Here, at the Presbyterian Church of Novato, our membership strongly believes that God calls us to serve those in need within our local, domestic, and global community, sharing our God-given time, talents and treasures.
PCN is a 5 for 5 congregation. As a 5 for 5 congregation we participate in four church-wide special offerings (One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peacemaking and the Christmas Joy Offering) and our basic mission giving, where we annually commit 20% of our church budget to mission giving.
Over and above that, our families search out other service and support opportunities within Novato, the San Francisco Bay Area, and mission trips in our state, nation and internationally.
We invite all our members and church friends to join us in loving and caring for our neighbors through our mission work listed below. For more information on how you can serve and support these ministries, please contact Carolyn Garrens, grace624@comcast.net, (415) 897-1504
Youth Mission Trip
The PCN Youth Group seeks to find service opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally to participate in and live out their faith. One way this is done is through a formal annual week-long mission trip. Students who attend youth group, participate in fund raisers, and attend other activities are welcome to take the week- long trip to an area in need with a group of adult volunteers. Students learn about parts of the world that are socio-economically different than Marin county and grow in their faith through service. These youth mission trips have been a faith-growing experience for all who attend.
Hands-On-Mission Trip in Juarez, MX: Mtls Costs
This is a volunteer opportunity for our church family and friends to do hands-on-mission service by teaming with Mission Ministries International, in building a house for a needy Juarez family in Colonia Esperanza, Juarez.
PCN has been participating each fall since 2000. Included in building a 13'x 30' home, volunteers also participate in working with a local orphanage, participate in neighborhood prayer walks with host local church pastor, work with children in the Mission Ministries compound childcare center, as well as work and support the Mission Ministries medical and dental clinics. Volunteers cook and serve a dinner to the sponsoring host local church on the last evening after attending a worship service.
Trip involves 4 days, 2 travel, 2 working in the community. Lodging and meals are provided for volunteers. Airfare and lodging are arranged by PCN Juarez Team coordinators and Mission Ministries (travelers are responsible for travel expenses, with some scholarships offered).
Agape International Missions (AIM)
Thanks to our mission focused church PCN is making a difference in Cambodia. Through our financial support of AIM (Agape International Missions), a Christian non-profit, miraculous change has and is happening in the fight against sex trafficking. AIM’s four step holistic strategy which includes prevention (education), rescue (Swat teams), restoration (intensive PTSD therapy) and reintegration (job training and work programs), has caught the attention of organizations and governments around the world. Within these four components are more than a dozen outreach programs run by local Cambodians. AIM’s focus now includes other types of trafficking (labor, bride, baby, domestic slavery) and in partnership with the Cambodian government, their reach extends beyond their borders, making rescues in neighboring countries and even as far away as Somalia! In 2020 AIM expanded their efforts to include Belize, to combat the trafficking of children in the sex tourism trade. Learn more here: https://agapewebsite.org/belize/
Our support began with the introduction of AIM by Church of the Vine, a local Novato church that has made numerous mission trips to Svay Pak Cambodia to support AIM “on the ground”. For several years we purchased rice for 300 Cambodian families which our friends distributed, and purchased equipment for an AIM kick boxing gym. In 2018, PCN member Phil Dougherty joined them on a mission trip to Svay Pak and saw first-hand the desperate need, AIM’s programs in action and our support at work.
Domestic Relief Mission Trip in USA
In response to requests from disaster response organizations, funding is provided to support teams of volunteers to help recover from the impact of a man-made or natural disaster. PCN usually joins with other church groups to work with Hope City, based in Middletown, California, whose motto is “Building Homes Restoring Lives.” Known as a Faith Based-Humanitarian organization Hope Ciy uses a holistic approach that allows focus on the whole person. Physical, Emotional, Financial and Spiritual components are the key ingredients that allow for the greatest opportunity for healing, one without the other makes a recovery incomplete.
We are blessed to have supported Novato's youth through Boy Scouts of America. PCN continues to serve as the Charter organization for 3 groups including, Troop 200 since 1962, Pack 85 since 1968 and Pack 186 since 1972. Over the years, thousands of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts have enjoyed meeting at our facility for their weekly meetings, special events such as Court of Honors and other activities to support their programs. The Scouts participate as greeters in our annual Scout Sunday and present the Charters at our worship service. Scouts actively support the community's Easter Sunrise Service as parking attendants at Mt. Burdell and set up luminarias to light our pathway for Christmas Eve services. We enjoy a strong and thriving partnership with the Boy Scouts in our community.
The PCN Deacons have worked for many years with the Vitalant Blood Centers of the Pacific to host between 1-4 blood drives a year at our church to help encourage needed blood donations from our members, friends and community to help those needing life saving blood. The Deacons will publicize upcoming donation dates and invite you to consider participating in this live-saving opportunity.
Rev. Choon Lim and Yen Hee Lim
Choon Lim is the regional liaison for East Asia that covers Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea and North Korea. He provides support for partner churches, strengthens the work of mission personnel by providing guidance and pastoral care, and implements regional strategies. He has a special focus on North Korea, where people are hungering for food and for the good news of Jesus Christ. Rev. Choon is supported in this ministry by his wife, Yen Hee.
Click HERE for more information about Rev. Choon Lim and his wife Yen Hee.
Burkhard Paetzold
As regional liaison for Central Europe, Burkhard Paetzold focuses much of his ministry on work among the Roma people, one of Europe’s most marginalized groups. He facilitates and supports the efforts of mission personnel, church leaders, and community leaders who, while working alongside the Roma people, strive to fully include them in congregations and in society, improve their economic well-being, and develop leaders among them. Because of the surge of Syrian, Iraqi, and other refugees moving to Europe, Burkhard has also focused on relief and development work in collaboration with European churches.
Click HERE for more information about Burkhard Paetzold.
Mark Hare and Jenny Bent
Jenny and Mark are currently doing their missionary work in Costa Rica after working in the Dominican Republic. Their current missionary work is focused on promoting environmental sustainability with the Latin American Biblical University (UBL), an ecumenical seminary on the eastern edge of the San Jose municipality in Costa Rica.
Click HERE for more information about Mark Hare and Jenny Bent.
Sarah Henken
Sarah Henken is currently serving as the Peace Initiative Promoter and Pastoral Accompanier to the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (IPC). Sarah collaborates with the Peace Commission of the IPC in developing activities and educational materials for the promotion of peace and reconciliation in Colombia in local church communities and with populations served by ministries of the IPC in its three presbyteries.
Click HERE for more information about Sarah Henken.
Rev. Bob Rice and Kristi Rice
In May 2017, they began a new role and call in South Sudan. Bob serves as an instructor at Nile Theological College and teaches a broad range of courses in theology and biblical studies, with a specific focus in the academic disciplines of systematic theology, public theology, and ethics. Kristi serves as an economic and development advisor for the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. She works to strengthen the identification, development, and management of church development projects that support the financial goals of the church and improve the health and wellbeing of the communities. They live in Juba, the capital city.
Together they seek to empower and encourage the churches in South Sudan to be a light for Christ and a voice for peace in the midst of suffering and conflict, living out the gospel and ministering holistically to their communities.
Click HERE for more information about Rev. Bob Rice and Kristi Rice.
Gary and Marlene Van Brocklin
The Van Brocklins serve as regional liaisons for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) support of partner programs, relationships and activities and as implementers of the Presbyterian World Mission strategy. As regional liaisons for South Asia, Gary and Marlene connect with mission partners in South Asia to work on issues involving schools, poverty, evangelism, clinics and congregations.
Click HERE or more information about Gary and Marlene Van Brocklin.
Rev. Cathy Chang and Juan Lopez
From their home base in the Philippines, Cathy Chang and Juan Lopez are helping global partners address issues of migration and human trafficking. Cathy and Juan work with churches and non-governmental organizations in Asia to help coordinate efforts to end the scourge of modern-day slavery. They also resource various programs of the Presbyterian Mission Agency and US congregations concerned about the issue.
Click HERE for more information about Rev. Cathy Chang and Juan Lopez.
Rev. Ryan and Alethia White
Ryan and Alethia White work with Iranian refugees in partnership with the Iranian Presbyterian Church in Berlin. They provide pastoral care and collaborate with a number of Christian organizations and churches that serve Iranian refugees.
Click HERE for more information about Rev. Ryan and Alethia White.
Jeff Pinar of M25MI presenting donated laptop computers to grateful students residing in an orphanage at Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
Jeff Pinar
Becca Lee
A year ago I felt called to move to Durham, North Carolina to join a church plant called the 6:8 Church, started by a family I was introduced to by one of my college professors. The mission is really simple and comes directly from Micah 6:8 “For what does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” We are a community that is really focused on lifting up marginalized members of the surrounding community like single moms, families in public housing and other more urban populations. We seek to be involved in community activism and development, and to understand ways we can ultimately seek justice for the flourishing of our church and community members. Since I came in as one of the first staff members of a new church I really have been able to discern and grow in where I really feel the Lord placing me. I didn’t expect this to be a role of mine coming in, but God has really led me into developing relationships with single moms and ultimately walking with them on that path, whether that means helping them find services, give a listening ear, and of course offering childcare help! It has really been the greatest and most unexpected thing God has done. My second focus has been starting and developing a young adults ministry! Especially in this time where that population can feel very alone I have been hosting outdoor/precautionary events to foster deeper connections between young adults at our church and in the community. Lastly, I have been able to grow a lot in the art of worship leading and learning what it means to worship God and be open to his movement. I am so thankful for PCN and the financial and spiritual support they have given me since moving for this crazy adventure! I have surely learned a lot and very thankful for all God is doing here in Durham, North Carolina.