Mission Memo for May 2007

CONTENTS:
1. GOT MISSION?
2. SUPPORT FOR BECCA YOUNG, MISSIONARY TO INDONESIA
3. YOUTH & CHILDREN’S PROJECT FOR NKHOMA HOSPITAL
4. RESPONSE TO TRAGEDY AT VIRGINIA TECH
5. HELPING HANDS WORK DAY AT CAMP GRIER – MAY 12
6. HELP WANTED: MALE COUNSELORS FOR CAMP GRIER
7. NICKEL A MEAL TEE SHIRTS – DEADLINE FOR ORDER JUNE 1
8. PENTECOST OFFERING – MAY 27
9. FREE HOUSING FOR PEACEMAKING CONFERENCE – JULY 3-7
10. LET’S CELEBRATE – DAY OF LEARNING AND FELLOWSHIP – AUGUST 18
11. PRAYER CONCERNS

1. GOT MISSION? We’ve received word from six more churches that are committing to supporting a PC(USA) missionary. What about yours? Thumbnail sketches of missionaries from or connected to PWNC and other helpful material were handed out at Presbytery meeting. If you can’t find your church’s packet, contact Ginnie.

NOTE: We asking that all churches, even those that have been supporting missionaries long-term, fill out commitment forms. One is attached.

2. SUPPORT FOR BECCA YOUNG, MISSIONARY TO INDONESIA
The Rev. Dr. Rebecca (Becca) Young, a member of PWNC, needs full support ($159,000 for three years) by May 22 if she is going to begin teaching at Jakarta Theological Seminary in the fall. She needs $53,000 actually “in the bank” and pledges for the rest. Please consider her for support. She’s eager to speak with churches who want to know more; she can be reached at bedtah@yahoo.com; 706-631-2308. There is an article about her in this mailing.

3. YOUTH & CHILDREN’S PROJECT FOR NKHOMA HOSPITAL
The youth and children have another opportunity to do a mission project together, as they did two years ago when they raised enough money to build a bathhouse for the children’s ward at Nkhoma Hospital. This year they can help furnish a children’s examination room. Kyle Nelson, a junior in high school who is going on this trip, explains how he got involved in this mailing. On the reverse side of his story is a description of what’s going to be done.

4. RESPONSE TO TRAGEDY AT VIRGINIA TECH
People across the nation and around the word are responding to the tragic deaths at Virginia Tech this week. At times like these, churches are most often the sought out places of comfort, consolation and support. Sorrow is not reserved only for those who knew one of the persons killed, and each time a tragic event occurs, all of us suffer loss.

The PC(USA) National Health Ministries (NHM) has developed a web page with resources that may be helpful as people, in a congregational setting, look to one another for solace. These resources can be accessed by going to the following link: www.pcusa.org/nationalhealth.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), supported by our One Great Hour of Sharing offerings, has been present. Within hours of the shootings, three members of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team (NRT) were on their way to the campus to be a presence and resource to the community. Over the years, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been very engaged in helping communities and student survivors that have been affected by school shootings. Read more at http://pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/va-vatechshooting041707.htm.

5. HELPING HANDS WORK DAY AT CAMP GRIER – MAY 12
REGISTRATION BY MAY 1
An opportunity for everyone, small children to seniors, to participate in a one-day “mission team” to get the camp ready for summer and begin preparing the Global Village site. We’re going to especially recognize Mom’s who participate. Call the Presbytery office if you don’t know where the registration form for your church is. If you can’t come, but want to be part of the day, you can send a contribution to Camp Grier, POB 490, Old Fort, 29762.

6. HELP WANTED: MALE COUNSELORS FOR CAMP GRIER: Spread the word! Mission Opportunity for Young Men…Male counselors are needed at Camp Grier. Must be at least 18 years old and graduated from high school (preferably 1 year of college), and enjoy working with children in a Christian outdoor setting. Contact Camp Director Dave Cohn at 828-668-7793; dave@campgrier.org.

7. NICKEL A MEAL TEE SHIRTS – DEADLINE FOR ORDER JUNE 1: The Hunger Committee sported custom-designed “hunger wear” at the last Presbytery meeting, with a colorful graphic promoting Nickel a Meal on the back. After several people asked about purchasing tee shirts for themselves or their youth, the Committee arranged to have more made. They cost $10 each and must be ordered by June 1. An order form is at the bottom of these Memos.

8. PENTECOST OFFERING – MAY 27. This is one of the four denominational offerings. It provides a direct way to meet the needs of children-at-risk, youth and young adults. Congregations are encouraged to keep 40% of the Offering to support ministry with children at risk in their own communities. The General Assembly’s portion (60%) provides leadership development opportunities for Presbyterian youth and young adults and supports children-at-risk programs at the national level. Every church should have received a packet of material around two months ago. If not, go to www.pcusa.org/pentecost.

9. FREE HOUSING FOR PEACEMAKING CONFERENCE – JULY 3-7. Contact Presbytery office for application for housing. For more information, contact Judith West at jdwest@citcom.net; 828-883-3272. For more info & to register go to http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/conferences/2007.htm. The theme is “Jesus: Proclaiming Peace.”

10. LET’S CELEBRATE – DAY OF LEARNING AND FELLOWSHIP – AUGUST 18
First Presbyterian Church, Morganton. Proposed workshops related to Outreach Division are listed below. Complete schedule available in May on-line and from the Presbytery office.

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood - Deborah McEachran and Dennis Stamper, Members of Hunger Committee
Too Light a Thing: Why Even Presbyterians Must Share God's Love with Others -Richard Boyce, Professor at Union-PSCE, Charlotte
Google Me a Mission - Homer Rickabaugh and Randy Hembree, Members of the Missions Committee
Dealing With the Bully - Jan Mahannah, Executive Director, Mediation Center of the Southern Piedmont
Mission in the Small Church - Wanda Woodby, Elder FPC, Burnsville and Member of Missions Committee
Peace in the Holy Land - James Aydelotte, Stated Clerk, Presbytery of WNC
Global Villages - David Cohn, Director, Camp Grier
Reclaiming Christmas - Ginnie Stevens, Associate for Missions, PWNC
Missionaries Need Love Too! - Dr. Barbara Nagy, Missionary to Malawi, and Ginnie Stevens

11. Prayer Concerns
From Debbie and Del Braaksma, missionaries working with RECONCILE in Southern Sudan. They are on the PWNC list of missionaries to consider beyond the ones directly connected to our Presbytery. You can read about them, as well as all PCUSA missionaries at www.pcusa.org/missionconnections
• The Christians of South Bor area, where Rev. Christopher Banja and Debbie Braaksma recently conducted a workshop, request prayers for a cessation of inter-ethnic violence. The 25 participants received 4 reports of close family members being killed or wounded during the course of the workshop.
• Pray for the continued success of the Intertribal Fellowship in Tombura Sudan as they engage in Bible study, fellowship, dialogue and a youth music and sports program to encourage reconcilation between the various ethnic groups.
• Pray for Del Braaksma as he does a seminar on the Comprhensive Peace Agreement in Yambio Sudan at the end of this month and Debbie as she does a trauma healing seminar with teachers in Yei.
• Pray for funds to come in for the completion of the Yei Training Centre dormitory.
• Pray for Son Daniel as he begins his comprehensive O Level exams in May.

For Mission Teams:
• Prayer flyers have been sent to all churches for the Guatemala (April 25-May 3) and Malawi (May 22 and May 23-June 4) teams. Include them in your prayers for the people.
• Lees-McRae College is taking a team to do a mission project together with UNEC, the national Presbyterian youth organization in an indigenous area of Guatemala. Pray for those going, including Rev. Kathy Campbell, Chaplain and Barbara Hosbein, translator, as they serve and live in three cultures.
• The Guatemalans who will be visiting PWNC May 3-10. That they will be blessed and a blessing.
• Youth Triennium. Our delegation will include two or three global partners: a Malawian student from Wake Forest Univeristy; a Haitian and hopefully, a Guatemalan. Pray that God will lead us to the right person from Guatemala and that students and adults alike will experience God in new and exciting ways.

HUNGER WEAR ORDER FORM

Orders must be received by June 1. Cost is $10.

Adults Children
____ Small ____ Small
____ Medium ____ Medium
____ Large ____ Large
____ XLarge
____ XX Large

Name of Person Placing Order: ____________________________________

Tel # _________________________ E-mail _________________________

Church: _______________________________________________________

Please include check to PWNC with order; designate “hunger wear.”
Send to PWNC, 114 Silver Creek Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.