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 9, 2016

PRESBYTERY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE, OHIO - Isaac Monah’s home was destroyed and his younger brother was killed during the first of two civil wars in Liberia. He fled to the Ivory Coast, where he helped an American anthropology student track monkeys in the jungle. There, they talked about faith, and Isaac memorized a new word: Presbyterian. Moving to Ghana, he earned a high school diploma at age 27.

When Isaac later immigrated to the United States, he saw a church sign with the word “Presbyterian” and he entered. He later became an elder at the church, Noble Road Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

WAW Wednesday ... A Glance at the Backside of the Tapestry

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."

---

A Glance at the Backside of the Tapestry

Hello Friends,

Dallan finds a pet?

Having a grand time in Texas while medical Community works to beat an aggressive tumor.

New laptops in “The Jungle” ... Belize City

Covenant Church in Austin Texas provides laptops for Exodus Church, Belize city. Their partner church runs a tutoring program where until now all the children took turns on one computer owned by Pastor Phillipa Herrera…now Phillipa Miller.

6 more shipping containers bound for Belize!

2 of medical equipment
3 of school furniture and equipment
1 of church pews and miscellaneous

Girls move from abuse … to a loving Christian girls home … to learn a vocation

House mother Shelly Perez of Marla’s House of Hope displays colorful handbags made by the girls, because you donated machines and sent people to train them.

Victims of burglary trade sorrows for joy

Though House of Salvation Church recently lost all of their equipment due to a burglary, Robbie and Myrna Ruiz rejoice that God has restored them with even better equipment.

Right now in Belize

• Building a new preschool in the Valley of Peace
• Finalizing the list of next years applicants for School scholarships

In a couple days

• Medical team in Belize city
• Construction on new church plant

How does it all fit together?

I always find it difficult to help people wrap their minds around TWAW. For many it is like the old Indian proverb of the blind men describing an elephant. They get to see the bits and pieces they’re involved with, but as for the whole, it’s as busy and complicated as the backside of a woven tapestry.

But from God’s perspective (the other side of the tapestry) ... it’s simple and beautiful.

Church partners from north and south building friendships, sharing what they have, meeting each others needs. It’s His Church, full of people like you ... Being God’s Word at Work ... and celebrating Him and all that he does.

Thanks for being the Word at Work!

tt (Tim Tam)
The Word at Work

ps: Our Ministry Associate team gathers school supplies, toys, and stuffed animals through out the year ... we've discovered blankets are an ongoing need as well, so please be saving them, too. Click here to learn more about becoming a TW@W Ministry Associate, or get in touch with Tim Hagen for more information!

---

EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!

Equal Exchange Blog ... "New Troubles for Salvadoran Cashew Farmers"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

---

New Troubles for Salvadoran Cashew Farmers

I’m on my way to El Salvador and Honduras to visit our cashew co-op partners. Sadly, we got word last week that “unseasonable” rains and winds have destroyed 75% of this year’s cashew crop and the co-op in Salvador (Aprainores) has had to shut down their processing plant after just two weeks; laying off the 60 or so women whose income depends on the plant. Instead of the 60,000 or so pounds of cashews that Aprainores was planning to export this year, they will export nothing ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

Photo by Phyllis Robinson

A refreshing break for me ... a good cause for young summer campers

Sunny and HOT in the Tall City? No problem ... today I took a break with kiddos from Midland, Texas-based Unlock Ministries, enjoyed a tall glass of cold, hand-squeezed lemonade, and helped them raise funds for the 2016 edition of Opportunity Camp.

Photo by Jeff McDonald

Ben Wall, Executive Director of Unlock Ministries, tells me the kids will set up shop every Wednesday during the month of June, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (or until they run out of lemonade) in the parking lot of Golf Course Road Church of Christ, 3500 W Golf Course Rd. ( at the 3-way intersection of Golf Course, Andrews Highway and Alpine Street) in Midland.

According to the ministry's website, Op Camp will be taking place at Butman Methodist Camp, outside Merkel, Texas. "Since 2002," the website notes, "Unlock Ministries has been helping great kids succeed through Op Camp. For over 10 years, the United Way has been generous supporters of Op Camp because they SEE THE RESULTS. Kids come back from camp happier, more confident and ready to take on their challenges."

In the News ... “Faith & Philanthropy Roundup: 100 Days of Giving kicks off, book fair benefits Need to Read; more"

Courtesy Photo

• Opportunities to make a difference in the community

Trent Johnson, Reporter
• Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - On May 31, The United Family announced the donation of $100,000 through its 100 Days of Giving by presenting $1,000 to different non-profits for 100 consecutive days to celebrate the 100th anniversary of United Supermarkets which includes Alberstons and Market Street.

Midland was one of the kick-off cities along with Abilene, Amarillo, Flower Mound, Brownwood, Vernon and Lubbock. The event will run through Sept. 7 ...

 • read the rest of this MRT report

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... TODAY

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Invitation to Prayer, TODAY

Hi Friends,

I look forward to our prayer time together this Wednesday - TODAY! - at 11:30 a.m., in the gym conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, followed by lunch together.

Also, Faces of Children is now on Facebook ! I invite you to like our page so that you can see regular stories, prayer needs, and updates from partner ministries.

All the best,

Carrie

---

Dear Intercessors,

We are gearing up for a busy week of Vacation Bible School at our church! (Please be praying with us for all the children who come to learn about Jesus this week!)

For our VBS Missions Project this year, we are raising money to send to one of our partner ministries, Partners Relief and Development . The purpose of Partners is to work for free and full lives for Myanmar's children, and the money we raise will be used by Partners to help them buy relief supplies for members of the Rohingya ethnic group who are forced to live in concentration camps in Myanmar.

For the next few weeks, I thought I would share what we are doing in VBS. For those of you with children, each one of these has a corresponding learning activity that can be done to help further explain the situation

In the Rohingya camps, the people face food shortages. We discussed how the people aren't allowed to grow crops, as people from other ethnic groups own the surrounding land. Instead, the Rohingya depend on rice rations supplied by groups like Partner's. In addition to the rations, which often run short, the children try to catch fish. In spite of these things, sadly there are many hungry people in the camps.

Partners Photo

The money we raise through our offering will be used to buy bags of rice, as that is one of the most urgent needs every family has. Some families have additional ways of securing food, but for families who rely on relief disbursements from Partners, one 50 pound bag of rice sometimes needs to feed a family of 5 for 4 months.

Partners Photo

To demonstrate how much rice that is per day, measure out 1/4 cup of rice. It's not much! Imagine what it might be like if that were the only food we had to eat today.

A prayer for you and your kids to say together: Dear Jesus, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about and care for the Rohingya people. Please help them have enough food to eat, and help us remember them by sending money to help buy food, praying for them, and praying for our friends at Partner's who work to help them and bring them hope. More than anything, Jesus, please help the Rohingya know they are loved by us and by you. Amen. 

Sincerely,

Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

---

If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

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 8, 2016

CONGO - It was most strange for my missionary-doctor-daddy to be home in the middle of the morning. Ordinarily he was not able to get away from the clinic or operating room before one or two in the afternoon. Yet, here he was now, riding into the back yard on his bicycle, right in the middle of our geometry class.

Calling the family into his office, my father explained the reason for his unusual presence: There was important praying to be done ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

From Uganda, Dr. Greg Bartha: "Karamoja Outreach Program"

In describing himself and his present circumstances, longtime Midland physician Dr, Greg Bartha will say ... "Elderly physician embarks on a new journey in life serving God and the people of Uganda. My goal is to move from living a good life to living a great life." In addition to his long-term mission, working at a medical clinic in Uganda, he is also a contributor to the Formula Vita blog.

---

Karamoja Outreach Program

Pastor Mubbi Simon Peter, director of the Cross Emergency Medical Clinic in which I’m working, had been informed that the Karamoja people in northeast Uganda needed a medical outreach. They are a pastoral people related to the Maasai and are mainly cattle herders. In fact, they believe they are the only people who should be in possession of cattle. They have raided regions to the south, stealing all the cattle and contributing to the poverty of the Iteso people who are in the area where I’m living and working ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of Greg's post ...

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... TOMORROW

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Invitation to Prayer, TOMORROW

Hi Friends,

I look forward to our prayer time together this Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., in the gym conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, followed by lunch together.

Also, Faces of Children is now on Facebook ! I invite you to like our page so that you can see regular stories, prayer needs, and updates from partner ministries.

All the best,

Carrie

---

Dear Intercessors,

We are gearing up for a busy week of Vacation Bible School at our church! (Please be praying with us for all the children who come to learn about Jesus this week!)

For our VBS Missions Project this year, we are raising money to send to one of our partner ministries, Partners Relief and Development . The purpose of Partners is to work for free and full lives for Myanmar's children, and the money we raise will be used by Partners to help them buy relief supplies for members of the Rohingya ethnic group who are forced to live in concentration camps in Myanmar.

For the next few weeks, I thought I would share what we are doing in VBS. For those of you with children, each one of these has a corresponding learning activity that can be done to help further explain the situation

In the Rohingya camps, the people face food shortages. We discussed how the people aren't allowed to grow crops, as people from other ethnic groups own the surrounding land. Instead, the Rohingya depend on rice rations supplied by groups like Partner's. In addition to the rations, which often run short, the children try to catch fish. In spite of these things, sadly there are many hungry people in the camps.

Partners Photo

The money we raise through our offering will be used to buy bags of rice, as that is one of the most urgent needs every family has. Some families have additional ways of securing food, but for families who rely on relief disbursements from Partners, one 50 pound bag of rice sometimes needs to feed a family of 5 for 4 months.

Partners Photo

To demonstrate how much rice that is per day, measure out 1/4 cup of rice. It's not much! Imagine what it might be like if that were the only food we had to eat today.

A prayer for you and your kids to say together: Dear Jesus, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about and care for the Rohingya people. Please help them have enough food to eat, and help us remember them by sending money to help buy food, praying for them, and praying for our friends at Partner's who work to help them and bring them hope. More than anything, Jesus, please help the Rohingya know they are loved by us and by you. Amen. 

Sincerely,

Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

---

If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

In the News ... "Local church looking for stolen trailer with up to $25,000 worth of equipment"

Courtesy Photo

• Seeking donations to help replace what was lost

By Jolina Okazaki, Multimedia Journalist
• KWES-TV

ODESSA, TEXAS - The Community Bible Church's trailer was stolen on the 7200 block of Giotto Thursday.

Shane Branecky is a co-pastor at the church. The trailer is usually kept behind his home where it was stolen.

"It's really devastating because its things we need to continue to exist, to provide Sunday services," Branecky said. "We don't have a building. We're mobile and that's the thing. Everything we own is in our trailer" ...

 • read/watch the rest of this KWES 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 7, 2016

PRESBYTERY OF NEW COVENANT, TEXAS - Saint Paul Presbyterian Church began its ministry in southwest Houston 60 years ago as a suburban congregation. About 25 years later Saint Paul gladly welcomed its first African-immigrant members. As the neighborhood changed and the original congregation began to age, African immigrants began to revitalize the church. When Dr. Kevin R. Boyd was called as pastor in 2003, Saint Paul was facing the challenges of changing demographics. ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

From @chinaaid : "Christian woman writes letter detailing persecution"

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

---

Christian woman writes letter detailing persecution
Distributed by ChinaAid, May, 2016 ...

DALIAN, LIAONING, CHINA – A Christian woman recently wrote a letter that detailed persecution she experienced, including the loss of her mother and brother.

Prompted by the government-backed demolition of their home on June 4, 2008, the family of Wang Chunyan, a Christian now residing in the United States, traveled to and petitioned higher government offices in an attempt to facilitate legal recourse ...

• more on this story from China Aid

From ECPAT-USA ... "Anti-Trafficking Accessories"

ECPAT USA is part of a global network of organizations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. It seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free and secure from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation.

Anti-Trafficking Accessories

Purchase and use of ECPAT luggage tags help ...

 • contain warning signs of human trafficking and how to report it
 • spark conversations about the issue while traveling
 • show that are you an advocate
 • provide skills and opportunities for vulnerable women
 • support our work to train the travel industry
 • help you find your luggage on the carousel

... and ECPAT USA has other accessories for sale, as well!

• CLICK HERE to go shopping with ECPAT USA

---

For more information on this and other ECPAT USA efforts, please email us at info@ecpatusa.org

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... WEDNESDAY

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Invitation to Prayer, WEDNESDAY

Hi Friends,

I look forward to our prayer time together this Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., in the gym conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, followed by lunch together.

Also, Faces of Children is now on Facebook ! I invite you to like our page so that you can see regular stories, prayer needs, and updates from partner ministries.

All the best,

Carrie

---

Dear Intercessors,

We are gearing up for a busy week of Vacation Bible School at our church! (Please be praying with us for all the children who come to learn about Jesus this week!)

For our VBS Missions Project this year, we are raising money to send to one of our partner ministries, Partners Relief and Development . The purpose of Partners is to work for free and full lives for Myanmar's children, and the money we raise will be used by Partners to help them buy relief supplies for members of the Rohingya ethnic group who are forced to live in concentration camps in Myanmar.

For the next few weeks, I thought I would share what we are doing in VBS. For those of you with children, each one of these has a corresponding learning activity that can be done to help further explain the situation

In the Rohingya camps, the people face food shortages. We discussed how the people aren't allowed to grow crops, as people from other ethnic groups own the surrounding land. Instead, the Rohingya depend on rice rations supplied by groups like Partner's. In addition to the rations, which often run short, the children try to catch fish. In spite of these things, sadly there are many hungry people in the camps.

Partners Photo

The money we raise through our offering will be used to buy bags of rice, as that is one of the most urgent needs every family has. Some families have additional ways of securing food, but for families who rely on relief disbursements from Partners, one 50 pound bag of rice sometimes needs to feed a family of 5 for 4 months.

Partners Photo

To demonstrate how much rice that is per day, measure out 1/4 cup of rice. It's not much! Imagine what it might be like if that were the only food we had to eat today.

A prayer for you and your kids to say together: Dear Jesus, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about and care for the Rohingya people. Please help them have enough food to eat, and help us remember them by sending money to help buy food, praying for them, and praying for our friends at Partner's who work to help them and bring them hope. More than anything, Jesus, please help the Rohingya know they are loved by us and by you. Amen. 

Sincerely,

Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

---

If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

In the News ... “Under construction: Church Under the Bridge begins work toward a physical location"

MRT Photo by Tim Fischer

• And there’s still the regular ministry work to do.

Trent Johnson, Reporter
• Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Though the Church Under the Bridge isn’t technically undergoing construction, the people running the operations are currently planning a big overhaul for their future location.

“We’ve been planning this since the beginning, so it’s just a matter of getting it done,” founder Evan Rogers said. “We want these people in need of support to be at Church Under the Bridge rather than out on their own, as much as possible.”

Before the work begins, CUTB is currently working to raise $500,000 through donations and grants, which would cover everything including building costs. The plan is to tackle the work as they go along, and hopefully open doors before the winter ...

 • read the rest of this MRT 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 6, 2016

PITTSBURGH PRESBYTERY, PENNSYLVANIA - What do you get when you have two college friends with backgrounds in theater and combine that with degrees in ministry? Simply put, you have the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh.

Pastors Jeff Eddings and Jim Walker teamed up to create Hot Metal Bridge, a congregation that offers a “narrative style of worship that shares the story of God through drama and the arts, as well as traditional forms of worship.” Located in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh since 2004, Hot Metal Bridge is affiliated with both the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

From "I Am Second" ... Wayne Simien

Wayne Simien was on the fastrack to stardom. He and his teammates had been in final four college basketball games and his future in the NBA seemed secure. He had all the things he thought should be important to him, but he was totally unfulfilled. That’s when a transformation started to occur in Wayne. He was introduced to Jesus and his life has been drastically different since then.

More purpose and meaning, more peace, more satisfaction in life. That’s what he needed…and ask God to bring him.

Eight year later he is still growing ..and telling his story for which others can be inspired.

---

Inspiring the Revolution of Second
 

I Am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. You’ll discover people who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment they found. Be Second.

You are here for a reason. We all have needs and could use some help. Talk to us. Call, chat, or email. 24 hours a day.

Go a step further ... talk with the people in your life. Spread the revolution of Second. Share the videos with friends. Gather a group of friends to discuss the films. Start an I am Second group.

Volunteer at concerts. Serve through I am Second community service events. Organize your own I am Second events. Sign up for an I am Second Expedition to help people in other countries. Check out Live Second for other opportunities. Connect with us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

I am Second is designed to help people discover their purpose in life. Have you discovered yours?

To find out more about the people and leadership team behind I Am Second you can check out Who We Are.

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, 2016

MINUTE FOR MISSION: JOHNSON C. SMITH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - This month Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary marks an anniversary of sorts. On June 30, 2014, after 45 years of membership, our seminary disaffiliated from the historic consortium known as the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) of Atlanta. Why? Because the religious environment had changed. We felt called to bring a new kind of seminary into existence—one that is innovative and helps students anticipate the 21st-century reality of Christian ministry at home and abroad ...

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.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 4, 2016

PRESBYTERY OF DE CRISTO - Georges Bitar is a Syrian refugee. Georges sits in my living room, sipping coffee. As we relish the baklava he brought—a gift to the senses, compliments of his wife, Mary—my wife, Laura, is delighted, for Georges has presented to her a beautiful calligraphy of the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic. Georges is both an artist and a pastor, leader of the Middle Eastern Presbyterian Fellowship (MEPF) in Tucson.

Georges’ ministry among the refugees of the MEPF is a full-service ministry of walking with people through the difficulties of legal hoops, social obstacles, and cultural assimilation (and preservation) ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "Will you join us?"

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.

Friday Story: "Will you join us?"

Greetings, and Happy Friday!

On Thursday, July 28, Free Wheelchair Mission will hold its 13th annual Miracle of Mobility fundraising gala. This festive evening will feature inspiring stories of faith, hope and transformation and will include a very special guest speaker, Tim Tebow, who—like Free Wheelchair Mission—is passionate about serving those with disabilities around the world ...

Will you help us spread the word about Miracle of Mobility? It’s easy, just forward this post (linked below) to a friend. It will be a great night, and we hope you’ll be a part of it! ...

• read the rest of this story ...

FWM Photo

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 3, 2016

SYNOD OF THE PACIFIC - s a commissioner of San Francisco Presbytery to the Synod of the Pacific and to the Korean churches in the synod, I am honored to serve/organize the Korean American congregations as a task force team leader.

For the past four years, the leaders of the Korean churches in the synod have gathered as a unified body of Christ to pray and live by Scripture ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Pastors review marital issues"

• Complex problems require support; divorce often difficult to recover from

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Like a big, black cloud, a two-edged sword or a ghost in the dark of night, divorce is a bugaboo plaguing society and particularly the churches that see once-happy couples break up in tears and acrimony.

The Revs. Erik Stadler, Al Workman, Michael Rodriguez, Greg Morris and Mickey Eckles counsel both those who are considering divorce and people who have gone through with it, and they say both groups need God’s beneficence...

• 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.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: June 2, 2016

SYNOD OF THE LIVING WATERS - Desmond Tutu has said that the sea is really only drops of water that have come together. Over the years, Living Waters for the World (LWW) has certainly learned the power of coming together in partnership for sustainable water for a generation. LWW, a ministry of the Synod of Living Waters, trains partners to work together in covenant to provide communities with a source of clean water by utilizing a simple, affordable water treatment system. While many people hear about LWW from a news article or a volunteer engaged with the mission, some first come to know about LWW by tasting the water for themselves and seeing a water partnership in action ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Signs of Summer ... Fairmont Park Church of Christ - Midland

It's summer time ... and time for Vacation Bible School at area churches ... here's one for Fairmont Park Church of Christ, of Midland ... for more information, you may contact FPCC-Midland at (432) 699-7064, or info@fpcofc.org ...

... and help me out here ... if you see a yard sign for a West Texas church's VBS, get a photo of it and email it to me at westtexasmissioner@gmauil.com ... THANKS!

In the News ... "Church helps Big Spring families homes after being hit by tornado"

KWES Photo

• A reminder of what's really important

By Jolina Okazaki, Multimedia Journalist
• KWES-TV

BIG SPRING, TEXAS - The tornado that blew through Big Spring Sunday night greatly affected many family homes on Cauble Road.

"Your adrenaline is pumping and all I could think of is I had to get my kids someplace safe," said resident Rhianna Ellis, one of the eight residents whose home was hit by the tornado ...

... Allyson Wall with the the Ackerly First Baptist Church reached out to the Ellis and Morton-McGuire family Wednesday. The church came to the area to help the families get rid of nails, wood and debris scattered around their homes ...

 • read/watch the rest of this KWES report ...

Equal Exchange Blog ... “Indian tea workers, a life without dignity” ... Latest article addressing deplorable conditions on tea plantations

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

---

“Indian tea workers, a life without dignity” ... Latest article addressing deplorable conditions on tea plantations

Dear Tea Drinkers,

I am absolutely convinced that if you knew the deplorable conditions in which the vast majority of tea workers lived; the endless studies documenting the human rights and labor rights violations rampant on tea gardens, tea estates, tea plantations (call them what you will), the child slavery, indentured slavery, human trafficking that goes on unpunished – I am absolutely convinced that you WOULD STOP BUYING TEA from most of the brands that you think of as the “established”, “reputable”, and “prestigious” companies stocked on your grocery stores’ shelves ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

Photo by Kai Horstmann

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 1, 2016

CENTRAL ASIA - The mother in a colleague’s host family loves to learn and read, even though she never had the opportunity to go to college. Her name is Ayesha, and she might remind you of your friendliest aunt. I wanted someone with good literacy and some spare time to help me practice the Tajik language. Ayesha, who has two daughters-in-law who live with her and help with household chores, has both time and interest ...

CLICK HERE to read more.