Gary Payton comes to Olympia with World Mission Challenge 09
[Editor's Note: those portions of this message addressed to other Presbyteries were removed.]
Warm greetings to you all! It was a great
joy for me while in Russia a few days ago to learn officially of my itineration
with you in Mission Challenge 2009! I am delighted that I have been asked
to represent Presbyterian World Mission in your presbyteries this fall.
It is also a joy that we are building on relationships, 3 of 4, made across
many years. Jim [Probert] and I met in Moscow in 2008 when he was en route to
Moldova.
The purpose of this email is to provide basic
information that may reduce some of your planning load (transportation, for example)
and to provide more general background info.
Transportation:
Ellen Dozier has shared with all what the schedule will be. See her June
9 email below.
The good news is that I will be driving my own vehicle in 3 of the 4
presbyteries. So, here is how I see the flow:
Jim, I return from the orientation in Louisville on Friday, Sep 25 by
air. I will drive from Spokane to Tacoma that evening and link up.
My schedule in Olympia will begin Saturday, Sep 26.
Hospitality:
It would be my great pleasure to stay with
families while with you. First, it keeps costs down. Second, it is
a great way to share informally how the Lord is leading us in mission around
the world. As a veteran of Mission Challenge 2007 and many other itinerations,
I would ask that you don't move me too often. Packing and unpacking
across these weeks can wear! And, it surely helps to be able to wash a
load of clothes now and again while on the road.
Meals and Health:
Please know that for dietary reasons, I am a vegetarian. As a
missionary, though, I will eat whatever is placed in front of me (as I almost
always do in Russia - fatback (pig lard) served on bread by Russian hosts being
one major exception!)
People don't need to go crazy about food. I'll eat most anything
nutritious; I just seek to avoid meat. As a Northwesterner I do love
salmon and, Lord forgive me, will likely enjoy it until the Columbia River runs
dry or the all the Snake River dams are breached, whichever comes last!)
I love to hike in God's Creation. If I could have time once or twice a
week to take a walk in the forest, along a shore, up a mountain...I will be
refreshed for the days to come.
Scheduling:
I am with you to tell a story which I love to tell - PCUSA mission in
partnership around the world, and in particular in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine,
and Poland. I have been giving presentations my entire life, so use me as
you need to: preaching, mission dinners, Sunday School, youth groups, meetings
at schools, PW gatherings, Men's Breakfasts (minus the sausage and bacon),
etc.
I can easily handle three presentations per day, and could occasionally stretch
to four if need be. Don't feel obligated to "max' me out, I am just
saying that I can push pretty hard, if I have the chance to recover now and
again.
Presentations:
My preferred method of communicating is with PowerPoint. That does
not apply for preaching on Sunday, and it is not a requirement. If,
however, you have a group and a computer projector, I think my story is best
told with pictures and maps. For smaller groups or conversations in
homes, we'll just chat.
Ellen has told us that we will have a DVD of our World Mission director, Hunter
Farrell, so having a player available for the major presentations will be most
helpful.
Since I am driving for the first three presbyteries, I will carry with me a
display board, mementos, and handouts.
About my calling:
For starters, the best place to get background
is my webpage with bio and newsletters:
http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/paytong.htm
And, the March/April issue of Horizons, the PW magazine, has several pieces
about our ministry in former communist countries.
Additionally, these pages may be helpful:
http://www.pcusa.org/worldwide/russia/
http://www.pcusa.org/worldwide/ukraine/
http://www.pcusa.org/worldwide/belarus/
http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/russia.htm
Communications:
I have already begun one-on-one communications with most of you. We
can continue that throughout the summer. If I may assist you in any way,
please ask.
If there are topics which apply to all four presbyteries, I will copy everyone.
(Your question may be on someone else's mind, too.)
Ellen's note below is packed with good, tested information. If you
haven't been able to study it, it has lots of good ideas in it.
Prayer Concerns:
I ask that you lift up our collective planning for a successful Mission
Challenge - that our efforts will faithfully share how we seek to strengthen
Christ's church in the world.
I ask for your prayers for safe travel, good health, and articulate voices for
all the PCUSA mission coworkers who will visit 150 presbyteries this fall.
And, I lift up the needs of the followers of Jesus in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine,
and Poland. In these days of renewal following the dark years of
communism, individuals and churches need encouragement and support.
Thank you very much for allowing me to share this lengthy email.
I look forward with great enthusiasm to being with you in your presbyteries.
Yours in Christ,
Gary
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