In the News ... "Reverend: Take care of people"

Courtesy Photo

• Leaders plan vigil TONIGHT, mission trips in July

By Mariana Veloso, Reporter
• The Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - A prayer vigil tonight at an Odessa park will urge Odessans to “start with love” and to use voices and votes to champion those who are being dehumanized.

“My concern is the treatment of children, that we know that warehousing children is damaging to them,” the Rev. Dawn Weaks of Connection Christian Church said ...

• 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 Josh Heikkila

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 23, 2018

PRESBYTERIES' PARTNERSHIP - The theme for mission partnership between the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) and Lake Erie Presbytery is “Joining Hands in Faith and Friendship.” Since 2012, this theme has defined our partnership in mission and our relationship with the Ghana Mission Network, a collaborative of Presbyterian churches in Ghana and the U.S. ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "Monthly Recap - May 2018"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

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Friday Story: "Monthly Recap - May 2018"

An Incredible Team in Idaho; On the Shores of the Mississippi; Increasing our Worldwide Reach; Running for Those who Can’t; On Air with Don Schoendorfer; 6 Wheelchair Containers Arrived at Port; and more ...

• read the rest of this story ...

In the News ... "Retiring pastor's exit from Abilene's Exodus church brings tears, words of praise"

ARN Photo by Greg Jaklewicz

• It’s unlikely that sermon was her last

By Loretta Fulton, Reporter
• Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - What started with a green steamer trunk serving as a pulpit ended June 10 from behind a real pulpit as Margaret Warn-Walker preached her final sermon as pastor of Abilene's Exodus Metropolitan Community Church ...

• read the rest of this ARN 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 Randy Hobson

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 22, 2018

NATIONAL BLACK PRESBYTERIAN CAUCUS - “It is with a sense of importance and urgency that I ask for your help, participation and wisdom to make visible a vision of unity, lest the black witness in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will soon perish,” said the Rev. Thomas Priest Jr., president of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus (NBPC). Priest recently met with African-Americans in leadership roles at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville for a visioning session on the future of the caucus. He wanted to learn more about the staff and resources available at the national Church level to help the organization accomplish its mission ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

FBR Report: "Shot Behind ISIS Lines: One Year Later, Khofran Tells Her Story"

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.

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FBR Photo

Shot Behind ISIS Lines: One Year Later, Khofran Tells Her Story

On 5 April 2018, the Burma Army shot and killed Saw O Moo, a 42-year-old villager and advocate for indigenous land rights and peace, who was riding his motorbike home on a jungle trail with a friend. The Burma Army fired at Saw O Moo without warning and from a distance of four to six meters away. His friend escaped the attack ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this FBR Report ...

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

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Free Burma Ranger, the film ...

This film, currently in production, chronicles the journey of an American family bringing aid to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people caught in Burma's war zones, a bloody conflict that is one of the longest-running civil war's in the world.

• Learn more about the film, and hour YOUR donation can help complete its production ...

In the News ... "'Rays of Hope' fundraiser, TONIGHT at Grub Burger Bar"

• Beat the summer heat, and get out of the kitchen

Grub Burger Bar of Midland will be hosting a give-back benefiting Rays of Hope on Thursday, June 21st - TONIGHT! - from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (open to close).

Grub's Midland location is at 4400 N Midland Drive, Suite 500, Midland, Texas. Their phone number is (432) 789-1855.

You must show the cashier a digital flyer, show the cashier a paper flyer, or mention that you are there for Rays of Hope in order for Rays to benefit from your purchase!

Rays of Hope Children’s Grief Centre is a community outreach of HospiceMidland. They work with children 4 years to 18 years who have experienced a loss due to death, divorce or other painful transition. Their Mission Statement is: To meet the unique needs of grieving children and their families.

In the News ... "Big Brothers/Big Sisters holding social mixer to recruit volunteers"

• Bring a friend

By Kirsten Geddes, Multimedia Journalist
• KWES-TV

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Midland will be hosting a nonprofit social mixer to help recruit volunteers and educate people about the organization ...

 • read the rest of this KWES report ...

In the News ... "Abilene Hope Haven names new executive director"

Courtesy Photo

• Efforts to serve neighbors experiencing homelessness

By Timothy Chipp, Reporter
• Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - Abilene Hope Haven will have a new executive director come July 2.

Katherine Bisson, currently director of housing programs for Hope Haven, was selected by the nonprofit's board of directors to take over operations ...

• read the rest of this ARN 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 Rob Habiger

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 21, 2018

PRESBYTERIES' PARTNERSHIP - Is mission a one-way street? Not to people in Denver Presbytery or the Presbytery of Zimbabwe of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA). These two presbyteries have been faithful witnesses to the unity of the body of Christ for more than a decade, despite the nearly 10,000 miles between them ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "San Angelo still working together to aid homeless"

SAST Photo by Yfat Yossifor

• More than a year ago, coalition began forming ways to help

Matthew McDaniel,, Reporter
• San Angelo Standard Times

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - It’s been a little more than a year since the homeless encampment known as “Camp Hope” was officially disbanded, but the homeless population in San Angelo hasn’t disappeared. In fact, the city has more homeless people, according to Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition President Robert Salas. ...

• read the rest of this SAST report

In the News ... "Kyker guides church, shelter"

KWES Photo

• Odessa native says his spiritual evolution was gradual

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The Rev. Donny Kyker once had no sympathy for the downtrodden, but that changed as he garnered the insight that led to his pastorate at Faith Temple Fellowship and directorship of the Jesus House Odessa shelter ...

• 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 Gregg Brekke

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 20, 2018

MINUTE FOR MISSION: WORLD REFUGEE DAY - June 20 is designated as World Refugee Day. Over the years the significance of this day has grown. For Presbyterians, it is a day to connect or reconnect with our own refugee heritage through our faith ancestry. As Scripture tells us, “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deut. 10:19). Throughout our church history we can find those who have fled persecution for their faith and those who have responded to the call to welcome the stranger: Abraham and Sarah; Moses, Miriam, Aaron and the people of Israel; Ruth; Jesus, Joseph and Mary; the apostle John.

World Refugee Day is also a day to acknowledge the individuals and the entire communities of refugees who have been uprooted from their homes, the majority living in precarious situations ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Visit to Agreda revealed more of the 'Lady in Blue' mystery"

SAST Photo by Michelle Gaitan 

• Being considered for canonization as a saint

By Lorenzo V. Penafiel, Reporter
• Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - Along the Concho River in downtown San Angelo there is a statue of the Venerable Sor Maria de Jesus de Agreda, otherwise known as the Lady in Blue. Next to it are statues of a Jumano native and a Jumano girl.

The unveiling of these statues on May 20, 2018 is a historical moment for San Angelo, because it honors Sor Maria, whose appearances before the Jumano Indians are considered the beginning of Christianity in this part of the world.

The story of the Lady in Blue starts in Agreda, which I had the opportunity to visit nine years ago ...

• read the rest of this ARN report ...

VBS kicks-off TONIGHT at Grace Presbyterian-Midland

For more information, contact:
Grace Presbyterian Church
2801 N. Garfield Street (corner of Garfield and Cimmaron)
Midland, Texas
(432) 684-6542

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.

Austin History Center Photo

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 19, 2018

MINUTE FOR MISSION: JUNETEENTH - Juneteenth, a blend of the words June and nineteenth, is an American holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Despite the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Sept. 22, 1862, freedom did not come to those still held in bondage in the resistant state of Texas until ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

VBS kicks-off tomorrow at Grace Presbyterian-Midland

For more information, contact:
Grace Presbyterian Church
2801 N. Garfield Street (corner of Garfield and Cimmaron)
Midland, Texas
(432) 684-6542

Children's Summer Mission Project at FPC Midland

A children’s summer mission project at 1st Presbyterian-Midland - to raise funds for Partners Relief and Development to rebuild a school in Syria - is off to a great start! After VBS and Adventures With Christ ended, the kids raised $3,374! Our goal for the summer is $10,000.

Donations marked “Syrian school” can be made to FPC. Please check out the display in the Commons for more information and watch our book stack grow as we make progress towards our goal this summer. For more information, please contact Carrie McKean at cmckean@fpcmid.org

In the News ... "Abilene singing school is a break from the norm"

Courtesy Photo

• Song leading, song writing, and singing with excellence

By Loretta Fulton, Reporter
• Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, TEXAS - The Texas Normal Singing School has nothing to do with normal singing.

In fact, the singing is anything but normal. It is a cappella at its finest ...

• read the rest of this ARN 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: June 18, 2018

MISSION RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH INVESTMENT (MRTI) -It’s another major crack in the ceiling. That’s how Rob Fohr, director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Office of Faith-Based Investing, describes progress with Noble Energy Corporation of Houston. Fohr presented a shareholder resolution last month that called for a climate change scenario analysis. This continues the momentum from the 2017 proxy season, which saw record high votes on climate change resolutions including one at ExxonMobil that received 62 percent of the shareholder vote ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.