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: December 12, 2023

STEWARDSHIP KALEIDOSCOPE - Churches rely on members with more money to power ministries that help those with less. Yet our attitudes about money can fuel or deplete our power to help ourselves and others.

Sherry Kenney, a certified financial planner and ruling elder at Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, explored these assertions in “Is it Wrong to be Rich?” The workshop was part of the annual Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference in Minneapolis, an annual conference sponsored by the Presbyterian Foundation ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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: December 8, 2023

AUTHOR MARK ELSDON GUEST SPEAKER AT THE POLITY, BENEFITS AND MISSION CONFERENCE - Joining the recent Polity, Benefits and Mission Conference via Zoom, the Rev. Mark Elsdon delivered on the message of his 2021 book of the same name: We Aren’t Broke.

Elsdon, a Presbyterian pastor who’s executive director of Pres House Campus Ministry and the Pres House Apartments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-founded RootedGood, told the nearly 300 people in attendance he’s “well aware of the narrative of scarcity” commonly heard in churches struggling with shrining membership and budgets ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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 Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash

Today in the Mission Yearbook: October 2, 2023

CHRISTIANITY AND CAPITALISM DON'T GET US TO THE SAME PLACE - “Y’all responded a little better than I thought you would yesterday,” the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins told Synod School attendees, referring to a talk he delivered on whether some symbols belong in church. “So today I thought I’d talk about Christianity and capitalism.” ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Council slashes funding to Meals on Wheels, food bank"

• The two programs that fared the worst

Kim Smith, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The Odessa City Council awarded roughly $4.5 million in Community Development Block Grants, hotel-motel tax money and general fund money Tuesday night during a lengthy meeting where various causes pleaded their cases.

The city had received CDBG requests totaling nearly $1.3 million from such organizations as the West Texas Food Bank, Permian Basin Mission Center, Meals on Wheels, Hollingsworth Head Start, Family Promise and the Elderly and Disabled Lawn Mowing Program ...

• Read the rest of this OA report ...

In the News ... "Grant funding available for non-profits providers to help vulnerable population"

KFOX14/CBS4 Photo

• Applications and proposals are due by 5 p.m. on February 21

By Erika Esquivel, Reporter
• KFOX TV

EL PASO, TEXAS - The City of El Paso released a Notice of Availability for nonprofit agencies, non-municipal government entities, and city departments to address homelessness, provide social service programs, propose public facility improvements and housing rehabilitation that benefit low-to-moderate income residents in our community ...

• Read the rest of this KFOX TV 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: January 23, 2023

STEWARDSHIP KALAIDOSCOPE WORKSHOP - “Tell the story of Center Church honestly: the good, the bad and the ugly.”

This guiding principle framed the Rev. Tom Moore’s workshop at Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2022. Moore told participants the story of Center Presbyterian Church in McMurray, Pennsylvania, showing the importance of honesty and transparency when it comes to the church and its finances ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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 Torfiqu Barbhuiya via Unsplash

Today in the Mission Yearbook: January 9, 2023

DIVERSITY, EQYITY AND INCLUSION - When we read about the first band of Christ followers selling their possessions and “distributing the proceeds to all, as they had need,” (Acts 2:45), we clap our hands, lauding such noble sacrifice, but snicker under our breath, whispering, “Now that’s a bit too much!” We eye their sudden dispossession as fanatical, what uncouth cults do: they sell everything and go up to the mountains because they are cocksure of Jesus’ return date and time. We have (and have had) many Christian-freaks/fringes who abandoned human society to welcome the end of the world, only to return poorer. Here we are, 2,000 years later, and the human society is still humming, and money still matters, so let’s live out our faith in “decency and order” ....

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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.

Contributed Photo

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 21, 2022

NATIVE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FUND - Racial Equity and Women’s Intercultural Ministries has chosen five projects to honor with grants, totaling more than $96,000, from the Native American Leadership Development Fund. ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Parking for a purpose"

Photo provided by St. John's United Methodist Church

• Lubbock churches turn lots to fundraisers during Texas Tech games

By Adam Young, Reporter
• Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - Among the big, game-day decisions made on and off the field when Texas Tech plays, one of the first football fans have to make is pretty important: Where to park?

And there will plenty of options around Jones AT&T Stadium when the Red Raiders kick-off their season against Murray State at 7 p.m. Saturday, including a variety of free and paid lots around the Tech campus with shuttle buses available to make travel logistics a bit easier.

But there are also a few options within walking distance of the stadium, just off campus, that let football fans support local churches and their faith-based outreach programs and other missions ...

 • Read the rest of this LAJ 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: September 5, 2022

A SOCIAL CREED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY - “That all may have life … and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10

Of all the economic indicators this year, it seems that the “labor numbers” are pretty good. Even though prices have been rising, unemployment is at an almost record low. People are working again, but interestingly a labor shortage persists. Jobs are still available everywhere. “Help wanted” signs are hanging in merchant windows. Employers continue to offer better wages and benefits and flexible work hours, all with the hope of attracting workers to fill needed jobs. The labor numbers may be good, but labor is still a problem. ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Partners Blog: “'5 Ways to Support Refugees With Our Wallets”

Steve and Oddny Gumaer started Partners Relief and Development in response to the needs of refugees and displaced people from Burma, and now in the Middle East, as well. Their mission is to demonstrate, through holistic action, God’s love to children and communities made vulnerable by war in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other conflict zones.

PR&D Photo

“5 Ways to Support Refugees With Our Wallets”

As World Refugee Awareness Month wraps up, we want to take a moment to highlight businesses that assist or are owned by people with refugee status and New Americans that we can keep supporting all year long.

Below you will find a curated list that includes everything from reats to soothe your sweet tooth to cozy tees to the perfect art piece for your living room wall ...

• Read the rest of this post ...

---

Partners Relief and Development is a registered charity in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. "We’re a small, grassroots nonprofit passionate about making a big impact in communities affected by conflict and oppression, demonstrating God’s love to children and giving them the opportunity to live free, full lives." For more information aboput Partners, visit their website at partners.ngo/

CRS Briefing ... "Something important is missing from foreign aid! "

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.The CRS Briefing is a monthly service to our supporters. We aspire to keep you informed of our progress and up-to-date on issues that affect the people we serve in more than 100 countries around the world.

---

Photo courtesy of Marijn Fidder/Caritas International

Advocate the MINDS Act

Around the globe, hundreds of millions of people struggle with anxiety, depression and other stress related problems. In emergencies, a lack of food, shelter and other basic necessities often lead to psychological distress. And for people fleeing violent conflict—like the millions who have fled Ukraine in the recent months—stress is magnified.>

More than 1 in 5 people in conflict-affected areas are living with a mental health disorder. Around the world, for those in crisis situations—poverty, hunger, violent conflict—emotional support is a fundamental human need that is too often overlooked.

Amid conflict, hunger and other crises, what does it take for a person to thrive?

• Food and water.
• Shelter and safety.
• Mental health care.

Psychosocial support is critical for people with trauma. But mental health services are not consistently integrated into international programs that help our sisters and brothers experiencing violence, forced displacement, food shortages and poverty. The MINDS Act will change this!

Please urge Congress to support HR3988, the Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act—the MINDS Act. This is the first-ever U.S. legislation to include mental health services in foreign assistance programming. It reaffirms best practices, lays the groundwork for a global mental health strategy and emphasizes the needs of vulnerable populations.

Lift your voice today so our sisters and brothers in need may have the psychological support systems necessary to uphold their dignity, build resilience and thrive. You can make a difference!

Email your legislators to ask them to Support people experiencing emotional distress due to conflict, hunger and other adversities.

• CLICK HERE to email your legislators

Addressing mental health needs helps communities become more resilient and builds a brighter future for our world.
‌
Thank you to so many of you who raise your voice to support the MINDS Act and for advocating now on this important legislation!

Prayerfully,

Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

CRS Briefing ... Your voice is needed now!

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.The CRS Briefing is a monthly service to our supporters. We aspire to keep you informed of our progress and up-to-date on issues that affect the people we serve in more than 100 countries around the world.

---

CRS Photo

Your voice is needed now!

The House will be voting in the coming weeks on funding bills in the fiscal year 2023 federal budget. Urge your members of Congress to protect funding for international assistance that supports poor and vulnerable communities!‌

If you want to ensure that ...

• Communities experiencing life-threatening food insecurity receive emergency food aid,
• Farmers can continue growing food in the face of worsening droughts,
• Long-term solutions are developed to address conflict, hunger and poverty,

… then Now is the Time to Act!

Email your legislators to ask them to protect funding in the budget for international programs that reduce poverty, keep communities safe and help families survive and thrive.

• CLICK HERE to email your legislators

Thank you for using your voice so all members of our global community can thrive.

Prayerfully,

Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

From ServLife International ... "Uma's Hope"

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

Uma’s Hope

In the far east region of Nepal, Uma and her husband, her parents, and their two daughters have tried to make a living by being pig farmers. They deliver, raise piglets, and sell some for meat, but this work has only provided a sporadic income that has kept them in the grips of poverty.

When Pastor Samuel came to their town and told them about the microfinance loans through ServLife, Uma was intrigued. It sounded too good to be true ...

• Read/watch the rest of this Servlife report, and learn how you can help ... 

• Click here to give a gift 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.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 5, 2022

PENTECOST OFFERING - “We plan and God laughs” is identified as a Yiddish proverb, the title of a book or two and the headline of multiple online articles meant to help people navigate periods in life when personal plans seem to disintegrate in front of their eyes. When we hear or read the proverb, it can be difficult not to nod along, especially when the phrase encapsulates something most of us have experienced: a perfect resume or proposal sent, but no word back; a flawless itinerary dissolved by the smallest delay; an event set to begin, upended by a storm; a setback or an entirely “new normal.”

As much as we might nod along, or wince at our own experience, the proverb points us in another direction, too. And if not the proverb, Scripture certainly does ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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 Courtesy of Westminster Presbyterian Church

Today in the Mission Yearbook: May 27, 2022

REVERSE OFFERING - Since the coronavirus pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, many churches’ weekly offering figures are still not matching what they were two years ago. This shortfall has caused congregations to scale back many of their programs and, even worse, forced them to lay off staff. Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, though, is not one of those congregations. It has been experiencing sustained giving since the pandemic hit, so much so that it has been able to give back to its worshipers so that they can in turn also give back to the people and organizations in their community that need financial assistance ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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 provided by Jessica Maudlin

Today in the Mission Yearbook: May 14, 2022

FAIR TRADE DAY - Ezekiel, the Israelite, lived in depressing and politically volatile times, 590 years before Christ. A hundred years before he was born, his country was conquered, first by the Assyrians, later by the Babylonians. Eduardo Perez Verdugo, the coffee farmer from Chiapas Driven from his homeland in search of work, lived in depressing and economically volatile Times, 2000 years after the birth of Christ. Both prophets in exile speak with anguish about Their similar plights and both plead for justice as they search for a vision of hope amid despair ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

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.

Getty Images

Today in the Mission Yearbook: May 12, 2022

AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUALS - A Boston news station recently shared a story about a Massachusetts church that came up with a unique reparation idea to undo the injustices to those men and women who authored the great African American spirituals in many a hymn book. Each time the choir sings such a spiritual, the church will pay a royalty. It is common practice for churches to pay royalties to publishers for the use of hymns, but according to the news report, Susan DeSelms, minister of music of the United Parish in Brookline, which came up with the idea, “the enslaved people who created this music were never rewarded for their art” ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Salvation Army continuing 'Love Beyond' Late Bills"

• Salvation Army is issuing a rallying cry for Americans to “Love Beyond”

By Michael Bauer , Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Two months ago, the Salvation Army of Odessa began its Love Beyond campaign.

The campaign kicked off on Valentine’s Day and is an appeal and invitation to the community to join the Salvation Army in serving suffering humanity and to show those hurting a love beyond all else.

Even though the campaign was released on a day known for love, it goes beyond that to be used all year.

“What it is as we continue our services provided in the Salvation Army, we’re focusing on that element,” Corps Officer of the Salvation Army Major Luis Melendez said. “Instead of waiting until Christmas, it fits properly that we love beyond. We love the individual. We love what we do. We love to serve. In this case, it was utilities. In another case, it might be food bonds or counseling for another. We love beyond. It’s year-round.”

Millions of Americans face daily financial struggles and uphill battles to escape poverty.

The Salvation Army in Odessa works year round to remove the constant burden of worry and stress to provide hope and a way forward to those in need.

A surprise expense, like an unexpected car repair or medical bill can be the difference between affording rent and buying groceries or paying monthly bills.

When funds are available, the Salvation Army helps pay overdue bills, preventing homelessness and stabilizing housing for individuals and families who have fallen behind on their expenses and risk losing their homes.

“As long as we have those funding available, we’ll give out to the folks,” Melendez said. “But the folks in need to come and bring their ID and proof of address and bills and then our caseworker creates that file and the people get the bills paid. We want to get the word out and that’s why we want to express it that way. We know it’s difficult times. The economy isn’t that good or people have been laid off. Everyone has a story.”

Melendez said TXU and ATMOS Energy will give funds to the Salvation Army to help folks who are behind on their utilities ...

• 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 Courtesy of Pam Robinson

Today in the Mission Yearbook: April 5, 2022

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR - When lifelong Presbyterian Jim Bartlett retired in 2007, he followed where the Lord directed his steps to help his neighbors in Mount Vernon, Indiana, his home for the past 40 years. Taking that road has made all the difference for his community and for his faith ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.