Mission and Outreach

Graystone's vision is to send every member into mission; encouraging them to go, give and participate in what God is doing in the world.

"Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."  Mark 16:5

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Global and National Partners

Graystone has a long and storied history of partnering with missions and missionaries from around the globe.  Currently we are connected with missions in Africa, India, the Middle East and Far East, Central and South America, and North America.  More...

Becoming A Member


We encourage anyone who is interested in Graystone to attend one of our seminars.  Classes are offered in the Fall and Spring of each year.  It is a great way to get to know other people and find out more about who we are and what our mission is.  We encourage everyone to begin with the ALPHA Course which is offered during the Fall and Spring each year. 

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Spotlight on Missions:

NOLA Mission Trip:May 17-24, 2008 On May 17th, 2008, a diverse group of 20 Graystoners set out for New Orleans to participate in the rebuilding effort. Our team included a range of ages (high school to retired), experience (some had been on previous mission trips, some had not), talents (cooking, cleaning, dishwashing, encouraging, ripping out wallboard, pulling nails, removing moldy insulation, cutting and putting up wallboard, spackling seams, scraping exterior paint, painting interior walls). We were housed by Redeemer Presbyterian Church, whose mission is reaching out to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. We gutted one house, helped rebuild two others, and painted and cleaned the house where we were living.  Each day teams labored at the different work sites, then gathered in the evening for a delicious meal cooked by Sue Drummond (aided by Bob Gongaware), and shared reactions to the experience through prayer and discussion of Bible passages centered on the theme of “building”.  We learned that God wants us not only to rebuild houses but to “build each other up”, that Christ is the Cornerstone, and that we ARE God’s house when we do the work of Christ in the hurting places of the world. Here are brief comments by those who went: Sarah Gongaware: “In the New Orleans airport, a small jazz ensemble played ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ to greet us [which] set the mood for the whole trip.” Vickie Morganti: “The sights [of Katrina damage] tugged at our hearts and brought us to tears. . . In gutting a home we gave a family a chance to rebuild their lives and start anew.” Jesse Randall: “New Orleans showed me . . . what happens when life literally washes the ground out from under our feet. . . we are all dependent on Jesus Christ.” Marilyn Brown: “We lived as a family – worked, played, and ate together—and grew to know and love each other. . . As the eldest member of the group, I found that there was still plenty for me to do – when a house is gutted someone has to carry away the trim, wallboard and insulation, then sweep up and carry away all the loose debris!” Kelly Drummond: “Besides the whole working-for-hours-until-we-couldn’t-stand-up-anymore thing, New Orleans was great. Just kidding. Gutting the house was a lot of fun. Amanda and I were skilled sledge hammer-ers, and we destroyed the first bedroom!” Amanda Jones: “If I could do rebuilding every day in New Orleans, I would in a heart beat!”  Bob Gongaware: “ ‘Passing the peace’ at Redeemer Church lasted longer than the sermon and seemed like a re-enactment of Pentecost. . . .The most memorable moment was when  Bob Wood anointed the house with oil. It was powerful and moving. I felt God’s presence.” Susan Drummond: “While the team labored, I cooked. . . . The oven door only opened halfway and the temperature controls would fall off in my hands . . . . I learned patience. . . .” Colin and Bethany Hurley: “The best part was watching [the team] fall in love with the city as we have. We are grateful that Graystone has become a part of this great mission!”Chelsie Brown: “This trip changed my perspective on New Orleans and the people who live there. . . . [Our home owner] loved his home city and was grateful to have us there. . . . The people are friendly, joyful, and full of hope, something I’d wish for in a place I call home.” Jeff Denlinger: “I enjoyed the people and the beauty and history of the city. . . There is life in this place, joy . . . and a Christian presence. Is that all there is? No. That’s why we send mission teams with the hope and help of the gospel, and we are all changed in the process.” Beth Ann Fanning: “If New Orleans were a person, it would be one of the most colorful and exuberant I have ever met. . . One to whom you say, ‘Love ya. Hope to see ya’ again soon.” Neil Lehman: “The trip allowed me to connect with a wonderfully diverse range of Graystoners, with believers in Redeemer Presbyterian church, and with people who had only been nameless faces on t.v. To connect with the thousands of Christians who have come to New Orleans to assist the victims of Katrina was a deeply rewarding and moving experience for me, one which I enthusiastically recommend to others.” Jessica Risinger: “ The people of New Orleans . . . took every chance they had to thank us . .  . . the positive response fed the energy of our group. . . I can’t wait to go back!” Ben Shopland: “This was my second trip to New Orleans. . . I was amazed at how much progress has been made since last year. . . there is a lot of work left to be done and it is our privilege as Christians to take advantage of the abundant opportunity for mission. . .” Susan Shopland: “On the last day, our work crew consisted of 12 Catholics from New Jersey, two Episcopalians, one Lutheran, and 7 Presbyterians from Indiana, PA.  As members of the body of Christ, we can meet needs which we could not meet alone! Dave Stewart: “Thank you Graystone for your prayers and for making this opportunity available to me.” Larry Rayko: “The trip was a new experience for me. . . . To see all that needs to be done is overwhelming, but it felt good to be a small part of it. I’m glad I decided to go and encourage anyone to try it.”   Bob Wood: “ The work was hard, dirty, exhausting . . . Rewards were getting to know the Graystone group and new people from New Orleans, Sue’s cooking, and above all serving God and the people of New Orleans.  Would I do it again? Yes. Should you? Yes.” We hope these comments capture the NOLA 2008 experience for you. However, the story is not complete without noting that the 20 people who went were just the “tip of the iceberg”.  Counting all who prayed for us, donated money for van rentals or trip costs, cooked chili, baked cornbread, or donated money at the chili cookoff, we estimate that six to eight times that number of people actually participated in this trip!  Thank you, Graystone!!!    Susan Shopland, Congregational Awareness Team

 

Local Partners

Graystone supports both financially and personally local missions such as St. Andrews Village, Birthright and Life-Way Pregnancy centers, Child Evangelsim Fellowship, Christian Counseling Services, and many more.  The gifts and resources God has given us are for others and the good news of God's kingdom being lived out and shared.  More...


Each year Graystone donates 1,000's of shoe boxes to Samaritan's Purse in Operation Christmas Child.  Million's of children receive a gift for Christmas that they otherwise would never see and hear the good news of the story of Christmas and a God who loves them.
          

 

To find more and how you can be a part of this mission click the shoe box.