PC(USA) - 2007 Mission Challenge


	Mission Challenge '07 speakers encouraged by response of congregations Speaker comments from the road Presbyterian News Service stories See who spoke where, when A schedule of each mission speaker and where they spoke is available. Also view a complete list of the 144 presbyteries and who their selected speaker was. [view list] [view schedule] As October drew to a close, 48 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionaries wound down an expansive and exhilarating experience on the road. They ended their month-long assignments Thursday, November 1, and headed back to Louisville to share what they have learned with World Mission staff. Mission Challenge '07 sent them criss-crossing the country telling how God is at work through Presbyterian mission around the world. Missionaries preached at Sunday morning worship services, spoke at presbytery meetings, dialogued with mission committees and shared table fellowship at countless potluck dinners. Though the schedule was grueling, the missionaries report that warm hospitality and gracious hosts have helped make the experience rewarding. Congregations are excited about making personal connections with their denomination's missionaries. Many churches pledged to increase their support of mission through prayer, correspondence and financial contributions. These visits to 144 presbyteries encompassed every region of the country and speaking venues included large urban centers, sprawling suburbs and rural villages. An estimated 700 congregations played host to a mission speaker during Mission Challenge '07. Comments from the road I had a great experience speaking Friday evening at the meeting of the Central Washington Presbytery and then preaching to them the following morning, as the main speaker for the two-day event. It was really humbling to see how interested they are in our ministry in Cairo, even though I only knew two people in the presbytery before coming. I spoke three more times today and things went well. In addition to financial support, I've had a couple of people inquiring how they can go themselves as missionaries. Dusty Ellington, missionary in Cairo, Egypt Editor's Note: Another presbytery Ellington visited, San Joaquin, voted to donate approximately $80,000 to Mission Challenge '07, a tithe from the proceeds of a property sale. So far we have been treated royally — quite literally. Churches are hungering for real "live missionaries" and we have already been asked: "Will this be an annual event?" Dan and Carol Chou Adams, missionaries in South Korea The Western New York Presbytery's Outreach Ministry Team did a good job of planning and organizing cluster events that pulled together a number of churches in an area for a potluck or similar event. As a result, I have had contact with folks from 31 of the presbytery’s 62 churches. They have used me as a catalyst to get representatives from the various churches to share their respective mission activities in the hope of identifying synergies and places that they can work together and support each other. That has been very exciting and will hopefully bear additional fruit in the future. I’ve also gotten to visit a number of their ministries: refugee resettlement and services, Habitat construction projects, after-school programs for kids, etc. That has been neat and has given me some ideas to take back to South Africa, too. Doug Tilton, missionary in South Africa The audience was the commissioners at Palo Duro Presbytery in West Texas. The last video pulled the plug on emotions I was not prepared for. There were many pastors crying. One pastor said they had seen the video three times and cried every time. The tears were not for the children in the video. They are tears of pride for being Presbyterian and an emotional relief that we are reclaiming our mission roots. Mary Ferris, missionary in Romania Strengthening the bonds between PC(USA) missionaries and the church Mission is calling on you! In October 2007, we’ve sent out 48 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionaries to share their stories in every corner of the United States. We asked 120 presbyteries (144 presbyteries have already committed, exceeding our goal) to participate in this effort to educate the church about how God is at work in the world and how we as a denomination participate in God’s mission. Mission Challenge ’07 is the largest event of its kind ever carried out by our Presbyterian Church. We invite you to be part of it. View this informative video about Presbyterian missionaries narrated by Hunter Farrell, August 2007. Linda Valentine Executive Director, General Assembly Council


	Presbyterian News Service stories on Mission Challenge ’07 December 11, 2007 - Bringing the world home Presbyterian missionary Art Kinsler spoke during Mission Challenge ’07 on call to service, current work in Korea — North and South December 4, 2007 - Mission Challenge ’07 transforms a congregation’s Mission Fair Tulsa session to launch funds drive for Presbyterian World Mission November 15, 2007 - Speakers, listeners praise ‘Mission Challenge ’07’ 48 missionaries speak to 55,000 Presbyterians during October blitz November 2, 2007 - ‘Love neighbor, love self’ PC(USA) Northern Ireland missionary sees signs of lasting peace October 31, 2007 - Building cultural bridges PC(USA) China missionary sees teaching as means to greater understanding October 30, 2007 - A letter from Dorothy Hanson recounting the story she told in her Mission Challenge presentations about her missionary father and a blind beggar, Gidada, who became a pioneer evangelist October 30 - Tearing down the wall Cold War’s end helps missionary deepen connection between PC(USA) and churches in former communist states October 30 - Mission workers request "carbon offsets" for Mission Challenge ’07 Group collects $425 for environmental project in Madagascar October 26 - Interfaith relations ‘Reinterpreting’ Christian message in larger religious world broadens self-awareness, PC(U.S.A.) mission co-worker says. October 24 - Mission work in Peru about ministry to students and community Harry Horne teaching tools for discerning God’s word October 22 - Outside the box PC(USA) missionaries help Hungarian church find post-Iron Curtain role after half-century of isolation October 19 - From treating symptoms to changing systems Cameroon missionary tells of efforts to fight hunger, injustice October 19 - Missionaries’ role is to work selves ‘out of a job’ PC(USA)’s de la Torre says collaboration with local partners should lead to self-sustainability October 18 - Missionary tells stories about Guatemala Helping women discover their innate value is Wiseman’s top priority October 17 - Mission co-worker couple say leadership training is critical issue in Africa Ted and Sue Wright are itinerating as part of Mission Challenge ’07 October 17 - International mission the effective way A missionary letter from Guatemala October 16 - Getting to know you Workshop goers told there is much to learn about hospitality, community from the poor, marginalized October 15 - More blessed to receive than give Recognizing, accepting gifts of all is key to partnership, panelists say October 10 - Faithful living Panel explores Muslim-Christian relations in Africa, America, Iran October 9 - World needs everyday heroes Cuban pastor uses Esther’s example to show how all are called to mission October 9 - Needed: a hand, not a handout Joining Hands Against Hunger seeks to help people in other nations have a voice October 5 - At a crossroads Presbyterians seek cooperative, churchwide effort for future mission October 4 - Missionaries in ‘Mission Challenge ’07’ commissioned Mission workers will visit 144 presbyteries during October October 3 - More than 600 help kick off Mission Celebration ‘Mission Yearbook has come alive,’ Valentine says October 2 - Up to the challenge 48 PC(USA) missionaries prepare for Mission Challenge ’07 More than 700 gather for World Mission ’07 celebration


	144 presbyteries commit to Mission Challenge ’07 To date 144 of the church’s 173 presbyteries have agreed to host a mission worker this October. The itinerating mission personnel will be asking congregations in these presbyteries to select at least one mission worker and build a relationship with him or her through prayer, correspondence and financial support. They also will challenge presbyteries to seek 100 percent participation by all of their congregations. Organizers had set a goal of having 120 presbyteries involved, says Lora Whearty, chair of the committee planning the event. “We have been overwhelmed by the support we have sensed for mission workers,” Whearty says. “We believe Mission Challenge ’07 will awaken thousands of grassroots Presbyterians to the needs of international mission and help sustain our mission personnel serving around the world.”


	Learn more about Mission Challenge '07 View the most current list of presbyteries which have committed to hosting a speaker for Mission Challenge ’07 and those which have committed to having 100 percent of their congregations in a support relationship with a PC(USA) missionary! We’re paying to get the missionaries to the middle governing bodies, and we’re asking presbyteries to host the missionaries, arrange for a full schedule visiting churches and provide transportation during the visit. Learn more about Mission Challenge '07. Forty-eight missionaries have been selected to participate. Together, they have 622 years of service around the world, an average of almost 18 years per person. They serve in Korea, Mexico, Hungary, Northern Ireland, Cameroon, Pakistan, Thailand, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Bolivia, Egypt, Peru, Malawi, Nepal, Germany, China, South Africa, Zambia and Lebanon. They serve in a great variety of ministries, including education, evangelism, health, development and peacemaking. There are many ways for congregations to support missionaries — prayer, financial support, building relationships — and to get more involved in world mission. Find out more about how to support missionaries. Many resources already exist that describe how Presbyterians are involved in God’s mission around the world. Order resources or subscribe to newsletters about Presbyterian mission work.


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