mission yearbook

Answering a call

In response to water-related crises around the globe, Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) ministries are working at home and abroad to help bring safe drinking water to the 663 million people who lack it.

Synod’s gift affirms partnership among Presbyterians

Unexpected gifts from the Synod of the Sun will benefit two national agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The gifts are being hailed as representing an affirmation of partnership among Presbyterians at all levels of the denomination.

‘Language of Heaven’ for 1001 New Worshiping Community

Five years ago, many Egyptians came to the U.S. during the time of the Arab Spring and Muslim Brotherhood rule. They harbored a desire to worship in the language of their heart, Arabic, which they describe as “the language of heaven.”

A mother’s odyssey to understand her transgender child

To begin this story, we must start at what was almost a tragic end. The year was 2000. Y2K was not nearly as frightening as expected, Britney Spears’s music topped the charts, and many 14-year-old boys were enthralled with their PlayStation 2. But not Aaron. At 14, he attempted suicide.

Celebrating Mother’s Day with ‘mishmoms’

In some ways, my marriage is a reverse Cinderella story, one in which I realize that no matter how hard I might try, the shoes of my husband’s family might never really fit me—and that’s OK. I’ve learned that when it comes to marriage—and mission work—it’s not about making the shoe fit, but the relationship that develops after we try it on.

Korean-American churches navigate cultural changes

Sometimes it’s the small things that you remember in ministry. Eun Joo Kim, a Korean-American Presbyterian pastor, recalls a moment when she was leaving the first Korean-American youth ministry position that she held while in seminary.

Presbyterians reach out to disadvantaged communities

Each year, on a Sunday during Lent, Presbyterians take a day to celebrate the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP). For nearly 50 years SDOP has helped poor, oppressed and disadvantaged communities by establishing partnerships within those communities to address issues such as mass incarceration, labor and worker rights, clean water and natural resources, youth empowerment and ending the exploitation of immigrants.

PC(USA) delegation concludes onsite visit to Sierra Leone and Liberia

For two weeks, a delegation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) visited 10 villages in the countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. The villages are participants in the West Africa Initiative (WAI), a partnership of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self-Development of People.