International wares like these Enormous Love Elephants handmade in Kenya by Kisac Fair Trade Ltd. are selling at the Ten Thousand Villages International Market.

Gifts of quality improving quality of life. Friday, November 20 to Saturday, November 21, the Westminster Presbyterian Church fellowship hall will be transformed into an International Market. Visitors will discover a unique collection of handmade gifts, home decor, musical instruments, jewelry, serve ware, crafts and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

The sale is in Westminster Hall, 903 North St.; shopping hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, November 20, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, November 21.

The annual shopping event showcases handcrafted items marketed by Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization. Work sold through the Ten Thousand Villages improves the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries. Product sales help pay for food, education, health care and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.

All sales revenue generated by Ten Thousand Villages and any surplus earned by operations are retained within the organization. Surpluses are used to increase purchases from artisans and to finance the growth of Ten Thousand Villages retail network.

The 2015 Ten Thousand Villages International Market includes items made by members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Sales of these items will benefit local, regional and global mission work of the church.  Members of Westminster Presbyterian Church donated time and talent to craft a Christmas quilt that will be displayed during the International Market. Tickets for a chance to win the quilt are on sale now and proceeds from the sale of tickets will be donated to Love INC. of Nacogdoches and Christian Men’s Job Corps. Fair trade coffees, teas, chocolates and olive oil benefiting Westminster Presbyterian Youth projects will also be sold at the event.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is a designated Texas Historic Landmark that traces its roots to the first Protestant minister to preach on Texas soil. In 1836, the Rev. Sumner Bacon organized a Presbyterian Sunday School in the Old Stone Fort. This school remained in existence until 1849. In 1889, the Presbyterian Church U.S. established First Presbyterian Church, and a building was erected at North Fredonia and Hospital streets.

On May 4, 1893, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. organized the Main Street Presbyterian Church. This church had 12 charter members and was located at Main and Mound streets. On Nov. 30, 1930, Main Street Presbyterian Church was renamed Westminster Presbyterian Church, and construction of the

present day church and pastor’s manse were completed. When First Presbyterian Church disbanded in 1935, several of its members joined Westminster Presbyterian Church.