Special Offerings

A tiny island nation faces enormous challenges

Sri Lanka is a tiny island country in South Asia with big challenges. It sits in one of the most poverty-stricken regions in the world where millions deal with hunger issues daily. Sri Lanka itself is a diverse country with many ethnic groups and religions, a failing government system, and staggering debt to the tune of more than $50 billion measured in U.S. dollars — a debt that has little chance of being paid back due in large part to the current government’s instability.

‘You’re also bringing yourselves’

Still reveling in the season of the Pentecost Offering, the guests on Monday’s Between Two Pulpits told host Dr. William McConnell about the ways their church uses the 40% of the Special Offering it retains to serve young adults, youth and children at risk. Watch the guests from Heritage Presbyterian Church in Mason, Ohio, tell their story here.

A ‘Christ-like example’

Jerome Zamgba will tell you that he has always been a compassionate and empathetic person.

The story of Rising TIDE will float your boat

Monday’s Between Two Pulpits, an online conversation put on each week by Special Offerings’ interim director Dr. Bill McConnell, was a how-to in effective after-school ministry, as told by two pastors who decades ago co-founded Rising TIDE at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, California.

A family affair

Although the branches of their respective family trees are heavily laden with Presbyterian pastors and elders, Akilah Hyrams and Noah Westfall — both alums of the PC(USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer program — are pursuing a different calling. At least for now.

New Mexico grapples with destructive wildfires

The Presbytery of Santa Fe and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance are keeping a close watch on destructive wildfires in New Mexico and lamenting losses to communities.

These, too, are children of God

Like most kids, Josh Davenport-Herbst has always had a hard time saying no to his parents, especially when it came to showing up for stuff at church.