A new chapter in world mission

At the World Mission Luncheon at the General Assembly Hunter Farrell, director of Presbyterian World Mission, said the newest chapter in the denomination's mission “love story” that began in 1837 is the formation of “communities of mission practice.” Participants in these communities include World Mission staff and mission personnel, global partners, and grassroots Presbyterians directly involved in international mission. Hunter explained that the purpose of the communities is “to discern the mind of Christ as we participate in God’s mission.” He also noted that more and more mission personnel are serving as “global connectors,” helping link congregations and presbyteries with international partners. Read more →

World Mission's strategy document is now online, including its mission statement and six core values.

Also at GA:
At the July 8 worship service the congregation responded with enthusiastic applause when invited to honor the 16 mission personnel celebrating 20 or more years of mission service in 2009-2011 as well as representatives of the 55 mission co-workers and the 122 young adult volunteers beginning service in 2009 or 2010.

Linda Valentine, General Assembly Mission Council executive director, announced two major gifts to support global mission: $400,000 from an anonymous donor, and a commitment of $250,000 from Mary Lee Dayton of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis.
Read more →

Mission Advocates and Mission Network Leaders to connect

The Mission Advocates and Mission Network Leaders Joint Event Sept. 30 –Oct. 2, 2010, in Louisville will be an encounter of mission advocates from middle governing bodies and other leaders from the PC(USA)-related mission networks, regional liaisons from around the globe, and other World Mission staff. The event will feature theological reflection and expert- and peer-led conversations on “best practices” for mission engagement as well as workshops on topics related to the ministry of a mission advocate and a mission network leader. Read more →

Pakistan flood response

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working with ecumenical partners to respond to the disaster in Pakistan. One Great Hour of Sharing funds are helping with the provision of the basics — food packages, shelter materials and non-food essentials — for families in need. Church World Service Pakistan, which has worked in the area for more than five decades, is providing medical teams and mobile health facilities, which are helping to provide emergency health services.

PDA funds will help provide emergency food assistance to 35,000 people, emergency shelter supplies to meet the needs of 17,500 people, and mobile health access for 17,500 people. The food packages consist of basics for a family for a month. Shelter kits include a winterized tent and plastic sheeting. Donations can be made online.

Read the Aug. 4 Situation Report from PDA

Vanuatu Presbyterian is elected to WCRC post

At the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in June, Allen Nafuki, a Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu pastor, was elected to a seven-year term on the Executive Council.  This was quite a coup for Vanuatu.  Despite the fact that nearly 35 percent of the people of Vanuatu are Presbyterian (undoubtedly the highest percentage in the world), Vanuatu is a country of only 220,000 people spread over some 83 islands.  Traditionally delegates from Australia represent Oceania on the Executive Council, but this time it was time for one of the little guys.  Read more →

The 'older orphans' of Africa

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has not only robbed children of their parents, it has robbed older parents of their adult children. Janet Guyer, PC(USA) HIV/AIDS consultant for southern Africa, calls these parents the “older orphans” because, at an age when they would expect to be cared for by their children, they are parenting their grandchildren.

Southern Africa has the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the world, Janet reports. She says, “Everyone is affected in some way by the pandemic.” Janet works with the PC(USA)'s partner churches in South Africa who are facing the needs of these “older orphans” and the children who are now in their care. The community-based child care that many churches sponsor gives these caregivers some relief and offers a place for children to go when they are not in school. Some churches have set up scholarship funds to make it possible for children to attend school.

Sitting under a tree outside a church in a village, one man said told Janet that AIDS is "like a wild elephant charging through the village." A current initiative for Janet is to design retreats for pastors who carry the heavy burden of pastoral care for families and whole communities whose lives have been turned upside down by the impact of AIDS. Contributions to Janet's ministry can be made to ECO 200351. 

'Crossing Borders, Encountering God'

Two hundred participants from churches in southwestern United States and in Mexico met in May to discuss border and immigration issues in a conference titled "Crossing Borders, Encountering God." Rev. Bernabe V. Bautista Reyes, vice-moderator of the General Assembly of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, called on leaders in both countries to address the current labor needs in the United States as well as the economic needs of Mexicans, and to create a program of mutual help between the two nations. Mark Adams, PC(USA) border ministry mission worker, was one of the speakers at the gathering. Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, professor of world Christianity at Columbia Theological Seminary, encouraged those gathered to see the hope as well as the challenge in the issues discussed and the questions raised. 
Read more →

Also read a letter three top PC(USA) leaders sent to the U.S. Congress about immigration reform.

YAV experiences disaster and 'amazing' community response

"Branches," the church and community center where Young Adult Volunteer Megan McCarty has been serving in Florida City/Miami, burned down in May. The church and playground were completely destroyed; nothing was salvageable. "To add insult to injury," while they were having their second outdoor worship service the Sunday evening after the fire, someone broke into their community center and stole their five new laptops. One of Megan's supporters, offering sympathy, told her that sometimes out of tragedy, amazing things happen. At first, in the midst of the chaos, she says she "blew this off," Somewhat later, however, she wrote; "I have been able to see the amazing things that have been happening: The way this community has opened their arms to this tragedy has been incredible. People from all over the greater Miami area have called to ask how they could help. When churches in the area heard that all our food had burned, the very next day a truckload of food arrived…. Five churches from North Miami donated small playgrounds for the summer…. A second grader gave the pastor's son a dollar and said, 'I want to help rebuild the church.' ” Read more →

Is God calling you to international mission service?

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to seek persons called by God to fulfill the Great Commission, carrying the gospel of Christ to the world. Mission workers reach out by witnessing and evangelizing; by equipping individuals and partners for transforming mission; by engaging in ministries of reconciliation, justice, healing and grace; and by living the Good News in community with those who are marginalized.

Current opportunities for long-term international service include:

• New Testament Professor — Egypt
• Facilitator for Joining Hands Network — Haiti
• Associate for Planning, Training and Development — Madagascar
• Physician — Malawi
• Coordinator for Christian Volunteers in Thailand Program — Thailand
• Worship Arts Evangelist, Leader and Trainer — Turkey
• In Central Asia:
  • English Teacher for Rural Schools
  • Health Education Specialist
  • Disability Specialist (focus on special needs children)
  • Evangelism and Discipleship Facilitator

Learn more about international service →

Find out more about the specific openings →

Apply for mission service →

Mission Networks to Meet in September/October

The Congo Mission Network will meet September 16–17, 2010, in Birmingham, Ala. Keynote speaker is the Rev. Debbie Braaksma, Africa Office coordinator. The agenda includes a Webinar with Hunter Farrell, World Mission director. For more information contact Debbie Braaksma.

• ZZM Network (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique)—September 24-25, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Madagascar — October (date/location to be determined)
• Peru — October 7-9, Charlotte, N.C.
• Kenya — October 21-23, Atlanta, Ga.
• Nicaragua — October 24-25, Managua, Nicaragua

Mission Briefs

Havana Presbytery chartered a new church in 2009 and continues to expand its outreach ministries in and around Cuba's capital. The presbytery's churches range from its flagship congregation and the oldest Protestant church in Cuba, First Presbyterian Church in the Old City, to its newest, La Fernanda, a small congregation outside of the city. All are thriving and experiencing significant growth. Read more →

By June, response by Presbyterians to the recovery efforts in Haiti passed $10 million. $4 million has already been committed to relief and recovery. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance continues to assess needs and venues for long-term recovery, including the possibility to begin hosting teams of mission volunteers by the end of the year. Read more →

The Medical Benevolence Foundation is partnering with a Pittsburgh group, the City of Champions for Haiti, in a $10.5 million project in Haiti for the expansion and reconstruction of Hôpital Sainte Croix and other ministries in Léogâne supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, a longtime partner of the PC(USA). Read more →

The annual New Wilmington Mission Conference in July drew 1,000, calling young people to mission service. Read more →
View a Power Point presentation →

A book of essays has been released by Westminster John Knox Press that honors the life and work of Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk emeritus of the PC(USA) and president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. That They May all Be One: Celebrating the World Communion of Reformed Churches includes more than 25 essays on the theme of the importance of ecumenism in working for mission and justice. The book was released to mark the historic union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council last month in Grand Rapids, Mich. Read more →

Personal news

Although Daniel and Carol Chou Adams, mission workers in South Korea, officially retired at the end of June (and were recognized at the General Assembly for their long years of service), they will serve as volunteer guest professors for the fall semester at the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary in Seoul. They hope to give lectures in overseas theological seminaries from time to time on a volunteer basis—if the logistics can be arranged, they may serve as visiting professors in Myanmar and/or India January–February 2011. Dan will also work on a book on the history of Korean theology. Read the Adams' June letter →

Kyoji Buma, a native of Kyoto, Japan, who served in the PC(USA)’s world mission and ecumenical relations departments for more than 40 years, died June 16 in Closter, N.J. at age 83. Between 1962 and 1964 he coordinated Presbyterian work in Asia while living in Tokyo. In 1964 he and his family returned to New York, where for the next 25 years he served as executive secretary for interchurch relations (for nine years) and then as associate executive director for administration and coordinator of special projects for the General Assembly Mission Council. Read more →