Mission Advocate

Wendy Gist

Mission Advocate for Hunger, Poverty, and Peacemaking Issues
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Wendy is a staff liaison to the Justice, Peacemaking, and Mission Committee (JPM), which formed in 2015. Through JPM she is involved with the Self-Development of People (SDOP) Committee that is a shared ministry with the Presbytery of San Fernando and is also a team leader for the SGP Living Waters for the World ministry.

Each year JPM chooses a focus area or two. In 2020 JPM chose to focus on housing insecurity issues. In keeping with this theme Wendy, the JPM chairperson, and other SGP staff members have been talking to Habitat for Humanity San Gabriel Valley and LA Voice about possibilities for creating low-income housing on church properties. In past years JPM foci have included environmental concerns and immigration/immigrant concerns. All of these themes and many more fall under Wendy’s purview as the Mission Advocate for Hunger, Poverty, and Peacemaking Issues, so she keeps busy working broadly on social justice.

At in-person Presbytery meetings Wendy helps facilitate advocacy opportunities for those in attendance on a variety of concerns. She is regularly in touch with the mission committee chairpersons at the churches to keep them informed of upcoming events, opportunities, and needs. At Winterfest 2020 Wendy and Rev. Matt Colwell led a workshop on Caring for Creation, Practices of Watershed Discipleship where they shared both the theology of creation care and practical ways to carry it out. When SGP holds a Day of Service Wendy helps with logistics and facilitation of the event. During the COVID-19 pandemic while working at home Wendy has connected with pastors and organizations to get grant funds to those in need.

 


Living Waters for the World (Peru)

Living Waters for the World (LWW) is a global ministry that provides clean water using sustainable water purification systems and fosters long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between volunteers and communities in need.

The Presbytery of San Gabriel partners with LWW to provide water purification systems and health education.