August 28, 2007

Dear Friends and Colleagues in Mission,

We have just returned from a sharing conference with mission colleagues from around the world, and the only word to describe the experience is excitement. That’s right—excitement. We met and heard the new leadership in the World Mission program unit of our church. We shared our work together with other mission co-workers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central Asia, and the U.S.-Mexican border. We were inspired, challenged, and blessed. And this is just the beginning.

From October 2-6 there will be a churchwide mission conference, “A Celebration of Grace,” in Louisville that is being called “a conference for Presbyterians passionate about mission.”

Then, on October 5, forty-seven mission co-workers set off for a month of intensive mission interpretation. They will visit 143 presbyteries across the denomination and speak at about 700 churches, sharing the exciting things that God is doing in and through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in mission. This effort, known as Mission Challenge ’07, will continue through November 2. We will both be participating in this churchwide mission challenge.

In preparation for Mission Challenge ’07, all 10,884 churches of our denomination will receive a letter in mid-September describing this mission focus. In early October, a box will arrive in every church containing bulletin inserts and a DVD with a message from the new World Mission director, Hunter Farrell. The DVD will contain two videos that bring to life representative samples of the work that mission co-workers are doing around the world.

This new emphasis upon mission is exciting. It is exciting because it involves the whole church. It is exciting because it lifts up the worldwide mission of the Presbyterian Church, a mission that has been continuing for 173 years! It is exciting because every church and every Presbyterian can participate. How? By attending the conference in Louisville. By choosing to support a Presbyterian mission co-worker. By increasing your church’s support to world mission. By upholding Presbyterian missionaries around the world in your daily prayers. By relating personally to a missionary through regular correspondence. By becoming aware of the interconnectedness of our world and the fact that every one of us can make a difference. Yes, these are exciting times in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and we are excited about being a part of it.

Won’t you join us?

We will be returning to Korea and to Hanil University and Presbyterian Theological Seminary in mid-November. We would ask that you keep us in your prayers, your support, and your correspondence.

May God grant you grace and blessing and you serve our Lord.

Faithfully in mission,

Carol Chou Adams / Daniel J. Adams

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 247