Saturday, July 31, 2021

In the News ... "Lubbock Area Faith Calendar"

Courtesy Photo
• What’s going on in area churches

By Erica Pauda, Reporter
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - From the Avalanche-Journal, news of regular services, and special events and programs at houses of faith in Lubbock and across the South Plains ...

 • Read the rest of this LAJ report ...

In the News ... "Back-to-school events offer free supplies in El Paso, Las Cruces this weekend"

Photo courtesy of Abundant Life Church
 • Area churches among participating organizations

By Cristina CarreonReporter
• El Paso Times


EL PASO, TEXAS - Local organizations and businesses are hosting upcoming back-to-school events for school supplies. Borderland families also can save money on supplies during tax free weekend events in Texas and New Mexico ...

• Read the rest of this EPT report ...

In the News ... "Abilene Sermons: 07/31-08/01/2021"

• What's happening at churches in the Big Country?

Staff Report
Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - Local and area church sermons this weekend.

Encourage your pastor to tell us the upcoming week's sermon topic. It's FREE, and it's open to churches throughout the Big Country. Email it to publishme@reporternews.com by 2 p.m. each Tuesday. Please put "sermon" in the subject line. Include the topic, who will deliver it, a synopsis limited to 60 words, when services begin and the name and street address of your place of worship ...

Read the rest of this ARN report ...

From Outreach Foundation ... "Mission Devotional Day 31"


The Scottish mission historian Andrew Walls writes, “Perhaps the most striking single feature of Christianity today is the fact that the church now looks more like that great multitude whom none can number, drawn from all tribes and kindreds, peoples and tongues, than ever before in its history.” Walls of course is referring to this text from Revelation.

I am a bit wary of folks who contend that they’ve got the Book of Revelation all figured out ...

Read more ...



The Outreach Foundation Depends upon the generous financial support of mission-minded individuals and congregations in order to do our work. Your contribution, regardless of the amount, helps expand Christ-centered evangelistic global mission.

Thank you for your good and generous gifts.

The Outreach Foundation




Engaging followers of Christ for His work in the world, the Outreach Foundation is committed to helping the church live out its missional calling, building the capacity of the global church, especially where the church is vulnerable or growing rapidly, and transforming lives through mission involvement.

The Outreach Foundation
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 110
Franklin, TN 37064,
United States
(615) 778-8881
info@theoutreachfoundation.org

In the News ... "Odessa Church News"


• Today and in the days ahead, in Odessa-area houses of worship

Staff Report
Odessa American


ODESSA, TEXAS - Coming events include worship services, classes, Bible studies, community outreach, fundraisers, mission opportunities and more ...

Read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Photo by Jenea Sanchez
Today in the Mission Yearbook: July 31, 2021

PRESBYTERIAN BORDER MINISTRY - On a cool Arizona Sunday afternoon, mission co-workers Miriam Maldonado Escobar and the Rev. Mark Adams gathered with group of Christians on the border between Agua Prieta, Mexico, and Douglas, Arizona, for a prayer pilgrimage in solidarity with the “Not Another Foot” movement to call for an end of the massive border wall spanning the entire Southern border of the United States ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, July 30, 2021

From ServLife International ... "COVID Relief 2021"

ServLife International is a movement defined by values of God’s kingdom, not programs built around human efforts and activities. The reign and rule of God should be made apparent to every person on the planet, despite their religion, race or socioeconomic status. We believe that issues of justice are inseparable from the good news that Jesus Christ came to proclaim. ServLife exists to take the gospel of Christ and the hope of a better, more just, world to the lives of people we touch. This happens through individual contributions of time, creativity, resources and dreams.



ServLife Photo
COVID Relief 2021

God has proven to be faithful over and over again this last year. As a result, we've been able to care for orphans, children, pastors and families in India and Nepal throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This year with your help, we’ve been able to provide assistance again.

The economic impact of this pandemic has been massive in villages where people make less than $2 per day. Many families have gone without an income for months with little or no aid.

Our partners have begun to share relief with hundreds of families. Approximately 200 families in Nepal and 130 in India have received a month's supply of rice, lentils, salt, cooking oil, and soap. Your $30 will provide one family everything they need to eat for a month.

Click here to give a gift of $30, $90, $150, $300 or more to help families and our partners in India and Nepal.

Thank you,




From Adam Nevins
Executive Director
ServLife International Inc.


Click here to give a gift of $30, $90, $150, $300 or more to help families and our partners in India and Nepal.




Join Our Mission

ServLife International propels reconciliation and justice by building global community to plant churches, care for children and fight poverty. Compelled by the message, life and love of Jesus Christ, we seek to care for the spiritual, physical, social, and economic areas of life in northern India and Nepal.  Learn more about our latest news, featured stories, and how to get involved at servlife.org

Support a Pastor

Our church planters spread
the love of Christ in some of the most difficult
environments in the world.
Support Them ... 

Sponsor a Child

For only $30 per month you can help give a child food, education, care and, most importantly, hope.
Sponsor Now ... 

Fight Poverty

The HOPE Fund, our micro-finance program, provides start-up funds for a small business, paving a way out of poverty for families in need.
Learn More ...



ServLife International, Inc.
P.O. Box 20596
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA


Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash
Today in the Mission Yearbook: July 30, 2021

CARING FOR OTHERS - Over the past year amid a pandemic, protests and politics, I often heard many pastors, elders and mid council staff say that they are having a particularly hard time making ends meet. People aren’t giving the way they used to give. These churches and presbyteries are struggling to do more with less, and it’s the same way at the place where I currently serve, the Presbyterian Mission Agency — which has had a 40% reduction of our workforce over the past 10 years. In the end, the need is becoming greater and greater ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Thursday, July 29, 2021

FBR Report: "Grief and Comfort in a Monsoon"

The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma (Myanmar) and the Middle East. Groups send teams to be trained, supplied and sent into the areas under attack to provide emergency assistance and human rights documentation. Together with other groups, the teams work to serve people in need.



FBR Photo
Grief and Comfort in a Monsoon

11 June 2021
Karen State, Burma

Dear friends,

Thank you for helping us pray with and help people. Yesterday we were with the family of a man named Saw Pah Kee Bu, who was recently killed by a Burma Army mortar attack here in the Ye Mu Plaw area of northern Karen State, Burma. The family was staying in a small hut they built under a towering bamboo grove on the other side of a mountain after fleeing the village where their home was attacked. As the wife told the story she and her children began to cry and so did we. She poured her heart out as a heavy rain began. We stood in the rain and listened with tears coming down our faces ...

CLICK HERE to read/watch the rest of this FBR report ...

Thank you and God bless you,

Dave, family, and team

CLICK HERE to learn how YOU can get involved in FBR and its mission ...

“LOVE EACH OTHER.
UNITE AND WORK FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND PEACE.
FORGIVE AND DON’T HATE EACH OTHER.
PRAY WITH FAITH, ACT WITH COURAGE, NEVER SURRENDER.”

In the News ... "El Paso Walmart shooting: Events honor victims on 2nd anniversary of Aug. 3 tragedy"

EPT File Photo by Briana Sanchez
• Here is a list of some events

Staff Report
El Paso Times


EL PASO, TEXAS - Ceremonies, memorials and observances will take place starting this weekend in remembrance of the second anniversary of the El Paso Walmart attack of Aug. 3, 2019 ...

Read/watch the rest of this EPT report ...

From Synod of the Sun, PC(USA) ... SunSpots: "Christena Cleveland, Pt. 2"

Amidst the changes and chances of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches and entities throughout the The Synod of the Sun found ways to not only survive but also find unique and beautiful ways to minister to God's people in need. Mission and ministry takes form in supplying basic necessities, or caring for the environment. Connections have been made via video feed and blankets. Love is supplied via learning how to read and drive-in diapers.



Christena Cleveland, Pt. 2

In this edition of SunSpots, we’re going back to November 14th of last year when the Network for Dismantling Racism hosted a conversation with activist, public theologian, and author Christena Cleveland, Ph.D.

Today’s episode is from the afternoon session with Christena where she reflected on how the Church has responded (or not responded) to events like the Tulsa Race Massacre and what the Church's role is and should be in movements like Black Lives Matter.

This is part two of that afternoon session, featuring the Question and Answer discussion.

Check out christenacleveland.com to find out more about this ministry.

Don’t listen to podcasts? The same content we post on the SunSpots podcast will also be posted on our YouTube page.

You can find SunSpots on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Alexa (“Hey Alexa, play the SunSpots podcast”), or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.



Find SunSpots on our web page ...


Find SunSpots content on the Synod of the Sun YouTube channel ...
(click on SunSpots playlist)

From Outreach Foundation ... "Mission Devotional Day 29"


These verses from the Letter to the Ephesians have had a great impact upon many people, including John Calvin and John Wesley.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” ...

Read more ...



The Outreach Foundation Depends upon the generous financial support of mission-minded individuals and congregations in order to do our work. Your contribution, regardless of the amount, helps expand Christ-centered evangelistic global mission.

Thank you for your good and generous gifts.

The Outreach Foundation




Engaging followers of Christ for His work in the world, the Outreach Foundation is committed to helping the church live out its missional calling, building the capacity of the global church, especially where the church is vulnerable or growing rapidly, and transforming lives through mission involvement.

The Outreach Foundation
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 110
Franklin, TN 37064,
United States
(615) 778-8881
info@theoutreachfoundation.org

In the News ... "Rainbow Room looking to have kids in need ready for the start of school"

KOSA Photo
• Rainbow Room’s goal this year is to fill and give away at least 400 backpacks

By Kate Porter, Reporter
KOSA-TV

ODESSA/MIDLAND, TEXAS - With students heading back to school in the next few weeks, the Rainbow Room is busy collecting school supplies for kids in the CPS and Foster systems.

The first day of school feeling isn’t complete without new school supplies to start the year off.

The Rainbow Room is making sure no child in the Permian Basin goes without that feeling for the upcoming school season.

Businesses, churches, and people from Odessa and Midland have been donating essential items to the Rainbow Room for their school supply drive ...

Read/watch the rest of this KOSA report ...


Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

J. Spenser Darden
Today in the Mission Yearbook: July 29, 2021

DISMANTLING RACISM - What started off as an initiative of the adult Sunday school class at First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown, West Virginia, has grown to a wider community-based effort now called Dismantling Racism Together ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

From @mmm_water ... "Save a village, you can do it!"


Sharing the love of Jesus by providing safe, clean, sustainable sources of drinking water to the extreme poor in sub-Saharan Africa, Marion Medical Mission is one of our mission partners at Grace Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, and we STRONGLY encourage you to read the following to learn more about - and pray for! - their mission.

MMM Photo
Save a village, you can do it!

The biggest threat to the health and safety of a child in Africa isn’t what you might suspect.

Half of the hospital admissions in Sub-Saharan Africa are because of waterborne diseases. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest younger than 5 mortality rate in the world... 15 times higher than in high income countries. Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with feces.*

Last year, Marion Medical Mission helped build more than 3,000 wells in Africa, providing hundreds of thousands of villagers with safe, sustainable drinking water.

So, the next time you leave your faucet running, wasting clean, drinking water, think about all the young children from Sub-Saharan Africa fighting for their lives after contracting waterborne illnesses.

There are ways you, your church, or organization can make a lifesaving difference. Ask how to easily raise $450. Be a Hero! Together, we can save a village and our world.




Looking for Easy Ways to Help?

Follow us on social media! Liking, commenting on, and sharing our posts helps increase our exposure so that new supporters will find us! Writing a quick, 5-star review on Google or recommending us on Facebook are also great ways to share our mission!

Visit Our Website ...


In the News ... "Unveiling of El Paso County’s Healing Garden set for August 3rd"

Photo courtesy of  El Paso County
• Paying tribute to the 23 victims of Walmart Massacre on August 3rd, 2019

Staff Report
El Paso Herald-Post


EL PASO, TEXAS - El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Commissioners, and other community leaders will participate in the dedication ceremony and unveiling of the Healing Garden, on August 3rd, at 7 p.m. at Ascarate Lake ...

Read the rest of this EPHP report ...

From @austinseminary ... "The Reed" for July 2021


President Wardlaw: "Encourage those with gifts for ministry"

Austin Seminary President Ted Wardlaw testifies to what God can do to form leaders for the church in this video produced by the Presbyterian Foundation.

Hearing the Call: Austin Seminary from Presbyterian Foundation on Vimeo.

Library staff shares expertise on transition


On June 17, the Stitt Library staff gave a presentation at the 2021 online annual conference for the Association for Theological Libraries Association (Atla). Their topic was "There and Back Again (Almost), or One Library's Staff's Journey through A Major Construction Project," one which they are currently experts! They discussed their journey of designing a major renovation, vacating a building, storing 90,000 books, moving into temporary quarters, continuing library services—all while helping the Seminary make a sharp pivot from face-to-face teaching to distance education! Construction on the library renovation continues apace with the expectation to move back into the new and renewed space this fall.

Recent social media posts ...

(June 28) Congratulations to Professor Carolyn Helsel on this honor for her book with Yvette Joy Harris-Smith, The ABCs Of Diversity, which was named the 2020 Bronze Winner for Family and Relationships from Foreword Reviews.

(June 22) Mark your calendars for July 29 for an insightful conversation between Dean Jensen and Rabbi Peretz, who have team taught courses in our Certificate in Jewish Christian Relationship program.

(June 18) The African and African Descent Student Group hosted an impromptu Juneteenth prayer service this morning around the Ethel Lance Circle outside Shelton Chapel. This week

(June 17) marks 6 years since Lance's murder at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

• Stay up to date with Austin Seminary by liking our Facebook page ....

Upcoming lay leadership education

Austin Seminary's online certificate programs are enrolling for the fall semester.

Certificate in Ministry: "WORSHIP AND PREACHING" with Professor Jennifer Lord and "INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT" with Professor Bridgett Greenbr />
• Learn more and register ....

Education Beyond the Walls: UPCOMING

""A Generous and Expanded Table: The Hybrid Faith Community," October 18-20" ... South Central Region of the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators' (SCRAPCE) 2021 Annual Conference takes place online and onsite. Bruce Reyes-Chow will help us uncover the gifts and learnings of the past year and ask good questions as we move into the future of hybrid Christian education. Together we will envision how to expand the table while maintaining what makes us who we are as a community of faith. For anyone with responsibility within congregational Christian education programs.

• More about this offering ....

Please Support our Students and Faculty with a Gift to the Annual Fund

Austin Seminary provides merit-based and need-based financial assistance to the vast majority of our students so that they can pursue their calling in ministry, wherever that may take them. This would not be possible without the generosity of our donors.

Please support the future leaders of the church by sending your gift to the Annual Fund today.

Support our graduates ....



Get the latest news from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in their digital monthly eNewsletter. Features on events, students, faculty, and alumni can be sent directly to your inbox.





From Outreach Foundation ... "Mission Devotional Day 28"


These eleven verses (1:3-14) from Paul are just one sentence in Greek. He is packing in a lot! At the center of this long sentence, we read this: “He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” ...

Read more ...



The Outreach Foundation Depends upon the generous financial support of mission-minded individuals and congregations in order to do our work. Your contribution, regardless of the amount, helps expand Christ-centered evangelistic global mission.

Thank you for your good and generous gifts.

The Outreach Foundation




Engaging followers of Christ for His work in the world, the Outreach Foundation is committed to helping the church live out its missional calling, building the capacity of the global church, especially where the church is vulnerable or growing rapidly, and transforming lives through mission involvement.

The Outreach Foundation
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 110
Franklin, TN 37064,
United States
(615) 778-8881
info@theoutreachfoundation.org

In the News ... "San Angelo's Opal Allen dedicated her life to faith, family and teaching"

Contributed Photo
• “A woman who loved
God and His Word”

By Dudra Butler, Special Contributor
San Angelo Standard Times


SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - A few days ago, I was blessed by being at one of the most heartwarming memorials that I had ever attended. It had been 16 months since we had lost our friend, Opal Allen ...

Read the rest of this SAST report

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook


The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: July 28, 2021

NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK - Inspired by their grandchildren, three friends and members of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, California, have created a new children’s book, “God is With Us Always Even in a Pandemic.” ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

In the News ... "Salvation Army brings Christmas in July with a bake-off"

KOSA Photo
• Event reminds people and contestants of the importance of giving back to people in need

By Eduardo Huijon, Jr., Reporter
KOSA-TV


MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Salvation Army of Midland has brought the merry and joyful holiday this summer by hosting their first annual Christmas in July bake-off.

Candi Gordon, owner of Cand’elish Sweet Treats, has been baking since she was a child and enjoys giving back to the community ...

 • Read/watch the rest of this KOSA report ...

From Outreach Foundation ... "Addressing the crisis in Cuba"



Cuba Appeal

Cubans are now experiencing the gravest economic crisis in 30 years. With food and medicine in short supply and available goods priced beyond the reach of most people, our Presbyterian family there (the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba) has an urgent need to assist its 60 congregations - most of which are found in small towns with few resources - to meet their basic needs.

Outreach Foundation Photo
In addition, when the Pediatric Hospital in Matanzas reached capacity at the end of June, our seminary partner there, the Evangelical Theological Seminary, was asked to open their large dorm to accommodate the overflow of children who were testing positive from Covid-19 and a family member for each child. This facility is now running at full capacity and, each day, the kitchen staff feeds 140 patients and medical personnel. Although the government supplies food, the seminary is needing to cover kitchen and cleaning staff plus utilities, such as water and electricity, which have both risen in cost by more than 130%.

In response, The Outreach Foundation is seeking support for our partners in Cuba to aid during this time of crisis.




Engaging followers of Christ for His work in the world, the Outreach Foundation is committed to helping the church live out its missional calling, building the capacity of the global church, especially where the church is vulnerable or growing rapidly, and transforming lives through mission involvement.

The Outreach Foundation
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 110
Franklin, TN 37064,
United States
(615) 778-8881
info@theoutreachfoundation.org