The Presbytery of the Northern Plains
|
| What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear,” floated out over the crowd as voices were lifted in heartfelt song. Women gathered under the shade of the jacaranda tree with their children at their feet, clapping and singing to the music. Men stood in the shade of the tarp wall, and the harmony of their voices was strong and exuberant. The honored guests of the Chogoria Presbytery in Kenya, in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, swayed to the rhythm of the drums. The celebration of “Subdividing a Parish” was under way.
In early 2004 the delegation from the Presbytery of the Northern Plains was in awe of the power of the music as words in English, KiMeru, and KiSwahili shared the familiar melody. They recognized the blessing of the common ground that is found in this friend, Jesus. What an inspiration to the contingent from the Presbytery of the Northern Plains, with 69 churches and 7,905 members. While the American presbytery declines in number of churches and members, Chogoria is growing so rapidly that its parishes are being subdivided into new parishes several times a year. In their partnership Presbyterians from Kenya and North America seek to discern God’s Spirit at work as they learn from each other. At the October 2005 meeting of the Presbytery of the Northern Plains, ministers and lay leaders came from the Chogoria Presbytery to participate in a seminar on preaching. There the Kenyans shared their success in providing rural areas with ministry support through evangelists and lay ministers. The Americans shared the success of ecumenical partnerships that reach small, scattered communities. The partners found many ways to grow together as they shared common concerns and sought solutions through prayer. |
 Presbytery Staff Rev. Dr. Charles R. Traylor, executive presbyter Elder Michael Lochow, stated clerk Laurie Elhard, bookkeeper/communications coordinator PC(USA) General Assembly Staff Alice G. Seewer, MSS Rev. Mary Serovy, BOP Rev. Rodney Sewell, BOP |
 Trust in [God] at all times, O people; pour out your heart before [God]; God is a refuge for us (Ps. 62:8). |
 Ps. 9, 62, 73, 145 Jon. 1:17—2:10 Rev. 11:1–14; Luke 11:14–26 |
