What does it mean to be a Matthew 25 Congregation?

Fondren Presbyterian Church became a Matthew 25 congregation in 2020. Becoming a Matthew 25 congregation simply means that we are committed to pouring love, energy, and action into certain values in direct response to Christ’s call.

Matthew 25:31–46 calls us to engage actively in the world around us so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people on from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 The the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you form the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you ave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Convicted by this passage, the 2016 and 2018 General Assemblies exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, or poor. The Matthew 25 movement is the result.

Matthew 25 congregations commit themselves to three core values:

• Building congregational vitality

• Dismantling structural racism

• Eradicating systemic poverty

Each of these values is rooted in Jesus’s command that we care for the “least of these” as if we are caring for Him. 

Would you like to learn more about Matthew 25 congregations? Visit pcusa.org/matthew-25.