Mission Crossroads is a three-time-a-year magazine focused on worldwide work of the PC(USA). It offers news and feature stories about mission personnel, international partners and grassroots Presbyterians involved in God's mission in the world.
Issue link: https://missioncrossroads.epubxp.com/i/592761
A T T H E C R O S S R O A D S | Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission The hardest thing It's a time of fragmentation in our society. Te divorce rate is higher than at any other time in history. Politics in Washington is mired in gridlock, and "the ability to compromise" is seen as weakness among many of our congressional representatives. Trust across political lines is so low that some question whether anyone can govern our country. Even in the church, it seems our conversations about issues of vital importance—marriage equality, Israel and Palestine, and a host of social witness issues—divide us, rather than engage us in shared refection on Scripture. Joshua Searle, a British theologian, has observed, "Authentic conversation is rare today; rather, we exist on intersecting monologues." Each month, several PC(USA) congregations vote to leave the denomination due to what they believe are irreconcilable diferences, and some presbytery meetings are marred with seemingly endless debate over hot issues. It seems that today, the hardest thing required of us is to work together. Yet a growing number of congregations and presbyteries are joining forces to make a diference in God's world: • In mission networks—Presbyterians from over two dozen congregations in Shenango, Trinity and Redstone presbyteries and beyond are working with South Sudanese church partners and mission co-workers in the Sudan and South Sudan Mission Network. PC(USA) mission co-workers Nancy and Shelvis Smith-Mather, Leisa Wagstaf and Lynn and Sharon Kandel are participating in the efort. Teir goal is to improve the quality of education for 70,000 children in 40 towns through teacher training, in ways they could not do by themselves. Te vision of making a real diference for some of the poorest children in the world in a sustainable way has already inspired more than $1.5 million in gifts and pledges small and large and galvanized mission energy in PC(USA) congregations beyond the presbyteries. • In high-impact projects—In Egypt, mission co-workers Cinda and Steve Gorman are helping Egyptian and U.S. Presbyterians to take advantage of an unprecedented opportunity. Te Egyptian government, for the frst time in 156 years of Presbyterian mission work in that country, is giving properties to the Egyptian Presbyterian Church to build schools and churches. Jim Davis, a member of Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, has been inspired by the Gormans' eforts and recently made a $1 million gift to build churches and schools and to strengthen our partner seminary's outreach into Egypt and six other Middle Eastern nations with relevant, Reformed theological education in Arabic. • In global campaigns—Jed Koball, now in his sixth year as a mission co-worker in Peru, serves as a catalyst, helping to leverage dozens of PC(USA) congregations' expertise and advocacy, more than $500,000 of government and nonproft funding, the political infuence of more than 20 religious, environmental and human rights organizations and the media to improve the health of 11,000 lead-poisoned children in a city contaminated by a U.S.- owned metal smelter. In each of these examples, Presbyterian mission workers are inspiring, equipping and connecting U.S. Presbyterians to do something together that they couldn't accomplish by themselves. Against the tide of fragmentation in our society and in our church, I fnd it deeply encouraging to see Presbyterians—young and old, liberal and conservative—come together in God's mission. It reminds me of the insight of the former president of Princeton Seminary, Dr. Tom Gillespie: "Our theological diferences do not nullify the Great Commission or the Great Commandment." Mission Crossroads is a Presbyterian Mission Agency publication about the church's mission around the world. Presbyterian World Mission is committed to sending mission personnel, empowering the global church, and equipping the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for mission as together we address the root causes of poverty, work for reconciliation amid cultures of violence, and share the good news of God's saving love through Jesus Christ. EDITOR Kathy Melvin PROJECT MANAGER Tammy Warren ART DIRECTOR Mark Tomson CONTRIBUTORS Terri Bate, Barbara Chalfant, Patrick Cole, Blake Collins, Christine Coy Fohr, Hunter Farrell, Elizabeth Little, Kathy Melvin, Greg Allen-Pickett, Tammy Warren STAY CONNECTED For free additional copies of this magazine, email nicole.gerkins@pcusa.org or call 800-728-7228, x5611. To be added to the mailing list or to change your mailing address, email development.services@pcusa.org or call 800-728-7228, x8658. Presbyterian World Mission pcusa.org/worldmission On the cover: Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, North Carolina, created a World Garden inspired by the yard garden program developed in Haiti by PC(USA) mission co-worker Mark Hare. Photo by Jay Hill