Mission Support

The "mission" of a church, like that of an individual, can be defined as the special purpose for which it appears to be destined.

At First Reformed, we see our mission as equipping ourselves to serve Christ and share the Good News by comforting the suffering and working for justice. Our members fulfill this mission by:

• Serving in and contributing to appropriate activities and programs of our local community and those of certain regional, national and international groups


• Partnering in the mission of the RCA denomination


• Directly supporting, at least in part, the work of specific missionaries

A separate Mission Offering, designated for one or more of these efforts, is collected during one of the Sunday services each month. These funds are above and beyond the individual monetary giving of our members to charities of their own choice. In addition, many members volunteer their time and effort to assist these and other charitable organizations.

Local Missions:

• The Dorcas Shop -- A thrift store operated by Cary's Christian Community In Action. Donations of clothing, furniture, and many other items, as well as monetary donations, are used to help the needy in Cary and our surrounding communities. Volunteer opportunities exist to sort, prepare and arrange the items.


• The Carying Place -- A program sponsored by the Christian Community in Action and the Cary Area Ministerial Association to help those who are on the verge of becoming homeless.


• Crop Walk, Cary -- Volunteers collect pledges from friends, neighbors, co-workers and family, then walk a defined, 10 km. (6.2 mi.) route through various parts of Cary, to help wipe out hunger both here and around the world. Other volunteers help organize and run the event, usually held in October.


• Meals on Wheels - Wake County -- Program for delivering warm meals to shut-ins in the local Cary area. First Reformed is responsible for the deliveries on the 4th Friday each month. Both drivers and deliverers are needed. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more and volunteering for this heartwarming activity.


• American Red Cross Triangle Chapter - Monetary donations are made to the local chapter of this well-known organization from time to time.


• The Food Bank -- Throughout each month, announcements are made as to what items are needed at the local foodbank. Church members place canned or boxed food items, paper products, and a host of other things into a large, labeled box in the church narthex for eventual distribution through the Food Bank. Volunteers transport the items to the Food Bank once a month or so. From time to time, volunteers also participate in a variety of jobs at the Food Bank itself.

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Regional, National and International:

• Reins from Above -- This organization, located in Kenly, NC, Provides horseback riding for disabled and mentally-challenged children.


• La Iglesia Trinidad -- A Reformed, Hispanic congregation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.


• American Cancer Society -- Monetary donations are made to this well-known national organization from time to time.


• Compassion International This organization assists children around the world to deal with spritual, economic and social problems, enabling them to become responsible Christian adults.


• Wycliffe Bible Translators Since 1942, Wycliffe has had a vision of making the Bible accessible to all people in the language their heart understands best. More than 700 translations have been completed, but some 2100 remain as of 2012.

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Specific Missionaries:

• A missionary is a person who is sent out by their church to help people, as well as preach the gospel and possibly make converts, in a foreign country. First Reformed directly supports RCA missionaries in Eastern Europe, through monetary gifts, encouragement and prayer.

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RCA Missions:

• Our denomination, the Reformed Church of America supports various missions in locations around the world. This includes both Missionary & Outreach work as well as supporting relief efforts for unforeseen disasters (e.g. Tsunamis, Flood / Earthquake relief in Asia, assistance during the flooding in New Orleans, etc.).


• Through the RCA, the First Reformed Church of Cary annually sponsors missionaries in Eastern Europe, an Hispanic Congregation in the Midwest USA, disaster relief throughout the world, RCA colleges (Central College, Northwestern College, Hope College), and both of the RCA Theological Seminaries (New Brunswick Theological Seminary & Western Theological Seminary).

For more information about RCA missions, look here.

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