Hands of Christ

About the Hands of Christ^SM

The six "Great Ends of the church" from the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are: The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind The shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the children of God The maintenance of divine worship The preservation of the truth The promotion of social righteousness The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world We seek to honor these through our work, worship, and fellowship. There perhaps is no greater satisfaction than seeing the beaming smile of a child with the anticipation of the adventure of school. During the first three weeks of each August since 2003, volunteers of Charleston area Presbyterian churches distributed school uniforms and school supplies to school children in grades K-8 in need. The program is modeled after Manos de Cristo of Austin, Texas. The partnership was started in 2002 by the Zion-Olivet and Westminster Presbyterian Churches, when travelers to Austin spent three days observing and working with their Back-To-School Program. This trip was supported by a bequest from the estate of Blanche Kilpatrick. With the help of a Thank Offering grant from the Presbyterian Women, the first distribution was held in Charleston in the Summer of 2003 with both congregations hosting distribution days. First (Scots) Presbyterian joined for the 2004 distribution. In 2006, we expanded to our third and fourth distribution sites on Johns and Edisto Islands. We also become incorporated in 2006 and received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. In 2007 we expanded to two additional sites, Moncks Corner/Berkeley County (First Presbyterian Church) and East Cooper (Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church). In 2008 we added a distribution site in North Charleston.  In 2009 we added James Island as a distribution site. Awards Church and Society Unit of Charleston Atlantic Presbytery  Racial Sensitivity Award (2004 and 2006) School of Education of the College of Charleston (2004) Charleston County School District (2005, 2007, and 2008) Elinor Curry Award for Outreach and Social Concern (2008) Given by Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, this award is named for PSCE alumna Elinor Curry (1905-1995) who was a Richmond, VA pioneer in race relations and community service. Criteria include having a high level of congregational support, being intergenerational in character of program participants, being a model for meeting the needs of the church's neighborhood, stimluating an ongoing ministry by and for those it is designed to reach, and being a program that focuses on the underlying cause of injustice or need and address the call of the church to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God." Doctor of Divinity (2009) Hands of Christ was honored by the faculty and trustees of Presbyterina College when they awarded a Doctor of Divinity to  Founder Tammy Brown, Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church at their May 2009 commencement exercises.  She accepted the honor on behalf of the many volunteers who have served The Hands of Christ: "I accept this on behalf of the numerous Presbyterians who dared to cross racial, cultural, socio-economic, and even theological lines to put on the skin of God and to bring the kingdom of God into their midst.”

MEMBER CHURCHES PC(USA)

Hands of Christ^SM Board of Directors

Rev. Dr. Tammy Brown, Executive Director, Westminster

Rev. Sidney Davis,  Zion-Olivet

Dr. James Deavor, Chair, Westminster

Mr. James Frye, Westminster

Ms. Catherine Byrd, First (Scots)

Mr. Jack Heidenreich, Treasurer, Sunrise

Dr. Danny Massie, First (Scots)

Mrs. Charlotte Walker, Westminster

Jane Hassell, Director Emerita