Guatemala
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| More and more churches and presbyteries in the PC(USA) are taking advantage of technology that enables them to more easily form individual relationships with churches around the world. Of the seventeen presbyteries in the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala, sixteen have relationships with church bodies in the United States.
The PC(USA) and the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala are working together to create a network of partnerships in which the various partner churches and presbyteries in the U.S. and Guatemala can meet and learn from one another’s successes and setbacks and live into a true partnership. A new, well-functioning partnership exists between Maya Quiche Boca Costa, an indigenous presbytery of the Guatemalan church, and First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Maryland. The Guatemalan presbytery convenes and leads meetings with its visitors from Maryland, prioritizes the community’s greatest needs, and defines projects that the Guatemalans and North Americans can carry out in service to the community. Together they have trained community health workers, have given workshops on natural medicine, and are working toward providing scholarships for children in this community that has very few economic resources. Writes mission worker Marcia Towers, “It’s not easy to work in partnership, but everyone benefits, just as Paul writes of his relationship with the Romans: ‘I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine’ (Rom. 1:11–12).” |
 Partners/Ministries National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG): Rev. Carlos Lara, executive secretary • Presbytery Partnerships: Albany Presbytery, Presbytery of Baltimore, Presbytery of Cincinnati, Heartland Presbytery, Presbytery of Inland Northwest, Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, Mission Presbytery, Peace River Presbytery, and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina with the IENPG PC(USA) General Assembly Staff Patrick Cole, WMD Jimmie Collier, NMD Elder R. Renee Combs, CMD |
 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14). |
 Ps. 27, 102, 126, 147:12–20 Hab. 3:1–10 (11–15), 16–18 Phil. 3:12–21; John 17:1–8 |
