The Presbyterian Mission Agency Coordinator for Christian Formation, Jason Brian Santos, is leading this year’s Evangelism conference at Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe Oct. 15–19. Because this conference on Sabbath Rest Holy Surrender Full Life is intentionally designed like “no other Presbyterian conference,” Presbyterian News Service talked with Santos to find out what those attending the conference will learn and experience. Read more »
August 29, 2018
Evangelism conference to explore new way of being together as Presbyterians
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Coordinator for Christian Formation, Jason Brian Santos, is leading this year’s Evangelism conference at Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe Oct. 15–19. Because this conference on Sabbath Rest Holy Surrender Full Life is intentionally designed like “no other Presbyterian conference,” Presbyterian News Service talked with Santos to find out what those attending the conference will learn and experience. Read more »
The Office of Public Witness (OPW), the public policy information and advocacy office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), recently published an updated version of its community advocacy guide titled Holy Discontentment: Grassroots Advocacy and Organizing in the PC(USA). The resource serves as a blueprint for Presbyterians who wish to engage more fully in community advocacy and organize for just public policy. It can be downloaded here. 
Iowa is still reeling from a dozen tornadoes that slashed through the state one night in July, leaving behind extensive property damage.
Marshalltown, a community of about 25,000 residents, suffered catastrophic damage to its downtown area. While not unscathed from a EF-3 tornado that tore through town, First Presbyterian Church was more fortunate than most. In the storm’s aftermath, it has been focused on rebuilding and healing through worship and community service to those affected by the disaster. 
The Presbyterian Mission Agency has created a scholarship fund to honor the name and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, a pioneer and legend in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Dr. Cannon succumbed to leukemia Aug. 8. 
Today, Debra Hepler announced her retirement as the Executive Director of the Ghost Ranch Education and Retreat Center of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), effective February 1, 2019. Hepler has served as Ghost Ranch’s chief executive since April 2008. 
For members of Pleasantville Presbyterian Church in New York state, helping people in need is what they do. It has become a part of their DNA. Certified as a Hunger Action Congregation by the Presbyterian Hunger Program in 2017, the church has taken numerous steps over the years to reach out to a community that struggles to find enough food. 
The Presbyterian Church of Colombia is working for a just and lasting peace in a nation plagued by generations of politically and ideologically motivated violence. Since the Colombian government signed historic peace accords with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla group, in 2016, steps toward reconciliation and transformation have been taking place, although more must be done if peace is to be firmly rooted and allowed to flourish for all Colombians. 
A veteran of more than 3,000 concerts and 12 full-length CDs of mostly original music, songwriter, guitarist, speaker, and writer David LaMotte will present a concert on Wednesday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Springdale Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. 
One of the marks of Presbyterianism is that we are a “connectional” church — that is, our congregations are connected through presbyteries that are connected to synods and to our General Assembly. In some profound ways, our “being connectional” is a way of practicing “being church” — sharing our gifts, talents and resources as well as our sorrows and pain. 
Only 33 percent of members and 22 percent of ministers strongly agree that their church is spiritually vital and alive, according to a recently released research report by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). But what does it mean for a congregation to be vital and alive?