As then-tropical storm Ernesto neared Puerto Rico earlier this week, the director of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance briefed colleagues on the storm that was to come.
Presbytery of New Covenant in southeast Texas has had a strong youth ministry for decades. A highlight has been its Youth Conclaves weekend retreats that are led by the youth themselves. These retreats are a time to meet other Presbyterian youth and a time to grow as disciples. Our presbytery also recognizes that youth is a time of exploration and identity formation — including gender or sexual orientation.
Since arriving in Houston from Ghana, Pastor Ebenezer Boateng has persevered through many ups and downs.
But finally, the new worshiping community he founded, the Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, officially became a chartered congregation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
On behalf of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, the Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRC) has approved Mission Program Grants to 21 new worshiping communities. The “1001” communities receiving grants are listed below, followed by the presbytery and synod they belong to and a brief description of their mission and ministry:
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina dealt a historic blow to New Orleans, Hurricane Rita churned up to Category 5 in the Gulf of Mexico and threatened to deliver a second punch to the Crescent City.
When the Rev. Dr. Fairfax Fair began her ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena (Texas) in suburban Houston on December 1, 2019, she had a few scant months to see church members before the global pandemic shut everything down.
Traveling around the area, one may wonder if there was any damage at all from Hurricane Harvey. Crews have worked overtime to remove debris from the main roadways in the city, but travel 20 minutes to the south or east and you can see the evidence for miles. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance leaders joined local church leaders over the weekend to assess the damage left by several days of Harvey’s heavy rain.
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.
