crisis Archives

One pastor and two churches are building congregational vitality

Posted February 24th, 2022

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.

The role of ritual in pandemic recovery

Posted June 25th, 2021

A worship liturgy to acknowledge our fatigue and grief and remind ourselves of God’s companionship, guidance and faithfulness.

Congregation helps homeless by providing a ‘Room in the Inn’

Posted June 24th, 2021

When the Rev. Jeff Kane and his wife moved from Colorado to Tennessee in 2013 to be closer to their grandchildren, Kane reached out to Middle Tennessee Presbytery to find a church to serve. The only prospect was a congregation of 15 or so older members, which put them in the precarious category of a “dying church.” What Kane found, though, were 15 people who made the decision to trust God — completely. They were no longer going to protect the endowment, but rather spend it on a full-time pastor rather than part-time. “They made a decision to be faithful to the gospel and got to work,” said Kane.

In civil war and economic collapse, Syrian ministers find hope in the Gospel, partnerships

Posted June 23rd, 2021

At the Presbyterian Church of Latakia, Syria, the Rev. Salam Hanna ministers to people who have endured nine years of civil war and, recently, sanctions that have led to the worst economic crisis the nation has faced in a century.

More dialogue, less killing

Posted May 17th, 2021

How to put an end to the killing of schoolchildren and thousands of others in Cameroon — and ways to support Cameroonians seeking asylum in other countries, including the United States — was the topic of a recent webinar attended by more than 300 people.

Global Mission: Lessons from the coronavirus pandemic

Posted March 24th, 2021

The pandemic has forced us to embrace digital technology (Zoom, etc.) like never before, but in many places that has looked a lot different to what it looks like in the USA.

Youth workers and mental health

Posted August 19th, 2020

As a way to mark May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Brian Kuhn, director of the Presbyterian Youth Workers’ Association and a licensed professional counselor, offered a webinar that outlined the top 10 mental health issues all youth workers should be aware of.

Crisis & Creativity

Posted June 20th, 2020

Creative endeavors — music, painting, baking, writing — can be a powerful outlet in times of crisis to free the mind from routines and foster growth.

Amid conflict and looming famine in South Sudan, the church offers hope

Posted March 31st, 2017

For the general overseer of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) there is trauma and hopelessness in his country, and the only institution that can offer hope at the moment is the church.

PC(USA) ministries join forces to raise awareness of South Sudan famine, unrest

Posted March 30th, 2017

Several ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have issued alerts and provided information on their activities in response to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 1.61 million people are internally displaced and another 751,000 people have escaped into neighboring countries, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, since conflict broke out in 2013.