Missions and Outreach

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. 

I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. 

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  

I was naked, and you gave me clothing. 

I was sick, and you cared for me. 

I was in prison, and you visited me.’'

'I tell you the truth, 

when you did it to one of the least of these

my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

Matthew 25:35-36, 40


Our outreach is a direct response to the good news of Jesus and a faithful expression of what it means to be Christ’s disciples in this time and place. 


Jesus calls us to serve with and for “the least of these” — not as a group to be pitied, but as people who are deeply loved by Jesus. 


We embrace these three focuses of the PCUSA Matthew 25 initiative: 


Build congregational vitality by challenging our congregation to deepen and energize our faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with our community. 


Dismantling structural racism as we stand against, speak against and work against racism based on our biblical understanding of who God is and what God intends for humanity.


Eradicating systemic poverty by acting on our belief that God calls us to work to end poverty and to create communities of well-being. 


Jesus Christ taught us to care for the vulnerable, to be a good neighbor and to provide food to the hungry. 


We’re also focusing on a related issue of gender justice by working against gender-based discrimination in our community as well as globally.


Please browse our missions outreach efforts and you’ll see how we’re already addressing these Matthew 25 focuses!  

mission spotlight

One Parish | One Prisoner

THERE ARE ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MEN AND WOMEN IN WASHINGTON STATE PRISONS AS THERE ARE CHURCHES.


What if every church became a local reentry team—a resurrection community—walking alongside just one neighbor leaving the tombs of incarceration? 


Here at East Woods, our OPOP Team is building a trusting relationship with our incarcerated friend.  Eventually the congregation will be introduced to this friend and join the circle of care in appropriate ways. 


Thank you for covering this ministry with prayer!  


And because this is a congregational ministry we'd like to invite you to take a survey as we begin. It takes only 5 minutes. 


We believe in transformation. Not just for those who've been locked up, but for faith communities as well. 


Along with our incarcerated participants, we’re taking a "mugshot" of who our congregation is right now, before we begin One Parish One Prisoner — answering these questions collectively, anonymously. 


After our two-year journey, we’ll take the survey again to help reflect on our learning and transformation. 


More information to come!

CEDEPCA

CEDEPCA is a Christian non-profit based in Guatemala City, serving Central America's communities and churches.  The goal is to form thoughtful, compassionate disciples of Jesus Christ and offer tools to eradicate violence and injustice, especially violence toward women and children.


East Woods partners with CEDEPCA in a variety of ways as our international missions outreach. Learn more.

Family Promise

By partnering with this national organization, we're helping parents with children move from homelessness into permanent housing. 


East Woods has an opportunity to host families in our local community through Family Promise of Clark County several times during the year. 

Learn more

Friends of the Carpenter

Friends of the Carpenter is a local faith-based day shelter that provides safety, structure and a sense of purpose for vulnerable people in our community. Learn more.

Unity in the community

East Woods partners with Unity Family Church to make cross cultural connections and outreach in our community together as the hands and feet of Jesus – we believe we are better together! 

Learn more.