August 18, 2004
Dear Friend in Christ,
Soon I will be celebrating my fifth year of service as a regional
liaison of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) It has been an exciting
and extraordinarily rewarding journey! Across 10 trips visiting
our partners in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland; amidst over
12,000 emails and hundreds of phone conversations; and, in the
knowledge of our deepening relationships with Orthodox, Baptist,
Lutheran, and Reformed partners in former communist states, I
have felt God’s persistent call to service.
The years have past swiftly and been filled with opportunity:
- In 1999, six Presbyterians served in Russia. Today, 13 adults
have widely varied ministries as the Body of Christ continues
to renew itself in Russia following the end of communism.
- In 1999, our congregational twinning program was largely limited
to Baptist churches in Russia. Today, we have almost 35 twinning
relationships with Orthodox, Baptist, and Lutheran congregations
in Russia and Belarus, and we extend our program to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, the Reformed Church in America,
and the United Churches of Christ.
- In 1999, I was the “newcomer” meeting partners
and mission personnel for the first time. Today, I enjoy a collegial
relationship with leaders of the historic denominations and
feel like “family” when I visit the homes and apartments
of our mission personnel. We catch up on family news; on mission
trends in the denomination; share the frustrations and burdens
of ministry marked by poverty, criminality, and the legacy of
the USSR; and, we pray together.
In these days of ever-tightening mission budgets of the PC(USA),
I write to ask if you will help enable my future service as a
regional liaison. I need help to cover travel expenses to and
from the region and within the region. I need help to meet growing
office needs in this age of information technology.
My work is simple. I serve as a “bridge” between
our church partners and mission personnel and all the folks who
are engaged in mission in my region: individuals, congregations,
presbyteries, synods, the staff in Louisville, and mission support
groups. I meet with Christian leaders in four countries and seek
ways in which we may “come alongside” them as they
rebuild their churches in this new era.
A one-time or an annual gift from you or your congregation can
help our deepening relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ
continue to grow. Here are some examples of what your financial
support can do:
- $25 will buy “phone minutes” to arrange for meetings
with our partners, coordinate travel, and stay connected to
our mission workers as schedules change.
- $50 will pay for two nights lodging at the Agora Center in
St. Petersburg as I visit Orthodox and Lutheran leaders and
seminaries to discuss ongoing shared projects.
- $75 buys a ticket on the “night train” between
Moscow and St. Petersburg allowing me to arrive in the new city
and start work as the city awakes.
- $100 helps me fly to Perm, Russia to visit Jeff Koning of
Atlanta and the three orphanages where his ministry is focused.
- $250 will help defray some of the cost of a laptop to replace
my current Windows 98 machine, which has so faithfully enabled
me to communicate over the years.
- $500 will pay for 1/3 of an airline ticket for my twice annual
visits. Each visit is always to at least two countries (for
example: Russia and Belarus or Russia and Ukraine) and always
includes time with each of our missionaries in their home and
at their church, school, or seminary.
Should you feel that you or your congregation can support my
ministry, the addresses are listed below. Write “Regional
Liaison for Russia/ECO #051663” both on the subject line
of the check and on your cover letter or note.
Contributions from individuals may be sent to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Or click the "give" button below:
Contributions from congregations may be sent to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Church Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643678
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3678
I humbly thank you for your prayer consideration of my request
for support.
May the Peace of Christ be with you,
Gary Payton
Regional Liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
340 |
