Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sharon holds an annual missionary program, but it's often done at the church.

That program wasn't fulfilling enough to some church members, who felt that true mission work should be done beyond the borders of the church.

"It's possible that we're a little too inwardly focused," said church member Jeff Greene. "We're trying to respond to that."

A mission trip in July to Mexico opened the eyes of many church members to what mission work can be like, but they felt they could do mission work closer to home.

Covenant already had an ongoing relationship with Southwest Gardens Economic Development Corp., Farrell, from activities such as volunteering at the Ark House homeless shelter for women and children and restoring a greenhouse, so it was natural to partner with the agency for more mission work, said Dr. Kimberley Richards, co-executive director of the agency.

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