Prayer Leads to Community Action that Makes a Difference

The Paracletes of the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, PA (Donegal Presbytery) take their name from the Greek word for counselor — Parakeltos.

“It means ‘one who walks along side,’ and that’s what we do,” explains Beth Lichty,

who attends First Presbyterian Church and who directs the Alternative Community Intervention (ACI) program through the community’s Council on Drug and Alcohol

Abuse Center.

In 1995, Lichty presented a six-week colloquium, called “Violence in Our City and

What Can a Downtown Church Do?” at First Presbyterian. In response to the seminar,

a caring group of church members began meeting once a month to pray for God’s direction in reaching out to the youth of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They call themselves Paracletes.

“Since ACI is a non-profit organization, I cannot bring religion into the workplace,”

said Lichty. “But through the Paracletes, we are sharing God in ways that only He

can lead us.”

Lichty explains that some eight years later, the Paracletes continue as monthly prayer warriors, but they also have volunteered for specific tasks and provide financial support.

Through ACI, Paracletes and other volunteers from the church and the community work closely with children who have been identified by the school district as having a high probability of risky behavior. In the summer, the youth attend an 8-day residential camp at a state park, and a summer program, Connections, that exposes children to places and interests different from their usual surroundings.

“We work with these kids year round,” she said.

Five years ago, First Presbyterian Church partnered with ACI to run an after-school program, called Future Generations. Paracletes pick up 30 youth at six different schools at the end of the school day and drive them to the church.

“After school, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., is a very high risk time for children to get in trouble,” Lichtey said. “Many kids are latch-key and have no supervision at that time

of the day.”

For three hours, children have time to work off their energy with an entire hour devoted to play and snack. Then the group spends an hour in experiential educational opportunities — community service projects, conflict resolution activities, etc. Finally, volunteer tutors from the church, local colleges and the community come to the
church to tutor the children.

“We are very excited about the impact the tutoring has made. For two years the program has enjoyed seeing all of our students excelling and moving ahead in school, with no drop outs,” exclaimed Lichtey.

At 6:00 p.m., the faithful Paracletes return to take the children directly to their homes.

“The key to making this program work is the one-on-one relationships that these people have built with the children,” she said. Lichtey points out that when relationships are built, children gain a sense of trust and security, attitudes and behavior change and

kids build self-esteem.

“As children become healthier, then their families become healthier,” said Lichtey.

“It has a real snowball effect.”

The partnership of the church with a non-profit organization has provided many opportunities for God’s love to be felt through the dedication and commitment of the volunteers and the use of the church building.

“The relationship is fabulous!” she adds. But, Lichtey is quick to point out that, “by no means should this program stay at First Presbyterian Church. God is working and others should snap up the idea and run with it.”

The Future Generations, Connections, and Paracletes programs of the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, PA were honored as Andrew C. Murray Peacemaking Award winners. They were among several groups and individuals making tremendous strides for the cause of peace in the Synod of the Trinity and throughout the world.

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