News for the Network

"A Big Month" for Mission: World Mission Challenge '09 and World Mission Celebration Wrap Up

Forty-six mission workers scattered across the country to visit 152 of the denomination's 173 presbyteries during the highly anticipated World Mission Challenge '09, held from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18.

The mission workers were warmly greeted at churches and presbyteries as they shared how God is at work around the world through the PC(USA) and its partners. They visited communities of every size, from small rural villages to large urban areas. Audiences ranged in size from hundreds during some Sunday worship services to a handful gathered for a brown bag luncheon. Some of the mission speakers were also accompanied by global partners through an arrangement with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

After nearly a month of itineration — tired, but upbeat — the mission workers joined more than 700 Presbyterians passionate about mission at World Mission Celebration '09 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 22-24.

"I am convinced that more Presbyterians are deeply engaged in world mission than ever before in the history of our church," said Hunter Farrell, director of Presbyterian World Mission.

Charitable giving to religious organizations increases in 2008

Giving to religious organizations increased in 2008 by 5.5 percent, according to a recently released Giving USA Foundation report. Results from the report are posted on the Web site of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University. More money was given to religious organizations than to any of the other eight subsectors of charitable giving. Donations to religious organizations also had the highest percent increase of all the subsectors. See the Web site of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving for more details on the report as well as "Lessons Learned from 2009."
 
(The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving has kindly granted permission for PCN newsletter staff to use this item and link to the full article and has further extended that permission to PCN members. Please be sure to credit the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University, if you republish this in your newsletters or on your Web sites.)

Presbyterian Writers Guild schedules 2010 conference and seeks award nominees

The Presbyterian Writers Guild (PWG) has announced that the 2010 Presbyterian Writers Conference will be held April 28-29 at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn. The conference, which is aimed at helping writers produce marketable articles or books, develop a freelance career and "impact the world with their words," will again feature the renowned Presbyterian author, Cecil Murphey. Registration information will be available soon.

PWG is also seeking nominations for its 2010-2011 David Steele Distinguished Writer Award, which is given biennially to recognize the cumulative work and influence — regardless of genre or subject matter — of a PC(USA) writer. The award will be presented at the PWG luncheon at the 219th General Assembly. Nominations are due Jan. 15, 2010.

The Presbyterian Writers Guild is a support network of and for Presbyterians who write as a form of Christian ministry. Any Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) writer may belong to the Guild.

Presbyterians Today seeks sports contacts for upcoming story

Presbyterians Today, the flagship publication of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is seeking names and contact information (if available) of Presbyterians whose vocation is sports, either as professional athletes or those who coach at professional or college levels. The information is for a Presbyterians Today feature planned for next spring. Contact John Sniffen, associate editor, Presbyterians Today by email or at (888) 728-7228, x5634.

Compassion Peace & Justice

Free training addresses human trafficking

More than 150 FBI agents, Presbyterian clergy, social workers, law enforcement, college students and medical professionals gathered in the peaceful sanctuary of Mulberry Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., last September for a training session on the grim topic of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining of people for forced labor, slavery or servitude in any industry or site. Estimates of the number of people being trafficked at any given time range from 4 to 27 million. The PC(USA) General Assembly has spoken powerfully on the issue. Read a full report on the September training and information on scheduling training for presbyteries.

Evangelism & Church Growth

Evangelism and Church Growth update appears in Monthly Director's Message

The Korean Presbyterian Church of Miami is growing in discipleship. Download the latest Evangelism & Church Growth video to learn more about their remarkable story.

Presbyterian churches across the nation are growing Deep and Wide in evangelism, discipleship, servanthood and diversity, engaging their communities and the world. (Videos on the other three Deep and Wide themes are also available Evangelism and Church Growth site.) An upcoming evangelism webinar will provide step-by-step methods on how to equip and encourage churches to grow deep and wide. Save the date for the next webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010 at 2 p.m. EST and register today.

Mission Interpretation

Christmas Joy Offering celebrates God's love

Presbyterians have long given an offering at Christmas in celebration of God's love shown in the gift of Jesus. Half of the offering supports students, who are listening for God's call, at the church's historic racial ethnic schools and the other half helps the Board of Pensions' assistance programs meet unexpected financial needs of those who have spent their lives following that call. Encourage your session to set an ambitious goal for the offering. A new video, What Child Is This?, highlights this year's theme. The video and other free resources are available on the Christmas Joy Offering site. For information, contact Alan Krome by email or at (888) 728-7228, x5168.

Office of Vocation

College Scholarships Available

The National Presbyterian College Scholarship Program (NPCS), administered through Financial Aid for Studies, a ministry of the Office of Vocation, offers need-based scholarship assistance to full-time students entering their first year of college at one of the participating colleges related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  Applicants must be confirmed members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and carry a 3.0 cumulative grade point average from high school. Applications for the 2010-2011 academic year are due Jan. 31, 2010.  Learn more about this and other undergraduate opportunities for financial aid or download an NPCS application.   

Racial Ethnic and Women's Ministries/Presbyterian Women

New Spanish/English Handbook for new church developments published

"Just as the United States offers promise to many immigrants, new churches reflect hope and possibilities," writes Héctor Rodriguez, associate for Hispanic/Latino-a Congregational Support in the introduction to Handbook for Hispanic/Latino New Church Development: Going to Sow. This new dual language, Spanish and English resource is written for pastors, presbyteries, church leaders and members working to build Hispanic/Latino-a new church developments (NCD). The handbook features inspiration, stories of successful NCDs and practical information on church planting, finances and models for ministries. Read excerpts of the handbook.

Stewardship

Hospital founded by missionaries gives $208,577 to mission

Yodogawa Christian Hospital in Osaka, Japan, has given the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) $208,577 to be used for mission in Asia. The gift represents the same amount Presbyterian Women contributed in 1956 to the hospital founded by Presbyterian missionaries. The PW gift, which was raised through the organization's Birthday Offering, helped build a 76 bed hospital that has grown into a highly-regarded medical complex. The hospital's first superintendent, Dr. Frank Brown, emphasized "whole person healing," a commitment rooted in the Christian faith that has continued under Japanese leadership. Yodogawa plans to open a new facility in 2012 near the current hospital. Read more.

Theology Worship & Education

Grow Deep in Discipleship

How deep is your relationship with God? How much time do you spend in prayer and study of God's word? A recent Presbyterian Panel survey indicates that less than half of members (37 percent) and elders (49 percent) read the Bible privately at least weekly. And only 52 percent of pastors and a third of specialized clergy do so daily or almost daily.

The Company of Pastors and the Order of Elders help pastors and elders think prayerfully and practically about the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit. Participants commit to daily disciplines of prayer, and reading Scripture, The Book of Confessions and additional readings. By growing in their own discipleship, participants can help their congregations see the spiritual benefit of living the faith.

World Mission

Veteran mission worker profiled

When Alice Winters enters her classroom in Colombia, she engages her students as both professor and learner. This veteran Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission worker teaches her students about biblical languages and history, and they teach her about a biblical faith that sustains them amid poverty and the violence perpetrated by Colombia's decades-long civil war.

Presbyterian News Service recently published an inspiring article about Winters and her work.

World Mission Highlights has great stories of mission in every issue. Free individual or bulk copies of the recently published summer/fall issue are available by calling (800) 524-2612 and requesting PDS #13102-09-004.

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