Urban Ministry at North Avenue

Human Trafficking

North Avenue Presbyterian Church is a founding church of StreetGRACE.  StreetGRACE is Street GRACE is a non-denominational alliance of churches, community partners, and volunteers dedicated to supporting, enlarging, and allying with those individuals and organizations working toward eliminating the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). Street GRACE mobilizes the resources within the community — financial, human and material — toward those organizations and individuals who have demonstrated effectiveness in battling CSEC in the areas of advocacy, restoration and prevention.

North Avenue's History with StreetGRACE

In 2000, Fulton County Chief Juvenile Court Judge Nina Hickson was appalled as she presided over the 1,000th case of child prostitution that had come before her. She considered this situation an epidemic of tragic proportions.

And she was right.  This issue was brought to the attention of Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, who became a champion in the fight against this horrible injustice.  In 2005, she commissioned a report known as “Hidden in Plain View,” which revealed to a broader audience the pervasiveness of commercial sexual exploitation of children in Atlanta.  The report mentioned a few intersections that at the time were hotspots for this kind of activity.  One of these hot spots was the corner of Peachtree Street and North Avenue—the very intersection at which North Avenue Presbyterian Church (NAPC) sits.

Dr. Scott Weimer, NAPC’s senior pastor, was shocked. Together with Rev. Dr. James Milner, senior pastor of Chapel of Christian Love Baptist Church and chairperson of the Mayor’s Faith-Based Roundtable, Dr. Weimer co-hosted two faith summits (March 2007 and January 2008). With the support of the Regional Council of Churches, these summits were organized in response to Mayor Shirley Franklin’s appeal to the faith community to join with her in the fight to end the sexual exploitation of children.

Following the faith summits, eight churches—12 Stone Church, Destiny Metropolitan Church, Dogwood Church, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Grace Fellowship Church, North Avenue Presbyterian Church, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, and Perimeter Church—felt the call to action and developed a strategic initiative that resulted in the formation of StreetGRACE.  StreetGRACE is a network of churches committed to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children.  In 2008, Cheryl Deluca-Johnson was hired as the organization’s director.

Find out more about StreetGRACE | Volunteer with StreetGRACE

Outreach to Families

North Avenue has a long history of providing much needed resources for families in need in our community.  Between helping to start ministries like the Atlanta Children’s Shelter and long time volunteer and resource support for the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children, NAPC has been involved in showing God’s love to families in need.  North Avenue also partners with organizations like My Sister’s House of the Atlanta Union Mission, City of Refuge and Midtown Assistance Center to help deliver desperately needed resources and support.  Each of the organizations welcome North Avenue volunteers with open arms.

Check out our ministry partners:

Atlanta Children's Shelter | Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children
Atlanta Union Mission | Midtown Assistance Center | City of Refuge

Volunteer to work with women & children experiencing homelessness by contacting Phil Cobb at phil@napc.org.

Outreach to Men

The location of North Avenue Presbyterian has established it as one of the leading congregations in Metro-Atlanta for assisting men seeking to escape homelessness.  NAPC seeks to give encouragement, spiritual direction and build relationships through a weekly worship service (The Cup at 1 p.m.) and Bible Study (Wednesday evenings at 5:20 p.m.).  North Avenue also partners with Clifton Sanctuary Ministries, Atlanta Union Mission, The Gateway Center, Crossroads Community Ministries and The Georgia Law Center for the Homeless to help provide needed resources and case management for men in crisis.  Be it recovery from addiction, job search help, or criminal record assistance, NAPC attempts to reach out to those in need with the Gospel message and relevant assistance. 

Check out our ministry partners:

Clifton Sanctuary Ministries | Atlanta Union Mission
Crossroads | Gateway Center | The Georgia Law Center for the Homeless

Volunteer to work with men experiencing homelessness by contacting Phil Cobb at phil@napc.org..

Refugees

North Avenue Presbyterian is a congregation of over 30 different nationalities.  With such a diverse body we have felt a call towards those seeking refuge in the United States.  In partnership with World Relief, we seek to be a compassionate vehicle for God’s love to those seeking to get settled into a their new surroundings.

Every year thousands of refugees - victims of war and persecution - replant their lives in the United States. NAPC Ministry Partner World Relief resettles more than 800 refugees every year in Atlanta alone. Ministering to refugees allows us to come alongside America's newcomers, helping them adjust to the culture, find employment, learn English, take steps towards citizenship, and build a future for themselves and their children. Volunteering with refugees can take on several forms from airport pick-ups, apartment set-up, to adopting a family to journey with for three months at a time. Ministry to refugees is an amazing way to experience new cultures and broaden your world-view without every leaving your own backyard.

Volunteer to work with refugees by contacting Phil Cobb at phil@napc.org..

Outreach to Seniors

We believe their is a Biblical mandate to care for widows.  It’s in this spirit that North Avenue helped birth a ministry called Resource Service Ministries that cares for low income widows in Metro Atlanta.  This ministry helps with home repairs and weatherization for the widows homes, while providing opportunities for fellowship, worship and prayer for these women once a month.  There are many different ways to serve with this group, but all of them result in a true blessing.

Volunteer to work with elderly in Atlanta by contacting Phil Cobb at phil@napc.org..