Village Protestant Church at Silver Spring, MD, Retirement Community Has Worldwide Impact; Members' Giving for Missions/Outreach Totals $300,000

SILVER SPRING, MD (April 20, 2011) – Members of the Village Protestant Church at Riderwood retirement community have donated nearly $300,000 for missions and outreach in the past four years, including more than $6,400 donated this month for earthquake/tsunami humanitarian relief in Japan. This financial contribution was forwarded to Samaritan’s Purse, headquartered in North Carolina, which has people already on the ground in Japan to render assistance.

Members of the Village Protestant Church at Riderwood approached their pastor to see if a special offering could be held to help the victims of the disaster in Japan, according to Beth Gordon, The church’s treasurer. “The response was overwhelming,” said Gordon, who moved to Riderwood five years ago from Wheaton and who still works as a part-time financial advisor. “Checks kept coming in three weeks after the offering was held.”

Similar support has been given to the following disaster relief efforts: Haiti earthquake in 2010, Katrina hurricane in 2005 and Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004.

In addition to responding to disasters, the Village Protestant Church at Riderwood has a substantial budget for missions and outreach. In 2010 over $51,900 was given to organizations such as Physicians for Peace, SOME (So Others May Eat), Fisher House, Salem Children’s Trust and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

Total giving for missions and outreach in the past four years have amounted to an average of over $69,400 each year from this fellowship with 273 generous members of Village Protestant Church at Riderwood representing 10 Protestant denominations.

Barbara Shanks, a member of the church council, said the generosity of members over the years has made a positive impact on the lives of millions of people in need of help. “I have always been appreciative by the commitment of our church members to help people,” said Shanks, a former administrative aide to the Chancellor of the University of Maryland who moved to Riderwood from Beltsville as one of the retirement community’s first residents 11 years ago. “Compassion is ageless.”

The Village Protestant Church at Riderwood was recognized in 2010 by the IRS as a tax-exempt non-profit entity. It is the successor to the Riderwood Village Church, which first started meeting in the Potomac Café in 2000 shepherded by a small but enthusiastic and dedicated group of early residents, many of whom are still involved with the church.

In 2004 the congregation called the current Pastor, Louis Woods, and holds worship services in the Riderwood Chapel each Sunday at 11 am. In addition to its members, over 200 Riderwood residents attend from time to time. Sunday services are also telecast live on Riderwood closed circuit TV channels 954/955.

Visitors are always welcome at the church (Tel: 301-572-8334).

About Riderwood:
Riderwood, which has nearly 3,000 residents, is the nation's largest continuing care retirement community. It is located on 120 acres that stretch across Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland. It is managed by Erickson Living.

Mel Tansill
Public Affairs Manager
Riderwood
3140 Gracefield Road
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Cell: 410-241-7614
Email: Mel.Tansill@Erickson.com

This release was published on openPR.