PR: Faith-Based Community Development

TARENTUM, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — A new community development project was announced today by Faith Community Partners, a community and faith based organization. Started by members of Central Presbyterian Church, FCP will be renovating a 10,500 square foot building to house a Wi-Fi café, community laundry venture and several organizations that serve families, veterans and the elderly.Known as The Depot, this facility located at 305 Fifth Avenue will provide an oasis of hope near where the train depot once stood.

“High unemployment, poverty and vacant properties plague the community but our organization will offer programs that provide hope and opportunity for residents”, according to Dave Rankin, founder and Executive Director of Faith Community Partners. “We will be a bridge between those in need and the services that can help them”, Rankin continued.In a document released by Rankin, FCP plans to serve at least 250 residents each year, provide a minimum of 1,000 volunteer hours and demonstrate that a financially sustainable social enterprise can encourage other community investment.

“FCP will not only bring direct benefits to Tarentum, but it will be positive for the whole area, including Brackenridge and Natrona.  Collaboration of effort is the key part of FCP strategy,” remarked Tarentum Borough Council President Eric Carter.

FCP plans to invest over $1 million in The Depot. Search is currently underway to identify a developer/contractor.When completed, The Depot will serve as a central clearinghouse for education and training programs, computer use and Internet access, a warming kitchen, personalized referral services, and small social functions. Community-oriented services such as parenting classes and tax preparation will also be offered.

According to Rev. Robert Dayton the Central Presbyterian Session endorsed, with enthusiasm, the FCP mission & plans. “Our congregation believes that FCP will show the power of churches as agents for change in distressed communities.”

“I am excited about the potential that The Depot (and Faith Community Partners) has for the community of Tarentum”, remarked Rev. Brian Wallace, Associate Pastor from Pittsburgh Presbytery.  “At its core Central Presbyterian Church is showing a desire to impact its local community for good through its ministry and mission, and that is when the church is at its very best,” he continued.

“Central Presbyterian is committed to innovative ways to reach people and FCP is a new vision for the church’s future” Pastor Dayton remarked.

The Central Presbyterian Church was founded in April 1888 as the Tarentum Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Rev. James Irwin Means, pastor of the Pleasant Unity Presbyterian Church in West Deer. The congregation was originally part of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, an offshoot movement of the Presbyterian denomination that began in Tennessee and Kentucky during the second Great Awakening.

As most Cumberland congregations in the north began rejoining the mainline Presbyterian denomination in the early 20th century, so, too, did the Tarentum Cumberland Church. It merged with the mainline denomination in 1906 and was renamed Central Presbyterian Church.

“The philosophy and principles of FCP are rooted in the historical pinning’s of our church”, said Rankin. “They stress the development of self-reliance skills within a nurturing environment”, Rankin continued.
“Building self-reliance has a transformative affect on people by building confidence in their own abilities, creating a strong sense of purpose and having direction in their lives”, Rankin summarized.

FCP literature states that all services provided by FCP are based on Christian values of love, respect, personal worth, and human dignity.  FCP puts its Christian faith into action.

“People of all faiths will be welcomed to benefit from FCP services & ventures”, said Rankin.