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Mission Yearbook
Working Together for Collective Impact
Presbyterians do mission in partnership, which involves listening attentively and prayerfully to our global partners as we engage together in God’s mission, and they have asked us to work more strategically. As a result, we have identified three critical global initiatives: evangelism, reconciliation and poverty alleviation. In conjunction with those goals, we have launched three campaigns: Train Leaders for Community Transformation, Speak Up —Stop Sexual Violence and Educate a Child, Transform the World. US Presbyterians, mission co-workers and our African partners are engaged in exciting work around these campaigns:
Zambia
A congregation provides a lesson in extravagant grace
I was having trouble following the conversation of the church vestry. They were speaking rapid Nyanja, and while I could pick out a few phrases, I was unable to keep up with the discussion. I could tell that they were speaking about a man in prison who would soon be released. And as the vestry continued the heated discussion, I filled in the blanks.
Minute for Mission: Disability Inclusion
A few years ago during Advent, my daughter with Down syndrome was excited to participate in our annual Christmas pageant. She was in preschool at the time, and the littlest members of the congregation were traditionally given minor parts and did not attend regular rehearsals. They simply showed up the day of, did their part, and warmed worshipers’ hearts.
The Luxury of Reading and Praying to Jesus
“Thank you for the books.” I must have heard that at least a thousand times!
Liberian School Built by Vision, Faith, and Partnership
Isaac Monah’s home was destroyed and his younger brother was killed during the first of two civil wars in Liberia. He fled to the Ivory Coast, where he helped an American anthropology student track monkeys in the jungle. There, they talked about faith, and Isaac memorized a new word: Presbyterian. Moving to Ghana, he earned a high school diploma at age 27.
When essential medical supplies run out, a missionary turns to one remaining resource: prayer
It was most strange for my missionary-doctor-daddy to be home in the middle of the morning. Ordinarily he was not able to get away from the clinic or operating room before one or two in the afternoon. Yet, here he was now, riding into the back yard on his bicycle, right in the middle of our geometry class.
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community strives to be authentic, not unique
What do you get when you have two college friends with backgrounds in theater and combine that with degrees in ministry? Simply put, you have the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh.
Minute for Mission:
Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary
This month Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary marks an anniversary of sorts. On June 30, 2014, after 45 years of membership, our seminary disaffiliated from the historic consortium known as the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) of Atlanta. Why? Because the religious environment had changed. We felt called to bring a new kind of seminary into existence—one that is innovative and helps students anticipate the 21st-century reality of Christian ministry at home and abroad.
Georges Bitar: The Pastor as Artist
Georges Bitar is a Syrian refugee. Georges sits in my living room, sipping coffee. As we relish the baklava he brought—a gift to the senses, compliments of his wife, Mary—my wife, Laura, is delighted, for Georges has presented to her a beautiful calligraphy of the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic. Georges is both an artist and a pastor, leader of the Middle Eastern Presbyterian Fellowship (MEPF) in Tucson.
Presbytery of New Covenant
Changing demographics bring revitalization to congregation
Saint Paul Presbyterian Church began its ministry in southwest Houston 60 years ago as a suburban congregation.
About 25 years later Saint Paul gladly welcomed its first African-immigrant members. As the neighborhood changed
and the original congregation began to age, African immigrants began to revitalize the church. When
Dr. Kevin R. Boyd was called as pastor in 2003, Saint Paul was facing the challenges of changing demographics.
He encouraged Saint Paul’s fledgling African choir, Calabash, to be part of every service. Today the choir, composed
of members from numerous African countries, leads God’s people weekly in praise, alongside a traditional choir as
well as a praise band.
