Mission & Ministry

• Support Groups
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Al-Anon
  • Pregnancy and Infant Loss
  • Men In Transition
  • Walking the Mourner's Path
• Local Missions
  • Changing The Present
  • Local Missions In Action
  • Movin' and Groovin'
  • Austin Bridge Builder's Alliance
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters
  • Christmas International House
  • CROP Walk
  • Daily Bread
  • Faith in Action—West Austin
  • Foundation for the Homeless
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Manos de Cristo
  • Partners in Hope
  • Presbyterian Children's Home
  • The Samaritan Center
  • Street Youth Ministry
  • Texas Reach Out
  • Wooldridge Elementary Program
  • World Welcome
• International Missions
  • Cuba
  • Nicaragua
  • Senegal
  • Zambia
• Missions for Kids
  • Cards to the Homebound
  • VBS Missions
  • Club 56
• Missions for Teens
  • Middle School Trips
  • Summer Mission Days
• Our Missionaries
  • Nico and Pam Daams
  • Patricia Caroom
  • Terry Cole
  • Skip Crowe
  • Don Davis
  • Daniel and Karen Evans
  • Blake McDaniel
  • Bob Sleet
  • Allen and Julie Weeks
• Lay Ministries
  • Ministry Leader Toolkit
  • Spiritual Gifts Discovery Class
  • Ministry Match
• Congregational Care
  • Deacons
  • Hospital Visitation
  • Stephen Ministry
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry
  • Transportation Ministry
• Prayer Teams
  • Mission Trip Prayer Team
  • Weekly Mission Prayer Calendar
  • Missionary and Ministry Prayer Warrior
• New Covenant Fellowship

Christmas International House

The Christmas International House (CIH) is a Christian ministry designed to offer hospitality to international students during the Christmas holidays. This program gives students an opportunity to visit in an American home and become acquainted with different areas of the country and learn about the American culture and faith experience. Students and hosts develop friendships and learn how to exchange ideas and develop relationships with people who come from countries with different ideologies. Members of Covenant Presbyterian Church (Austin) and Central Presbyterian Church (Austin) work together in this program for the Austin area.

Events include a square dance party at Hal & Betty Myers’ ranch, trip to San Antonio, tour of Capitol, Bob Bullock History of Texas Museum and/or Blanton Museum of Art, LBJ Ranch, and time spent with the host families. There are generally 3-4 days of time with families, to build bonds of friendship.

When:
The Christmas International House seeks volunteers for a one- to two-week commitment the weeks before and after Christmas.

How can I help/participate?
You can help with the Christmas International House by

• opening up your house to an international student for one or two weeks.
  CIH asks that you provide a place for the student to sleep, breakfast, and transport the student to/from the meeting point each day. Hosts do not have to accompany students at events.
• serving as a transition host.
  When the students move from one host to the next, sometimes the dates don‘t sync up. In these cases, we need a very short-term transition host.
• planning and being the lead host for one week (make plans for where students will go, get drivers, and be there each day (optional if you can get someone else to host for that day).
• planning and being the lead host for one day (make plans for where students will go, get drivers, and lead the event).
• hosting a meal for the group of students during their stay.
• driving the students to the day’s activity or other locations as requested.
• helping recruit hosts.

Contact:
For more information about CIH, contact Maggie Tate at tate.maggie@gmail.com or 266-2519, or Kathi Thomas (Central Presbyterian) at Kathi@hasting.com or 301-2195.