An Opportunity for your Congregation

The Presbytery of Western North Carolina has enjoyed a remarkable partnership with two presbyteries in Guatemala for almost ten years. With our brothers and sisters in Guatemala, we have grown together in the five priorities agreed upon by all three presbyteries: Hispanic Ministry, youth retreats, Christian Education, health projects, and church-to-church pairings. The church-to-church pairing has been one of the most direct and rewarding ways of relating to Guatemalan Presbyterians. However, all but two of the nearly thirty churches in Guatemala have PWNC partners, which leaves nearly one hundred churches here without such a partner.

As two of the five priorities set out in the partnership -- Christian Education and Health Ministries -- have matured, they have reached a point where now they could develop more rapidly with congregational partners themselves. So, the Coordinating Council of PWNC has approved a Partnership Task Force recommendation that churches be invited to partner with one of these two priorities instead of a local church, with many of the same benefits and requirements.

As with a congregational partnership, the church that chooses to partner with Christian Education or Health Ministries will contribute $200/year. This money will help fund the plans developed by the joint committees of each priority, as spelled out below. In return, the church here will receive assistance and resources to help its members benefit spiritually by the relationship.

This expansion of the partnership to include the chance to "partner" with a program priority instead of a congregation will provide many more of our churches here an opportunity to experience the blessings, the excitement, and the challenge that our deepening relationship with Guatemalans is providing.

Help Further Christian Education & Health Ministries in Guatemala…and Further Your Church's Growth & Vitality

By becoming involved with the Christian Education and/or Health Ministries partnership between the Presbytery of Western North Carolina and our sister presbyteries in Guatemala, your church's understanding and vision of God's kingdom and your part in it can grow as well.

• A speaker will be sent to your church on (at least) a yearly basis to update your congregations on the status of Christian Education and/or Health Ministries in Guatemala.
• Sunday School lessons concerning why Christian Education is important both here and in Guatemala and/or lessons on health or environmental concerns that affect us here and in Guatemala will be provided to partner churches here.
• Churches will be able to send delegates to Guatemala to see first hand and to participate in Christian Education training or health related projects with Guatemalan churches; also, those delegates, their pastors and sessions will be given help in developing plans to enlarge the impact of their visits on their congregations.

When churches partner with Christian Education Ministries:

• Sunday School Kits are supplied for leaders, children and youth in Guatemala.
• Teacher supplies, such as flannel board materials, scissors and other resources are made possible.
• Teams from the Presbytery of Western North Carolina can be sent to help train leaders and teachers for Christian Education.
• Children and Youth have the opportunity to "partner" with Sunday School classes and youth groups in Guatemala; i.e. letters, photographs, etc. can be exchanged.

When churches partner with Health Ministries:

• They will help improve community health with dry or composting latrines, organic family gardens, community health programs, advanced training for health educators.
• So whether you are already partnered with a sister church in Guatemala, or whether you are not – you may participate in this opportunity that will change lives both here and in Guatemala.

For More Information Contact: Rev. Susan Rice (828) 437-7806, Rev. Randall Boggs (828) 891-7101 or Ginnie Stevens (828) 438-4217.