Mission in Action - Mission Presbytery

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Healthcare Reform Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer

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On Wednesday, June 24th in Washington DC at Freedom Plaza from 4pm – 8 pm faith groups will converge in a public worship service to demonstrate support for healthcare reform. There will be echo events across the country. One of the key people suggested that it would be great if there could be a similar faith-based event for healthcare reform during the third week of June in San Antonio. If there are people who want to travel to Washington (with their congregational banners) for the Washington event, please just let Cliff Frasier know. A flyer announcing the event will be posted on the Mission Presbytery web site.

More information can be obtained from Rev. Cliff Frasier, SEIU Faith Initiative, w- 202/730-7091; c- 917/359-9281; cliff.frasier@seiu.org

Monday, April 20, 2009

New Mission Brochure Available
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The Mission, Outreach and Service Division has produced a brochure (click here) of all the ministries that MOSD has supported in the last few years. These are validated ministries that have been held accountable for the funds that they have received. We urge member churches of Mission Presbytery to consider supporting one or more of these agencies.

As the Presbytery’s funds shrink, MOSD may not be able to fund these agencies directly, but we hope that individual churches will “pick up the slack.”

In this time of economic downturn, more people need the services of these ministries. The agencies themselves are hurting from lack of enough donations and many are having to cut back. Be generous and support Christian groups through whom we can feed the poor and clothe the naked, probably more efficiently than we can do as individual congregations alone.
Be a sheep, not a goat! (Matthew 25: 31-46)

FOLDING THE BROCHURE: The brochure is intended to be printed double sided and then folded in half. Use legal sized paper, 8 1/2 X 14 for a better look. Each end is then folded toward the middle. The finished product should have the Mission Presbytery cover panel on the front and the Mission Presbytery website/map panel on the back. When it is opened the “What in the World is MOSD?” panel and the Mission Validation Process panel are on the left and right. When fully opened, all the missions represented are on the inside page.

Friday, April 03, 2009

Amistad Prayer Update March 24, 2009

“The work of God for you,” replied Jesus “is to believe in the one
whom he has sent to you.” John 6:29


Please, join Proyecto Amistad and Churches of Noreste Presbytery of Mexico in praying for the following:

-We give thanks to God for the life and service of Juanita Herrera, formerly of Sinai PC in Monclova, Coahuila who has passed away, as was mentioned in our last update. Juanita was active for years in Noreste Presbytery and the Union Nacional de
Sociedades Femeniles (National Presbyterian Women’s Society) as well as a member of Laredos Unidos board of directors and, for a short time, a member of Proyecto Amistad board of directors.

- Pray for Mexico, its people, leaders, and, especially for the Church, that God would give strength, wisdom, and the faith to be God’s answer to the many challenges that the nation faces – economy, drug cartel activity, and schools. Pray for God’s provisions and guidance for Proyecto Amistad ministry on how to respond to the reduction in US/MX church partnership work due to the news about the drug violence and economy.

-Join in praying for Capopan Flores de Jesus of El Buen Pastor of Castanos, Coah. who is recovering from hip replacement surgery. Capopan and her husband Sylvestre have devoted many years of their lives to the work of the church and we give thanks to God for the work accomplished through them.

-We are thankful for the after school VBS carried out at El Buen Pastor PC of Castanos, Coah. supported by Covenant PC of San Antonio, TX (see photo). We also give thanks for El Buen Pastor’s new program reaching kids in one of the bad neighborhoods. The work has gone very well and the kids have responded very enthusiastically to the teaching, fellowship, and activities.

-Pray for the start up of a Kids Club here in Nuevo Laredo by Amistad and local churches. The focus will be to reach kids with the “life and peace” of Jesus Christ who, otherwise, might fall victim to the many deadly influences that surround them.

-We give thanks for the “Bible Encounter” activity hosted by Victoria en Jesucristo here in Nuevo Laredo. Participants enjoyed fellowship and improved their Bible knowledge through games involving scripture memorization and Q&A (see photo).

-Pray for Proyecto Amistad’s board of directors meeting this Saturday the 28th. Pray for God’s guidance for the board and that He would provide US board members for the two vacancies that exist. The board is made up of four members from Noreste Presbytery of Mexico and four members PC (USA) of Mission Presbytery.



“Respondió Jesús y les dijo: Esta es la obra de Dios, que creás en el que él ha enviado.” Juan 6.29

NEWS FROM DENNIS SMITH

Dennis Smith was here in October 2007 and traveled around Mission Presbytery to speak at many of our churches. He also addressed the Presbytery meeting at that time in Mission. He is a missionary to Guatemala and was here with Mission Challenge 2007, an effort to make Presbyterians more knowledgeable about our work with partner churches in other countries . Recently he has written a letter about the current violence in Guatemala that has terrified many people and about the source of hope. Read his letter http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/letters/smithd/smithd_0903.htm

URGENT NEED FOR ASSISTANCE - Guatemala Partnership

This year, CESSMAQ has identified a need that will require a lot of prayer, personal commitment and the financial support from all who are willing and capable of assisting. The village of Candelaria, approximately 6 kilometers north of La Cumbre has 104 church going Mayan men, women, and children. At the present time, unfortunately there is no church for them to go to. A not so unique facet of the church in Guatemala, like in the U.S., people find their church in a place where they are loved and cared for by their church family and where they can seek refuge in their time of disparity and struggle.

A call has been received by CESSMAQ to build them a church, a humble structure not much bigger than a three car garage is in the planning stages. The congregation has been able to secure the property on their own. A team is currently being formed to travel to this remote village in Guatemala to start this work. Volunteers are needed. Dates for the trip are scheduled for 4 – 11 July 2009. A flyer for this trip has been created and posted to the web site (www.CESSMAQ.org) as well in addition to being provided to Mission Presbytery.

The Guatemala Partnership Team humbly comes to you for your prayers and financial assistance of any amount. The initial cost estimate is approximately $29,000.00 and in the scope of all things this is a meager amount that promises a huge return on the investment. The word of God will continue to be spread throughout this region of Guatemala, and our Mayan brothers and sisters will have a church home (Divino Libertad) to attend. Each cinderblock financed by you at $2.00 a piece brings this dream closer to fruition.

May God bless you and provide for your needs and where possible allow you to provide for the needs of others.

In His Service,
Edward Esparza, Elder
Co-Leader summer 2009
John Calvin Presbyterian Church
silbia@sbcglobal.net
AND
Arlene J. Esparza, Elder
Co-Leader summer 2009
Divine Redeemer Presbyterian

Send all donations to:
Mission Presbytery
7201 BROADWAY STE 303
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209

Write "Summer 2009 Trip" in the memo section

sent 3/23/2009 from missionpby@missionpby.org