Our Partnerships

When the principal of Wilson, Norris Perez, shared with the Mission Team of First, Santa Ana that their greatest need was for books, the Team came up with a simple idea. “Let’s ask church members to donate their ‘lightly unused books’ to the school.”

Betty Thompson, an elder at the church, liked the idea and ran with it. Having visited many of our churches and been active in Los Ranchos, she knows what’s going on and whom to tell. “I talked to someone at Laguna who got her church involved and then she knew the head of a local school in her neighborhood who had extra books,” explains Betty, “and then I called my daughter who knew someone at . . .”

Before long over 3,500 books had been donated to Wilson, with five churches and two schools participating. The groundswell had grown into a tidal wave, helping to tip over the illiteracy of a community. Principal Norris praises their efforts, “You don’t know what this means to us. Along with the kids, their parents will start reading. You’re impacting generations.”

Betty knows the power of networking, how word of mouth can spread a good idea. “You can’t do ministry unless you have a relationship,” she shares. “We’re a presbytery partnering with the community.”

No “drop-in” (short-term) volunteer, Betty will continue to use her connections to benefit the underprivileged children of Santa Ana. “God is here,” she adds. “This is where the action is.”