent into the community, where they help students begin the school year prepared, confident, and supported. - BLOOD DRIVES
Several times each year, First Pres hosts Bloodmobile visits outside the Neumann Center, giving members of the congregation an opportunity to help save lives by donating blood. - CRAFT MINISTRY
Through the Craft Ministry, dedicated volunteers create handmade pillows for local hospitals, cancer centers, and other medical settings, offering comfort and care to patients. The ministry also provides a handmade quilt for every child baptized at First Pres, expressing the congregation’s love, support, and welcome into the life of the church. - DISASTER RESPONSE/RELIEF
First Pres supports people and communities affected by natural disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and other crises in Florida and around the world. In addition to statewide disaster preparedness and response efforts, we partner with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to provide financial support for global relief and recovery needs, including recent efforts following an earthquake in Venezuela and a hurricane in Jamaica. - HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
First Pres has long supported Habitat for Humanity in its work to build affordable housing for hardworking families in Broward County. Together, we have helped build more than 22 homes, expanding the benefits of homeownership for families who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
In recent years, First Pres has also participated in Apostles’ Builds, where several churches from different denominations come together to build a Habitat home. These projects strengthen support for Habitat while fostering friendship, cooperation, and shared service among church members.
Monthly First Pres workdays offer a meaningful way to serve others, build community, and even learn new construction skills. No experience is necessary, and there is a task for everyone. - HOPE SOUTH FLORIDA
Hope South Florida is a long-standing First Pres partner that helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness move toward stability and self-sufficiency. Through housing assistance, case management, employment support, financial literacy, meals, a day center, and safe overnight parking, Hope South Florida provides practical care through a compassionate, Christian-based approach.
- LIFENET4FAMILIES
LifeNet4Families provides “a gateway to stability” for individuals and families experiencing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in Broward County. Through services such as showers, haircuts, hygiene kits, clothing, shoes, case management, and job-readiness support, LifeNet4Families helps people meet immediate needs while working toward greater independence. - PREVENTION CENTRAL
Prevention Central is a long-time First Pres partner serving at-risk youth and families through juvenile justice diversion, family reunification, parenting support, neighborhood empowerment, and an emergency food pantry. Its programs provide case management for youth ages 6–17 facing challenges such as truancy or behavioral concerns, while SNAP and other youth programs help families manage emotions, strengthen relationships, and build healthy coping skills. - SERRV
Through special sales at First Pres, volunteers support SERRV’s mission to help artisans and farmers in developing countries earn fair income, strengthen their communities, and provide for their families. - SOCKTOBER
Each October, First Pres youth lead Socktober, an effort to collect hundreds of new socks for men and women experiencing homelessness. The socks are distributed through our community partners to provide a simple but meaningful source of comfort, dignity, and care for those in need. - SISTER ROBIN STREET MARKET
Launched during the pandemic in 2020, Sister Robin Street Market provides free fresh vegetables and pantry staples to neighbors in need from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month in front of the Neumann Center. As community need has grown, the ministry now distributes more than 100 bags of food at each market, and volunteers are needed to help keep this vital ministry. - SOUPER BOWL OF CARING
Each year on Super Bowl Sunday, First Pres youth collect non-perishable food items to support community partners serving people facing food insecurity. In recent years, the congregation has donated more than 1,200 pounds of food through this effort. - THANKSGIVING BASKETS
Thanksgiving Baskets is a vital First Pres ministry that provides families in need with a turkey and traditional holiday trimmings. Each year, special donations from the congregation and the service of nearly 100 volunteers help fill and deliver 700 to 800 bags on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. - TRUE AMOR
True Amor honors the memory of a child who died suddenly at eight months old from heart complications. Founded by her parents, the organization supports families facing serious childhood illness or the loss of a child. True Amor provides care kits and comfort during hospital stays, offers information and resources for grieving families, creates art opportunities to help siblings process grief, and operates a mobile cardiac unit that provides screenings and resources to families throughout the community. - YOUNG ADULT MISSION TRIPS
First Pres young adults have participated in several mission trips focused on serving communities in need. Most recently, they traveled to Jamaica, bringing supplies and helping support rebuilding efforts after the devastating hurricane there.
The SERVE team welcomes members who are passionate about local and global mission and who want to help guide, support, and strengthen the ministries we sponsor.
Team members help discern how First Pres can faithfully steward its resources to serve the Lord and meet the needs of our neighbors.
Team members help discern how First Pres can faithfully steward its resources to serve the Lord and meet the needs of our neighbors.
WANT TO CONNECT OR LEARN MORE ABOUT SERVE?
If you are interested in joining the SERVE team or participating in one of the ministries we sponsor, please complete the form below, speak with a SERVE team member, or contact our Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Serve, Rev. Tricia Young, at triciay@firstpres.cc or 954-462-6200.