Serve locally

Chatt Foundation

The Mission of Chatt Foundation is to meet the most basic needs of the hungry, homeless and vulnerable people in our community while offering a clear path to self-sufficiency.  For more information, please visit www.homelesschattanooga.org or email Shad Guinn

Good News Club at Orchard Knob Elementary

Children from the neighborhoods in the Orchard Knob Elementary School (OKES) school zone need to hear The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many of them will benefit from the consistent (week after week) presence of dedicated Christian adults (and possibly teens who participate) as role models.  We have a need to be sharing the Gospel and investing our lives in those around us.  "The Good News Club" is a national initiative to bring the Gospel to children.
To learn more visit www.cefonline.com or email Nancy Hill

Kids Hope USA

Kids Hope is a nationwide program that pairs one church with one school, and one mentor with one child. Our Mentors spend one hour each week during the school year reading & talking with, playing, and listening to a child at school. By helping children feel loved and valued, these safe relationships support their ability to learn, grow, and thrive. We believe and pray that by demonstrating hope, faith and grace to each student in our program, the Lord will bless Orchard Knob Elementary School and our community. The goal of this program is to provide a consistent adult presence for students who could benefit from extra support and care. The hour spent together each week offers a relationship of encouragement, structure, and friendship to children living in Orchard Knob, a neighborhood that remains on the socioeconomic margins of Chattanooga. To learn more about this opportunity to serve visit www.kidshopeusa.org or contact Cheri Partain

Vision of Mercy

Vision of Mercy provides services to the homeless community in the greater area of Chattanooga, TN.  Our Mission is to restore hope and dignity to those who are altered by conflict to survive.  Our vision is to assist and improve the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness.  We serve individuals who are displaced from their families, homes, and society while assisting them with everyday essential needs such as food, tents, blankets, raincoats, shelter, and medication.  For more information please visit www.visionofmercy.com or email Shad Guinn

Samaritan's Road: Salvation Army Ministry

Join us as we meet on Fridays at 1st Pres. for prayer at 9:00 am and then drive as a group to the Salvation Army on McCallie Ave.  We provide music, a devotion, and breakfast for approximately 30 individuals. Salvation Army's Case workers also send screen referrals for consideration for financial assistance. This ministry includes sharing The Good News of Jesus Christ, encouragement, friendship, counseling, and prayer. For more information contact Hugh Huffaker

Prison Ministry

First Presbyterian Church has been the catalyst in our community to raise and train several hundred mentors for prisoners incarcerated at Walker State Prison, the first and only "Faith and Character Based" prison in the state of Georgia. We continue to recruit and train mentors for Walker State and for other correctional facilities in our area. We offer the key tools for an all-inclusive ministry including evangelism, discipleship, and reintegration support. For more information about this opportunity to serve, email Mark Casson at 

Women's Prison Ministry

Women at First Presbyterian have the opportunity to serve as mentors at The Next Door, a women's halfway house in Chattanooga. Mentors receive training both through Metanoia and The Next Door before being introduced to their mentees. While the hallmark of the First Presbyterian Women's prison ministry is one-on-one Bible and prayer based mentoring, The Next Door offers us additional service opportunities. To learn more about this opportunity to serve email Leslie Cory at 

Prisoner Correspondence Ministry

Members of First Presbyterian can also work with prisoners through Metanoia's Bible correspondence courses. Metanoia Bible studies offer Bible students of all levels the opportunity to study the Bible systematically. Volunteers receive all the information they need to grade their students' work accurately, and all correspondence from prisoners to graders passes through Metanoia's office address (not through the graders' home addresses). If you are interested in becoming a correspondence discipler, click here

Isaiah 117 House

Isaiah 117 House at Chambliss Center for Children provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement in Hamilton County. When children are removed from their homes out of concern for their welfare, they are usually brought to the Department of Children's Services Offices to await placement with a foster family. This wait can be several hours to nearly a full day. These children often have nothing with them and are scared, lonely, hungry, and often in dirty clothing. The Isaiah 117 House at Chambliss Center for Children seeks to provide a comforting home in Hamilton County where these children instead can be brought to wait-a place that is safe with friendly and loving volunteers who provide them clean clothes, smiles, toys, and snuggly blankets. This space will allow children to receive the comfort and care they need while DCS staff are able to the necessary paperwork and identify a good foster placement. This is a house built. by the community, with love, for its children. We would love for you to walk the journey with us. For more information click HERE or email Shad Guinn