For Cameron Presbyterian Church and Calvary Presbyterian Church, both in Statesville, North Carolina, accepting the Matthew 25 invitation was not a difficult decision. When presented with information about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s invitation by Salem Presbytery, the Rev. Timothy L. Bates, pastor of the two churches, says both congregations saw it as a great opportunity to join other Presbyterian churches in the endeavor.
In its final action of 2021, the Presbyterian Mission Agency on Thursday passed what it called enabling motions that will result in some if not most of the ideas generated in a consultant’s report, “Reflecting, Reimagining and Making Space for Rebuilding,” being worked into the PMA’s Mission Work Plan that must be approved by the 225th General Assembly in 2022.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board set the table Wednesday in order to decide Thursday whether to approve a consultant’s report that envisions new ways for the mission agency to do its ministry in the coming years.
Excited about what God is going to do through the new Theology, Formation & Evangelism Ministry Leader Formation Cohorts, Alicia Demartra-Pressley is looking forward to Presbyterians participating in spiritual formation and transformation work together.
“Thanks so much.”
“I am so overwhelmed with gratitude.”
“We are excited.”
“This is wonderful news for our congregation.”
These comments are from some of the leaders in more than 200 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches and worshiping communities — each of them with 150 members or fewer — who recently received free book bundles (listed below) from the denomination.
Building on the success of the current youth retreat model and utilizing the value of virtual programming, Johnsonburg Camp & Retreat Center in New Jersey will offer a Social Justice Cohort beginning next month that will provide a forum for high school students to come together to explore issues of racial and social justice and Creation care as a vision and practice within a life of faith.
The date of September 11, 2001, almost can get lost amid present situations we face in New York City with recent deadly storms, a deadlier COVID-19 virus and the resulting unemployment and rent/mortgage payment concerns, and the cessation of so many in-person church and social activities.
One month after the Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos became pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Lake City, Colorado, the small mountain town of 400 officially became a “gateway” trail town for hikers on the Continental Divide. It was already well known as one of the better towns to stop for those hiking the Colorado Trail, which runs from Denver to Durango.
Bethel Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia is an African American congregation of about 45 members that’s doing the work of a congregation 10 times its size. Bethel is described as a little church with a big heart for mission. The congregation accepted the Matthew 25 invitation in 2019, but it was already doing the work the gospel requires.
First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo recently made the commitment to become a Matthew 25 church, and that marks the 1,000th registration received for the Matthew 25 vision, launched in April 2019.
