First Presbyterian Church will celebrate 20 years of mission in El Salvador during its worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 220 N. Second Ave. E. in Newton.
In 1995, the church in Newton was the first in the Presbytery of Des Moines to send a delegation to study the needs of the people living around Berlin, El Salvador. El Salvador had recently suffered a long civil war and the needs were many.
The first several years the church organized medical delegations, later partnering with Sacred Heart Catholic Church which continues the medical delegations to this day. The last several years First Presbyterian has been partnered with the village of Muñoces.
The church has worked with the village to help provide clean water and water storage tanks, improved crop yield, safe and improved latrines, scholarships for young people to go to high school, as well as many smaller projects.
Former First Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Bill Calhoun will be a special guest. Additional guests include others who have participated in the nearly 20 delegations sent by the church through the years.
A light lunch and a fiesta will follow worship. All are invited.