Give Back the Blessing

Give Back the Blessing: A History

Beginning in 2014, First Pres established Give Back the Blessing as an annual Palm Sunday offering, giving new expression to the long-standing tradition formerly known as "One Great Hour of Sharing." While the name changed, the purpose remained the same: to return to our mission partners the many blessings we have received. 

Every year, we invite our congregation to participate in one of church's core values by Deploying Generosity to local and global partners. The Mission Engagement Team selects projects that are sustainable, tangible needs with a lasting impact in relation to long term goals, and ones that will benefit a large number of people. 

First Pres is honored to support and partner with so many ministries for over a decade. 


“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’” 2 Corinthians 9:8–15 

2026 Campaign

EQUIPPING THE SAINTS: TOTAL RAISED = $79,395.00

LOCAL: CROSSFIRE MINISTRIES

$60,000 will go to help Crossfire Ministries purchase a new refrigerated van, which will allow them to strengthen their fleet of vehicles so they can continue getting fresh, safe food to those who need it most. 


GLOBAL: EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF CAIRO

We sent $19,395 to the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo for student scholarships. Rev. Dr. Samuel Rozfy, President of ETSC wrote, "We are truly grateful for the generous gift. Your commitment to blessing our seminary and investing in the lives of our students is deeply moving, and we find it difficult to fully express our appreciation. We humbly request your prayers for our entire seminary family. It is a privilege to partner with you in our shared mission of advancing God’s kingdom worldwide."

Past GBTB Recipients

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2025 / AFFORDABLE HOUSING
LOCAL: Wendy's Village (We Fortify)
First Pres joined the collaboration between Harrison School District 2 and We Fortify to provide affordable housing for our city’s public educators. 
// Amount Raised = $79,868.36 
// Status: We Fortify is “Shovel Ready,” with construction starting by the end of 2026. 
You can read more about We Fortify and Wendy's Village on their website: https://wefortify.org/
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2025 / AFFORDABLE HOUSING
GLOBAL: Go Ministries @ HEC / Cairo, Egypt
We supported Go Ministries, the Missions arm of Heliopolis Evangelical Church in Cairo to make home repairs for numerous families in villages where they are doing outreach and church planting. 
// Amount Raised = $19,970.35
// Status: The Go Ministries team installed windows, doors and roofs, gifted furniture and appliances, and made much-needed plumbing updates for numerous families. 
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2024 / FOOD INSECURITY
LOCAL: Solid Rock Community Development Corp
SRCD has worked to address food insecurity in our city by changing the approach from food centers to food production. With the support of the city, First Pres, and many other donors, SRCD developed a plan to grow food year-round through an AquaPod Farm in Southeast Colorado Springs
// Status: The farm was up and running in 2025. Currently accepting volunteers for harvest days and seeding days. See our Service Opportunities page for more details. 
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2024 / FOOD INSECURITY
LOCAL: Sierra High School (District 2)
First Pres allocated funds to help Sierra High School renovate a space for the school’s food pantry, which was established to address the pressing needs for nutritional support among their students. 
// Status: The food pantry operates at SHS on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. Donations to the pantry are accepted through their Amazon Wish List.
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2024 / FOOD INSECURITY
GLOBAL: Sudanese Displaced Children's Learning Center / Cairo, Egypt
The SDCLC offers a nourishing breakfast to the over 300 children who are refugees in Cairo. Due to increasing food prices, our partners at SDCLC shared this growing need for a vital part of the ministry. 
// Status: First Pres’ donation was able to help alleviate the cost of these daily meals for several months.  
Find out more about this ministry at sdclc.org.
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2023 / BUILDING ON RESOURCES
LOCAL: Springs Rescue Mission
The 4U Motel Renovation project converted rooms into 12 transitional-housing units. The building, now known as “The Studios” is located 1 block from Springs Rescue Mission’s main shelter. 
// Status: The Studios opened in September of 2024.
Go here to read about the multi-faceted ministries of Springs Rescue Mission. 
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2023 / BUILDING ON RESOURCES
LOCAL: Catholic Charities of Central Colorado 
Catholic Charities renovated the Helen Hunt Campus at the Family Connections Center to create 24 transitional apartments for Colorado Springs families. 
// Status: Ribbon cutting occurred in August of 2025.
You can read more about the Helen Hunt campus at charitiescc.org.
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2023 / BUILDING ON RESOURCES
GLOBAL: Socorro Ministries / San Pablo, San Marcos Guatemala
The funds raised by First Pres assisted our partners at the Morales family’s Socorro ministry expand their water purification system, multiplying access to clean water in the community of San Pablo, San Marcos. 
// Status: Rio de Vida continues to provide clean water at a discounted price to individuals and families in San Pablo, San Marcos.
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2022 / AT-RISK YOUTH
LOCAL: Pikes Peak Academy
Our support allowed PPA to continue providing Christ-centered education to marginalized kids in Colorado Springs. Specifically, this gift gave them funds to start a culinary arts program for students to be trained for work in this industry. 
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2022 / AT-RISK YOUTH
LOCAL: Solid Rock Community Development Corp
The funds raised by First Pres went to support the SRCD’s Civic Ambassadors program, the CommUNITY Food Pantry, and the youth center.
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2022 / AT-RISK YOUTH
LOCAL: Dale House Project
Dale House Project continues to help at-risk youth ages 16-20 overcome obstacles they’ve faced that have led to a life on the street. Our funding helped resource up to 15 kids in our city. 
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2022 / AT-RISK YOUTH
LOCAL: The Place
15 to 20–year-olds facing homelessness are provided with stable housing, educational assistance and mentoring at The Place. Our gift went directly to the services for hundreds of COS youth. 
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2022 / AT-RISK YOUTH
GLOBAL: Heliopolis Evangelical Church / Cairo, Egypt
With our support, Heliopolis Evangelical Church recruited a team of case managers, counselors and a psychiatrist to assist youth facing similar psychological and addiction issues as kids here in Colorado Springs. The program also provided counseling and guidance for parents in Cairo. 
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2021 / EXPANDING MINISTRY
LOCAL: Crossfire Ministries
First Pres helped purchase a new walk-in cooling unit to keep nutritious food and dairy products fresh. The walk-in unit was purchased in 2021 and is located in the center of the Crossfire Ministries' shopping aisles. 
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2021 / EXPANDING MINISTRY
GLOBAL: Mongolia Campus Crusade for Christ / Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Funds provided much-needed technological equipment to expand the ministry and its online outreach. The pivot to more online content and training was a result of COVID and their leadership’s recognition of the need for technology to continue sharing the Gospel.
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2020 / CITY-WIDE COVID RESPONSE
LOCAL: COSILoveYou
We worked alongside COSILoveYou in their city-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our financial donations (1) provided food and support to the frontline medical workers and (2) helped non-profits across the city get food deliveries to seniors, shut-ins and those who were homebound due to disability.  
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2019 / MINISTRIES OF MERCY
LOCAL: Family Life Services
This year’s offering went toward Phase 1 of renovations for the FLS campus. The project will make room for 11 more housing units (20 total) and therefore, more single moms and their families who need the love and services of FLS here in Colorado Springs.  
// Status: Groundbreaking for the campus is set to happen on June 17, 2026 at 1:30pm. 
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2019 / MINISTRIES OF MERCY
GLOBAL: Heliopolis Evangelical Church / Cairo, Egypt
Our long-time church partners, Heliopolis Evangelical Church in Cairo, show mercy by caring for the least of these every day. Our support allowed their Mercy Ministry reach out and provide services to the hundreds of elderly, disabled and impoverished in their city. 
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2018 / HEALTHY FAMILIES
LOCAL: Catholic Charities of Central Colorado
Our support helped the Family Connections Center furnish the family room and reception area at their newly opened facility that serves families in our city. We also helped them underwrite an emergency apartment for three years. 
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2018 / HEALTHY FAMILIES
GLOBAL: Mongolia Campus Crusade for Christ / Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Our financial support allowed MCCC to help families in Mongolia through their Homebuilders couples’ groups. Specifically, they were able to finish the translation of the Homebuilders resources, provide training, and launch new groups so that Mongolian couples could learn more about what it means to put Christ first in their homes. 
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2017 / SUPPORTING GROWTH
LOCAL: Springs Rescue Mission
We were excited to once again help our long-time partners over at Springs Rescue Mission as they expanded programming and made improvements to their campus. 
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2017 / SUPPORTING GROWTH
GLOBAL: Mongolia Campus Crusade for Christ / Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
We were happy to financially and prayerfully support the Great Commission Project, their multi-year plan to equip church leaders for evangelism, receive coaching, and plant churches in communities where none exist. 
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2016 / CENTERS OF CARE
LOCAL: Springs Rescue Mission
Hundreds of homeless in our city are cared for by the ministry of Springs Rescue Mission. This year’s offering went toward the expansion of its dining facility, additional beds, and the development of a Day Center to provide much-needed services such as laundry, showers, computers, and case management.  
// Status: The new Day Center opened in April of 2017. 
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2016 / CENTERS OF CARE
GLOBAL: Presbyterian Free Church / Kalimpong, India
Our donation helped PFC’s Compassion Child Development Center better meet the needs of the community by improving their kitchen and adding classroom space for the more than 350 children and families they host every week.
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2015 / CHURCH FOUNDATION
GLOBAL: Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Aswan / Aswan, Egypt
In order for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Aswan to best serve their local neighborhood and community, they needed to rebuild their 100 year-old worship and gathering space. The GBTB funds from First Pres supported the first phase of the plan, including the foundation and sanctuary. 
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2014 / HEALTH AND HOPE
LOCAL: Life Network
A portion of the GBTB funds supported the costs of the Mobile Pregnancy Center that provides services near high schools around the city. 
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2014 / HEALTH AND HOPE
LOCAL: TLC Pharmacy and Mission Medical Center
TLC Pharmacy, a ministry staffed by volunteer medical professionals, was able to continue providing patient education and access to medication with the help of our donation. In addition, First Pres provided funds toward the costs of installing an elevator to provide greater access for disabled clients at Mission Medical Clinic, which offers free medical and dental care for low-income and uninsured people.  
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2014 / HEALTH AND HOPE
GLOBAL: Presbyterian Free Church / Kalimpong, India
Our donation supported Presbyterian Free Church’s goal to finish the fourth floor of their Compassion Child Development Center, allowing them to host more training, funerals, and city celebrations.