Monday, February 24, 2020

In the News ... "Lenten lunch, worship series set"

OA Photo by Mark Rogers
• Book of Matthew emphasized during seven events

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
Odessa American


ODESSA, TEXAS - As one of the featured speakers for the Odessa Ministerial Alliance’s annual Easter Community Worship & Lunch Services, the Rev. Ron Hankins says the Lenten Season is reflective of the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent in the wilderness preparing to start his ministry ...

Read the rest of this OA report ...

In the News ... "Invitation to Ash Wednesday Mass - THIS WEDNESDAY"

Courtesy Photo
• All are welcome

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Catholic Student Association of Midland of Midland (CSAM) invites you to Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dollye Neal Chapel on the Midland College main campus.

This mass will be celebrated by Bishop Michael Sis. He will then follow mass with a Young Adult Listening Session. This event is open to college students and anyone ages 18-35. Bishop Sis would like to engage with young adults from Midland College and from all local parishes to listen to their concerns, stories, challenges, and to discuss how the Church can serve their needs. All are welcome, and bring a friend!

For an interesting video explaining Ash Wednesday’s significance in the Catholic Church and discussion of why it is not a holy day of obligation, click on the link below:



For more information on the CSAM organization, please feel free to contact Cindy Canon at cmadewell@midland.edu or (432) 288-7052 or Anita Montez at amontez@sanangelodiocese.org.

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: February 24, 2020

ECO-PALMS IN INITIATIVE - With roots in a historic family farm in rural Appalachia with an old-growth forest, the Rev. Dennis Testerman is deeply connected to the natural environment and the need to care for it.

So it’s no wonder that the North Carolina conservationist has an affinity for the Eco-Palms initiative, which provides churches with palm fronds from Central American communities (and previously Mexico) that practice sustainable harvesting ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

FBR Report: "Free Burma Rangers: Premiering TOMORROW and Tuesday at Theaters in West Texas"

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.




"Free Burma Rangers: The Movie, Premiering TOMORROW and Tuesday at Theaters in West Texas"

We are just one day away from the Free Burma Rangers film coming to theaters across the US. It will show for just two nights, Feb. 24 and 25, and some theaters have already begun to sell out! We hope you will be able to see the film about the heart and mission of our work and that you will buy your tickets online ahead of time. We’ve been so amazed and encouraged by the responses so far! Here are just a few articles that share more about the film:

Below are links that show the heart of the film and the trailer ...

Thank you again for your prayers and support. We hope you enjoy the film!

Dave, family, and the Free Burma Rangers

EDITOR'S NOTE: In West Texas, the Free Burma Rangers movie will be showing at the following locations on February 24 and 25, at 7:00 pm (local time) both evenings ...

• ABILENE:
     Century 12 Abilene
• EL PASO:
     Cinemark West & XD
     AMC El Paso 16
     Cinemark 20 & XD
• LUBBOCK:
     Tinseltown Lubbock
• MIDLAND:
     Regal Tall City Stadium 14
• SAN ANGELO:
     Tinseltown San Angelo

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.”

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 Tammy Warren

Today in the Mission Yearbook: February 23, 2020

BOB ABRAMS - The Rev. Robert “Bob” W. Abrams brings joy to his colleagues at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) headquarters in Louisville.

At age 96, Abrams, a former mission co-worker who from 1960–64 served World Mission in India alongside his late wife, Wanda, arrives at his office on the fourth floor of the Presbyterian Center two days each week. For the past 16 years, Abrams has volunteered to serve as coordinator of the national office of Presbyterian Men ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Equal Exchange Blog ... "Plastic, Chemical Bleach and Pesticides in Your Tea Cup?"

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.



Plastic, Chemical Bleach and Pesticides in Your Tea Cup?

Equal Exchange Photo

Is there plastic in your tea bag? What about trace amounts of bleach or pesticides? If you’re like most people, making yourself a nice cuppa at home probably involves a tea bag. You dunk the whole bag in boiling water and then allow it to steep until the tea is brewed. You remove and discard it when the tea is done — but it may leave behind more of a trace than you’d guess ...

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post


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 ...

In the News ... "Lubbock Faith Briefs"

Courtesy Photo
• What’s going on in South Plains 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 ...

 • More from the LAJ's "South Plains Faith Calendar" ...

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 Mari Graham Evans

Today in the Mission Yearbook: February 22, 2020

COMMUNICATION - Media, says Mari Graham Evans, has always been social, for at least two reasons: It often features user-generated content and it sometimes goes viral.

Evans, the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s social media and media relations strategist, teams up with Gail Strange, the agency’s director of church and mid council communications, to travel the country putting on one-day workshops that help church and mid council communicators reach their audiences as effectively as they can ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, February 21, 2020

From ServLife International ... "Send a pastor to the March conference!"

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
Send a pastor to the March conference!

This is an exciting time for the expanding church in Nepal. As the fastest growing country in the world for Christianity right now, many new church planting organizations have launched in recent years, and more and more pastors are being trained. We are honored and delighted to be a part of what God is doing in this part of the world.

Over the last decade and a half, ServLife has trained over 150 pastors in Nepal. We have the great benefit of experienced pastors to mentor the newly trained pastors, and 14 of them have started their church in the last month. This is important and hard work, and we strive to provide steady support and encouragement to the pastors in the field. Since our first year of pastor training, we have provided mentorship, ongoing trainings, and an annual pastors' conference.

On March 16-18, we are expecting almost 150 pastors to attend our annual conference. I'm excited to return and will be joined by Kyle and Justin, two friends from Texas. The conference will be focused on marriage and family. We will also have some question and answer time, getting feedback from the pastors on how we might refine the ministry. We would love your support for this conference in prayer and funding.

$155 will send a pastor to the conference, including travel, lodging, food, everything. The total cost of the conference is $20,150.

I'm asking for your prayers for all participants. Please consider a gift to help send pastors to the conference.

You can give securely online and put "Pastors' Conference" in the Comments field, or mail a check to ServLife International, PO Box 20596, Indianapolis, IN 46220.

Please pray about making your most generous gift possible,
and thank you so much for your support


Thank you again for your amazing support and partnership to equip leaders and children around the world!




From Adam Nevins
Executive Director
ServLife International Inc.







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


In the News ... "LCU hosting ‘Slam Hunger’ food drive at games Friday, Saturday"

LAJ File Photo
• Help collect money and food pantry items during the spring for the South Plains Food Bank

Staff Report
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - Lubbock Christian University aims to “Slam Hunger” by collecting cans and donating all the money collected for admissions to the Chap and Lady Chap baseball, softball, and basketball games.

All donated cans and dollars collected Friday and Saturday will be given to the South Plains Food Bank to assist food insecure families this spring ...

 • Read the rest of this LAJ report ..

In the News ... "Former pastor turned Midland mayor: Patrick Payton's journey into politics"

KWES Photo
“It was a great opportunity for him to use his skill set and the gifts that God had given him by serving in a different capacity.”

By Sammi Steele, Reporter
KWES-TV

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Patrick Payton is a few weeks into being Midland’s mayor.

Before his go at politics, he was the head pastor at Stonegate Fellowship for nearly 20 years ...

 • 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.

Photo courtesy of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto, California

Today in the Mission Yearbook: February 21, 2020

VITAL CONGREGATIONS INITIATIVE PILOT PROGRAM - Three presbyteries — Trinity, Newark and San Jose — have finished up a pilot program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Vital Congregations initiative’s two-year revitalization process.

The Presbyterian Mission Agency initiative led by Vital Congregations coordinator the Rev. Dr. Kathryn Threadgill prayerfully walks with pastors and congregations through intentional efforts of revitalization by focusing on these 7 Marks of Congregational Vitality ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

In the News ... "First Cumberland Presbyterian hosting savvy summit, job fair"


• Go to church's website for list of session topics, and to register

Staff Report
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7702 Indiana Ave., will host a free Savvy Summit and Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.

Session topics include: basic safety and self defense; managing food allergies and diabetes; getting started in genealogy; maximizing your technology; basic safety and non-certified basic CPR; low-impact exercises that you can do from your chair; and brushing off your resume and interview skills ...

 • Read the rest of this LAJ report ..

In the News ... "Man, youth program pay off Midland ISD student lunch debt"

KWES Photo
• Karl Boroski and his Rope for Youth program honored for their donation

By Vicky Allen, Reporter
KWES-TV

MIDLAND, TEXAS - One midland man raised enough money to pay off student's lunch debt at Midland ISD.

Karl Boroski and his Rope for Youth program received a banner of appreciation Tuesday night from Midland Independent School District for their $22.8 thousand dollar donation.

"We raised the money because we work in schools and so we know a lot of the kids, we're impacted by a lot of the kids, we love a lot of the kids so we wanted to make an effort to help them," Boroski said ...

 • 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: February 20, 2020

'JESUS' LEADERSHIP - Yesterday, a wise worshiper at the church I serve requested prayers “for all leaders as they work through difficult times ahead.” That request rings in my head as I think about “empowering servant leadership,” which is one of the seven marks of congregational vitality identified in the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Vital Congregations program ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

In the News ... "Southern Baptist Convention removes church with registered sex offender pastor"

Photo by Mark Humphrey, STF / Associated Press
• First significant action from SBC after recent promises to improve handling of sexual abuse allegations in churches

By Elizabeth Dias, Contributor/New York Times
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, on Tuesday expelled one of its churches for employing a pastor who is a registered sex offender ...

 • Read the rest of this MRT/NYT report ...

This week's Faces of Children gathering cancelled

LATE UPDATE: February 19 Prayer Meeting Cancelled

Because of the very large funeral happening at FPC today at 11:00 am, we will not be having Faces. Many of our members will be attending the funeral, but additionally, our facility will not have parking easily available for additional events.

Blessings,
Carrie



Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Their mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, they 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).


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

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: February 19, 2020

GUN VIOLENCE -A decade ago, the advocacy group Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence helped to shut down a controversial gun shop in Philadelphia.

With the involvement of many different faith communities, “we brought nine months’ worth of public attention to this particular gun shop, which was selling lots of guns that ended up in crime and so on,” said Bryan Miller, the group’s executive director. “We eventually basically embarrassed ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) into closing the gun shop.”

It’s an example of actions that faith-based organizations can take to try to stop gun violence ...

CLICK HERE to read more.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Partners Blog: “We’re working to close the gap on period poverty”

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
“We’re working to close the gap on period poverty.”

The term “period poverty” refers to circumstances in which women and girls lack access to menstrual hygiene education, sanitary products, and proper washing facilities.

In Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the Middle East, period poverty affects women and girls in several big ways ...

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/