To Breathe Free, a short movie produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), was screened twice at the recent DC Shorts Film Festival in Washington, D.C. Produced and shot in D.C., the film follows the five-year saga of a Syrian family fleeing the war in Homs, Syria, to refugee camps in Jordan to beginning their new life in the nation’s capital. The 16-minute documentary, which focuses on the humanity of refugees, brings a perspective and voice that goes beyond the political rhetoric surrounding the ongoing refugee debate. Read more »
October 22, 2018
PDA documentary breathes life into refugee crisis
To Breathe Free, a short movie produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), was screened twice at the recent DC Shorts Film Festival in Washington, D.C. Produced and shot in D.C., the film follows the five-year saga of a Syrian family fleeing the war in Homs, Syria, to refugee camps in Jordan to beginning their new life in the nation’s capital. The 16-minute documentary, which focuses on the humanity of refugees, brings a perspective and voice that goes beyond the political rhetoric surrounding the ongoing refugee debate. Read more »
The Bible makes mention of the fact that we carry dual citizenship as citizens of the kingdom and citizens of the world. But these identities are not equal. If there is ever a conflict, the values of the kingdom must come first. There is a level of confusion in the minds of many Christians equating being a Christians with being patriotic, but they are not the same. Jesus said that anyone who loves mother or father, brother or sister, “is not worthy of me.” We are a God-first people who put the cares of God before all others. Therefore, we are made better citizens of the state because we are concerned about those who are not deemed worthy of attention. 
World Community Day began in 1943 as a day for church women across denominations to study peace. After World War II, leaders of denominations felt that they should set aside a day for prayer and ecumenical study. The leaders thought that while many denominations were performing peace and justice work by themselves, having a day where they could study together would be beneficial to all. The theme of this year’s World Community Day is Reaching for Wholeness: In Harmony with God’s People. 
As a child growing up in Luverne, Minnesota, Doris Schoon learned the words to “Jesus Loves Me” in Chinese. Doris was touched by this simple exercise led by her pastor, the Rev. Otto Braskamp, who had once been a Presbyterian missionary in China. Though she no longer remembers the Chinese lyrics, the music of mission continues to play in her heart. 
Blending together a long career in journalism and his Presbyterian faith, Mike Ferguson begins his duties as editor of the Presbyterian News Service (PNS) in Louisville on October 29. 
When Phyllis Sanders saw an article in South Carolina’s newspaper, The State, titled Losing Faith, she considered it a godsend.
Within a week, she hosted her first workshop as Trinity Presbytery’s new Vital Congregations coordinator. The article about the decline of churches gave her what she needed to help congregations better understand why the presbytery is participating in a two-year Vital Congregations Revitalization Initiative pilot program. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Mission Agency, the initiative is designed to help churches live more fully into faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ. 
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a letter commemorating the anniversary of the dismantling of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The longstanding immigration policy allowed children of undocumented migrants — also known as DREAMers— to remain in the United States under a process of bi-annual renewals. 
One hundred years ago today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, fighting in World War 1 came to an end. Kaiser Wilhelm had abdicated on the previous day, and the new government of Germany, eager for peace, immediately concluded an armistice agreement with the Allies. 
For Emily Donovan, youth director at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina and co-founder of Clean Cape Fear, the fight to protect and nurture children goes far beyond the walls of the church. She recently testified before the Congressional House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment on the dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a result of local pollution. 
A Florida woman who was a lifelong Presbyterian, a savvy investor and a pioneer for women in the Chicago banking industry has left a bequest of more than $1 million to the Presbyterian Foundation. The money is being used to establish a fund for scholarships for students attending colleges and universities affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).