Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responding in Haiti – Through the great outpouring of prayer, love and financial support by individuals, congregations, presbyteries, and synods – and thanks to the special appeals made by so many mission networks and organizations – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is providing critical, on-the-ground support when and where it is needed the most.  As God’s people we are called to stand in the “GAP” — GIVE. ACT. PRAY.  Read situation updates and find information on how you can get involved by visiting the PDA Web site. A second "Listen Up!" Haiti Response Webinar has also been scheduled for February 22 from 1-2 p.m. EST. Register today.

Download a new study guide from Evangelism and Church Growth, which, in partnership with Educational Ministries, has produced a brand new resource “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide: A Call to Action Study Guide.” Unveiled at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators annual gathering in Nashville, this six-week study guide explores the four components of the General Assembly emphasis, Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide: evangelism, discipleship, servanthood, and diversity. A related DVD has four dynamic video stories of churches growing in faith, and will help you discover how God may be calling your congregation to Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide. Download these new resources or order them online.

The Multicultural Congregational Support Office, in partnership with the Synod of the Sun and the Synod of the Southwest, is co-sponsoring “Crossing Borders—Encountering God,” an experiential conference on border issues confronting the church and the world, April 15-17, in Phoenix, Ariz. Join other Presbyterians and members of the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico for a bi-national conversation to learn and explore Biblical understandings of immigration, living in a cross-cultural society, and eliminating injustice and fear. Register now.

Make plans now to explore PATHWAYS to excellence in youth ministry at one of six regional locations in 2010, including the upcoming events on February 20 at Binnerri Presbyterian Church in Dallas Tex., and on March 6 at Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Jointly sponsored by Christian Vocation, Ministries with Youth, and the Princeton Theological Seminary Institute for Youth Ministry, these unique, one-day events are designed to provide an opportunity for vocational discernment as well as theological and practical training for volunteer youth leaders, pastors, and youth directors, while offering a parallel track for youth, grades 9-12, who are themselves leaders in their congregations.

Apply for young adult U.S. mission opportunities – Applications continue to be accepted for the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program for placements within the United States during the 2010–2011 year. Young Adult Volunteers serve in communities of need in 10 cities across the country. The program emphasizes spiritual formation, vocational discernment and the experience of living in an intentional Christian community. People between 19 and 30 years old are eligible to apply and the application deadline is April 20. Apply today. YAVs also serve at six international sites. The application deadline for international placements was January 20.

The Office of Education and Resources for Mission in Presbyterian World Mission is hosting monthly Webinars related to God’s Mission Matters, a podcast to equip Presbyterians to be more faithful and effective in their mission involvement. The God’s Mission Matters podcast features a new episode on the 15th of each month with voices from long-term and short-term mission workers as well as theological and missiological reflection. Each monthly Webinar will take the podcast “tip of the month” for mission to a deeper level of study. Webinars will be scheduled three weeks following the airing of their corresponding podcast episode. The next scheduled Webinar is the February 22 "Listen Up!" Haiti Response Webinar referenced above. Register today.

Stories of how an individual's life has been impacted by the programs, initiatives and activities of the General Assembly Mission Council

Derek and Erin Davenport

Company of New Pastors eases clergy couple’s transition into ministry

Navigating the waters of first call and departure from seminary into “real life” can be a daunting task, especially for clergy couples who face their own set of joys and challenges.

While Derek and Erin Davenport serve the church in different ways, they still live and function very much as a “clergy couple.” The unique challenges they have faced, however, have been helped if not alleviated by a Presbyterian program sponsored by the Office of Theology & Worship called the Company of New Pastors.

Company of New Pastors is designed to be a pastoral formation program that both deepens and sustains the theological vocation of participants.  The program focuses on the critical period of vocational formation beginning in seminary and continuing into the first years of ministry, helping to establish and nurture habits of theological reflection and spiritual formation beyond the seminary years. Continue reading.