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2 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Threshold Ministry, DPC Welcome visitors to a safe and supportive place Listen, attentatively As best we are able, help Offer empathy, prayer, involvement in DPC activities (Threshold Prayer Cards) Allow the members of DPC to experience new dimensions of God’s grace: Wow!

3 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Did you Know (T/F)? Most clients of Threshold Center are residents of zip code (False) Most clients of Threshold Center are men. (False) The percentages of couples and families with children needing assistance have increased recently. (True) Special skills are needed to help with Threshold Ministry. (True)

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

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

6 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed In 1967, in Atlanta, King proposed “Civil Disobedience” in response to characteristics and causes of racial tension, including unemployment, general discriminatory practices, and “features peculiar to big cities: crime, family problems, and intensive migration.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

7 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Development of Threshold Ministry DPC Location DPC Door Ministry Rev. Dr. Ken Hughes: “The persistence of poverty stands as a constant challenge to the Christian Church. Unlike any other institution in society, the Church is called by its foundational scripture and theological convictions to be brother and sister to those in need.”

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

9 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed 4320 Encounters! Year 1: 1025 Year 2: 1119 Year 3: 2176 (to date – ¾ of year) 3743 clients served

10 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Requests, by category

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

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

13 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Threshold Hopes and Dreams Database for evaluation, grant application DPC Hospitality Ministry Internships: ASC, CTS Collaboration with FBCD Expansion?

14 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Want to Help? Come visit, observe (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 the discussion/activity! Pray for us, our clients, and particularly those people who never make it over our threshold!

15 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Questions? 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 an remain a place of mutual concern, love, and peace. -- Henri Nouwen

16 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Threshold Prayer -1 We hold in our hearts all those who have lost homes and have no shelter from the storms of life. We hold in our hearts all those who do not have enough food to feed loved ones. We hold in our hearts the increasing number of children coming to soup kitchens and shelters.

17 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Threshold Prayer-2 We hold in our hearts all those who have no medical insurance and are at the mercy of illness and dread. We hold in our hearts all those making hard choices about which bills to pay in a constant battle against financial disaster. We hold in our hearts all those forced into bankruptcy and engulfed in feelings of failure and shame.

18 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Threshold Prayer-3 We hold in our hearts those who have lost jobs and feel useless and depressed. We hold in our hearts all low income families that, due to circumstances beyond their control, are one step away from life on the streets.

19 Decatur Presbyterian Church Every Child of God Belonging, Engaging, and Being Transformed Threshold Prayer-4 We hold in our hearts with esteem all those who defend the poor, stand by them, and plead their cause in the name of justice, freedom, peace, and hope. Amen