The Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Indiana
The eight-week Easter season causes one to reflect on the miracles of God Almighty and to give thanks for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. In what must have been a dramatic and awesome display, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples — visually as tongues of fire, and audibly as the rush of a mighty wind.
There was nothing subtle in this event. The sound of the wind attracted a crowd. The crowd saw an excited group of disciples milling around, maybe even dancing, and speaking in foreign tongues. Jerusalem was full of tourists, and they all heard the disciples preaching in their native languages.
Presbyterians in Wabash Valley are feeling the power of the Holy Spirit sweep through the presbytery from north to south. They have adopted three priorities to guide their actions: to create and enhance congregational partnerships; to provide, encourage, and financially support leadership development; and to practice discernment and the discipline of spiritual renewal.
The presbytery has also reorganized its Committee on Ministry to support and enhance pastoral leadership and congregational life and mission. The COM has been restructured and based on congregational size: family size, pastoral size, and program size. Through its Interim Ministry Team the presbytery has also led its congregation to participate in ten Emmaus Table Conversations using the model from The World Café, by Juanita Brown with David Isaacs.
According to accounts in the book of Acts, the disciples were changed and empowered in wonderful ways by the coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter raised Dorcas, the seamstress, from the dead. Peter, a devout Jew, went into a Gentile house, preached the gospel, and baptized the entire household, and Paul exorcised a demon from the body of a slave girl.
These stories have inspired the presbytery to take some risks, to step out in faith.
The Presbytery of Wabash Valley’s 94 congregations serve 15,811 members.
Presbytery Staff
Rev. Ray Fancher, interim general presbyter
Elder Linda L. Long, stated clerk
Rev. David Smook, pastor to pastors
James I. Painter, treasurer
Tom Roots, interim director for Geneva Center
Gladys Sargent, office manager
Vicki Dreibelbis, church relations coordinator
Doug Capper, bookkeeper
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Rev. Mark Hinds, GAMC
Rev. G. Lee Hinson-Hasty, GAMC
God of new creation, we thank you for the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to put our trust in you as we step out of our comfort zones and seek to forge new partnerships. May these alliances demonstrate to our neighbors your power and love for all the world. Amen.
Ps. 99, 147:1–11 Ps. 9, 118
Deut. 19:1–7
James 5:13–18; Luke 12:22–31
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