Overview of Ministry

    • Open Doors ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church is first of all, a ministry of hospitality to international (exchange) students at Presbyterian College. Through hospitality and the building of relationships, we seek to develop doorways to share more details about the gospels.

Purpose and Rationale

      • Matthew (NKJV) 28: 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
      • In God’s providence, students from around the world are brought to us in Clinton through studies at Presbyterian College. To follow Jesus’ command in the great commission, we seek to use this opportunity to help introduce these students to the name of Christ through ministry of hospitality. Seeds planted are in the hands of God, but he has provided the soil for us to sow seeds.

Past Activities 

      • Welcome dinner with local home-cooked menu at beginning of each semester
      • Welcome basket of food items for when cafeteria is closed and a note of introduction
      • Transportation to Walmart for scheduled group shopping trips
      • Invitation to church-wide social events such as Lake Day, Church Picnic, Christmas Party, and other activities
      • Additional activities to provide cultural experience in SC (Charleston Day trip, Ice Skating, Horseback riding, Shopping in Greenville or Columbia, and more)
      • Personal contact with a “host family” for home visits (just a meal, for an afternoon, or overnight during breaks)
      • Support for additional transportation and break housing needs, as available – doctor appointments, airport runs, or in-home stays during breaks with congregation members (does not have to be with “host family”

How to Become Involved

    • Participate in welcome meals each semester
    • Provide goodies for welcome baskets or other goody bags during exams, midterms, etc.
    • Be a host family to spend at least a couple of hours per month with two students (together)
    • Availability to drive van for group outings; availability to drive individuals to appointments or travel hubs (airport, bus station, train station)
    • Plan an outing for a group of students (may set limitation on size – does not have to be available to “all” who might be on campus)