Comegys Support Team
Complementing the work of Powerlinks, the Comegys Support Team seeks to engage our congregation in hands-on projects to benefit the B.B. Comegys School, a K-8 public school at 51st and Greenway.
This newly formed and ever-growing team meets regularly with Comegys staff members to determine volunteer, equipment, and skills needs, and respond as we are able. We value partnership with staff and parents in ways that empower community leadership and enhance the learning experience of our city’s children.
Redemption Housing
In early 2016, WPMF entered into a partnership with Redemption Housing, a faith-based nonprofit that offers support to Philadelphians coming out of incarceration and homelessness. Redemption Housing works to guide its residents towards recovery, seeking to address cycles of recidivism through holistic programming and healthy relationships.
WPMF was the first congregation to support Redemption Housing, and many of our members have been involved in building a strong foundation for this startup nonprofit. A committee from WPMF meets together regularly to discuss the congregation’s involvement with Redemption Housing. They also plan for ways of advocating for returning citizens in the church and community.
POWER
In spring 2011, WPMF joined POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild), a faith-based community organizing group. Based on a national model created by PICO, this group is a newly formed network of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations throughout Philadelphia working to create innovative solutions to the city’s most pressing issues.
WPMF was one of the first congregations to officially join POWER, but many others have joined since. A local leadership group from WPMF (nicknamed “powerlinks”) meets with Pastor Lorie monthly to discuss the congregation’s involvement with POWER on the local and city levels. In addition to supporting citywide actions, powerlinks hopes to engage the West Philadelphia community though forums, outreach, and other community events.
The People’s Baptist Food Pantry
For the past several years WPMF has partnered with The People’s Baptist Church to provide food through their pantry to the West Philadelphia community.
CrossRoads Community Center
WPMF partners with and supports the CrossRoads Community Center. Crossroads Community Center is located on N. 6th St in Philadelphia, PA in one of the most disenfranchised and historically underserved communities of any major US city. Crossroads Community Center is housed in two row homes in the Fairhill community of Philadelphia and serves the community in a variety of ways. Each week, Crossroads distributes 3,000 pounds of food to the community. The Center also provides a safe haven to teens, offers tutoring and culturally-relevant books, as well as, sports.
Past Outreach
WPMF Peace Group
Planting and Watering the Seeds of Peace
The WPMF Peace Group was started in April 2006, and went on hiatus in 2010, by church members who wanted there to be an action group in the congregation for intentional and faithful peace witness in the community, as a way to see the shalom of the city (part of the WPMF Vision Prayer). We banded together to speak out and act for peace and nonviolence, and against militarism and war. The WPMF Peace Group met five to six times a year to discuss issues related to our purpose and the kinds of action/s we wanted to carry out as a group, as well as to encourage each other to be peacemakers in our own homes, work situations, and other settings of our lives. In this way, we hoped to plant and water the seeds of peace.
The WPMF Peace Group welcomed collaboration with other peace groups and organizations in West Philadelphia. Projects Included:
- “Seeking Direction After High School?” Directory of Alternatives to Military Service for Philadelphia Youth [Updated June 2012]
- Forum on Gun Violence and Our City” [April 26, 2008]: Featured speakers were: Dorothy Johnson-Speight (Mothers in Charge), Bryan Miller (CeaseFireNJ), and Fred Kauffman (Mennonite Central Committee East Coast)
- Speaker Event with Military Counseling Network [July 23, 2006]
- Tabling at neighborhood community events
- Educating people about conscientious objection. Visit The GI Rights Hotline or Mennonite Central Committee for information on your rights and your options.
To find out more information about peace efforts supported by Mennonite Church USA, click on the button below
