Mission at the Eastward was organized in 1954 by the National Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church to support the ministry of newly organized Presbyterian congregations serving small, rural communities. Both congregations and pastors depended upon one another. Christian witness took two forms: organizing congregations in underserved communities and providing social outreach. The name Mission at the Eastward remembers the eighteenth century Presbytery at the Eastward located in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
For more than fifty years Mission at the Eastward has seen itself as a mission of the Presbyterian Church, USA. We are strong proponents of the connectional nature of the Presbyterian Church as exhibited through the Presbytery of Northern New England and Synod of the Northeast. We have been financially and prayerfully supported by the Presbyterian Church and we have contributed to building up the life of the church through our witness.

To Individuals, Congregations and Communities
The scope of our ministry is broad and inclusive. We serve individuals by supporting the ministries of churches. We serve congregations by supporting and developing pastoral leadership. Programs like Camp at the Eastward and Youth Connection have offered excellent programs that the churches could not do with limited resources. Our South Africa Partnership connects small churches with a hands-on international ministry. We serve communities by improving substandard housing and by encouraging the people of our churches to serve on health, education and economic development organizations.

Creating a place where God's gifts and graces are multiplied and exemplified.The final lines of the MATE Vision Statement were inspired by the Rev Jeff Scott, former pastor of the Starks-West Mills parish and coordinator of Camp at the Eastward. Jeff's ministry in a very poor and rural community exemplified the possibilities for rural parishes cooperating together. A children's camping program has spawned  a small high school youth program which spun off a youth acting company, Eastward Players, which spun off a youth choir, Sparrow's Song. Good things are multiplied.

The phrase "creating a place" is most appropriate that is what MATE does very well. We make a place where children can feel safe at Camp at the Eastward, or a place where young people can explore faith and identity. Our churches are places where people can gather to worship, to pray, to work out what it means to be a forgiving and reconciling community. Together, at a MATE Council Meeting we have rejoiced in the gift of a 25 member youth choir, "Sparrow's Song," and listen to the Spirit filled presentation of an elder/dairy farmer who worked with South African elders building a church roof in a rural village.

These last lines describe exactly the concept of Mission at the Eastward as a place of blessing where God's gifts are multiplied and exemplified. One of our greatest gifts to this region and to the whole church is the Spirit-filled process of "equipping the saints," recognizing, lifting up, and developing gifted people who discover their calling.

People and churches get involved, excited, challenged and things happen here. We are more together than separate.

The last word of our Vision Statement is "exemplified". Exemplified is defined as "to show or illustrate by an example." We believe that Mission at the Eastward exemplifies what is possible for rural churches that come together, bound by Christ, in service to their community and world.

This Vision Statement will be a guide as we begin our second half century of service.