Where in the world is NPC? A GUIDE TO THE MISSION PARTNERS OF NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 Where in the world is NPC? A GUIDE TO THE MISSION PARTNERS OF NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1

2 Coming and Going are inescapable parts of our calling as Christians Jesus calls us to come to himself and then sends us out to our neighbors, near and far Our job description? To join God as partners and servants in his ongoing activity in the world to share in his passion not only to lead us to heaven, but to bring as much of the kingdom of heaven down to earth as possible Our mission is to join in God s mission When God sends us out to serve, he sends us both as individuals and, more importantly, as a team It s when we are a community of faith, serving, praying and growing in love together, that God s joy is truly kindled What an invitation! To come and go to bring our many and varied gifts as we join in this grand mission in our local communities and around the world Let s play our part together! In Christ, Dr David Renwick Senior Pastor MISSION AT NPC is shaped by three core values: proclamation, presence, and partnership Proclamation tells the story of God s love and the saving grace of Jesus Christ Presence embodies that love and grace in myriad manifestations of compassion and biblical justice for those in need Partnership acknowledges that we are a small part of the body of Christ in the world, and that he is known as we serve together and learn from one another Our purpose is to engage and empower our community to carry out Christ s mission in the world, so that all are encouraged and enabled to discover avenues of service using their unique gifts and passions The following pages describe the partnerships we hold locally and globally the places and ways we corporately seek to join in God s mission on earth 2 3

3 Local Partnerships NPC s Urban Mission Team supports the work of our local mission partners by facilitating opportunities for NPC involvement, communicating prayer and other needs to the congregation, and sponsoring partner events To get involved with this ministry team or for volunteer opportunities with our mission partners, contact Sally Steele: ssteele@nationalpresorg CENTRAL UNION MISSION (DC) wwwmissiondcorg Central Union Mission is a Christian ministry that serves the spiritual and physical needs of hurting people in the DC area: homeless men, underprivileged women, children, seniors, veterans and the growing Hispanic community Their programs include a men s overnight shelter, an 18-month rehabilitation and spiritual transformation program, a community clothing and furniture distribution center, and summer camp for underprivileged children Volunteer opportunities include: bringing food and helping with clean up at Camp Bennett children s summer camp (Olney, MD); serving a meal to shelter guests; coordinating food, clothing or school supply drives; and providing probono professional services FRIENDSHIP PLACE (DC) wwwfriendshipplacedcorg Friendship Place, located close to NPC, provides people experiencing homelessness in Northwest DC a continuum of care including street outreach, employment counseling, case management, psychiatric and medical care, and benefits and housing assistance Their drop-in Welcome Center provides a place for people to get a snack and access resources to start rebuilding their lives NPC is one of FP s twenty founding congregations, and provides financial and volunteer support, including a transitional apartment for those in the Aim Hire job placement program Volunteer opportunities include: greeting clients or playing board games at the Welcome Center; office support; reviewing resumes for job seekers HABITAT FOR HUMANITY (DC) wwwdchabitatorg Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC is a faith-based organization that sells homes to families in need by providing low-interest first mortgages Families make a modest down payment of about $500 and contribute 300 hours of sweat equity towards the construction of their home Since DC Habitat s founding in 1988, they have built with the help of their partners more than 100 homes and renovated 75 low-income cooperative units in DC NPC supports Habitat both financially and by sponsoring a build Volunteer opportunities: Join an NPC-sponsored build the second Saturday of the month JOHN WAGNER/YOUNG LIFE NY (NY) John Wagner, an NPC member, serves as Young Life s Senior Vice President for the Greater New York City Division This Christian ministry seeks to share the gospel with teenagers They give young people hope for the future by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping them along their faith walks MAGNET (Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network) (VA) wwwmidatlanticgleaningnetworkorg MAGNET seeks to harvest fresh produce from fields and orchards to feed the neediest in the Washington, DC region By continuing this biblical practice of gleaning, food that is non-marketable and which would otherwise be wasted is packaged and distributed to 4 5

4 In cooperation with each of our local mission partners, our congregation sponsors various NPC Cares day opportunities for members to make a diffence in the lives of inner city residents low-income communities and individuals through food providers such as food banks, shelters, and soup kitchens Volunteer opportunities include: Providing logistical/ administrative support; field gleaning; and working with a partner food center MARTHA S TABLE (DC) wwwmarthastableorg Martha s Table is dedicated to finding long and short term solutions to break the cycle of poverty Located in Northwest DC, it provides education, nutrition and family support services, assisting 1,100 people a day It addresses immediate needs with food and clothing programs, and long term needs through education, job training, and family strengthening programs Volunteer opportunities include: McKenna s Wagon mobile soup kitchen (evenings, ages 15 and up); preparing food for those in need (mornings, ages 9 and up); and working at the Day Care (mornings, ages 14 years and up) UNIQUE LEARNING CENTER (DC) wwwulcdcorg Unique Learning Center is a Christian organization that ministers to underserved children and youth in the Shaw community of Washington, DC It provides educational and spiritual support, offering tutoring help, mentorship, Bible study, and a reading program Children also have opportunities to participate in summer trips and college visits ULC makes a deliberate effort to shape and transform young lives in the name of Jesus, sharing the Gospel and the love of Christ Volunteer opportunities include: Tutoring Program (Tuesday nights, 7:30 9pm); afterschool homework help; providing meals or snacks; reading with young children; and coordinating special events YOUNG LIFE NORTH DC Young Life North DC is part of Young Life, an international Christian organization that presents the gospel to teenagers and helps them grow in their faith Young Life seeks to engage kids where they are, building bridges of authentic friendship by investing time with the teens they serve and walking with them through life s joys and heartaches Through it all, Young Life leaders share God s love with the kids, offering them an opportunity to encounter and follow Jesus Volunteer opportunities include: Help host an event at NPC for Young Life alumni and adult leaders; help with Young Life Camp PEGGY McCRACKEN (DC) wwwchristianembassycom Peggy McCracken, an NPC member, ministers through the Christian Embassy, which seeks to provide safe places and practical resources for integrating faith and work Peggy interacts with diplomats, wives of diplomats, and women who are chiefs of staff to members of Congress Her purpose is to serve and to share with them the basic teachings of Jesus Christ 6 7

5 International Partnerships NPC s International Mission Teams support and connect with our international partnerships The teams sponsor partner events at NPC and communicate with the congregation to stimulate prayer and service with our partner ministries and missionaries Organized regionally, the teams form active communities engaged with our partners to carry out Christ s mission in the world To connect with a regional International Mission Team or learn about NPC s partnerships, contact Sally Swanson: sswanson@nationalpresorg AFRICA Angela Bednarczyk École Renaissance des Sourds (Dakar, Senegal) Following a career working with deaf children in the US, Angela now provides teacher workshops at a Christian school for deaf children Because most deaf children arrive at school after age six, without a language system, it is essential that the teaching strategies used for communication, reading, and writing are those which are the most effective for deaf children Angela helps the teachers learn how to implement these strategies, along with program and curriculum development, and materials development for Bible teaching Angela is a member of NPC and has served as a deacon and in mission ministry DUSTIN AND SHERRI ELLINGTON PC(USA) (Zambia, Southern Africa) The Ellingtons are missionaries to Lusaka, Zambia Dustin is a professor of New Testament at Justo Mwale Theological University College (JMTUC), a seminary that trains Reformed and Presbyterian pastors for Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and beyond Dustin focuses on giving students skills to understand and interpret the Bible for themselves He also provides a pastoral presence on the campus Sherri teaches English part time and ministers from their home KEITH PATMAN Wycliffe Bible Translators (USA & central Africa) wwwwycliffeorg wwwsilorg Keith Patman has worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators for over thirty years, most of them focused on Bible translation work in central African countries He lived in Cameroon in the early 90 s and now travels from the US twice a year to check translated Scripture in three languages in Cameroon and Chad Keith provides tools and training to African Bible translators and is developing Bible translation guides specifically for the French-speaking countries of Africa An NPC elder, Keith has served in mission, communications, and pastor search committees 8 9

6 STUART AND CATHIE SHOWALTER Wycliffe Bible Translators (USA & Burkina Faso) wwwwycliffeorg wwwsilorg The Showalters work among the Kaan people of Burkina Faso in West Africa, a small group of about 6000 people whose culture dates back more than 400 years After many years of work, the Kaansa New Testament is nearly completed Along with language development, Bible translation, and literacy, the Kaansa Translation Team has undertaken numerous community development projects that help root the written language in the culture, such as malaria prevention, micro-loans, water resource development and agricultural training UNSUNG HEROES (Gauteng Province, South Africa) wwwunsungheroesorgza Unsung Heroes, a Christian ministry led by Lance Carr and Madoda Nzima, has a unique focus to empower visionary grassroots leaders through an intensive mentoring and capacity building program These leaders, truly South Africa s unsung heroes, are already engaged in much needed service to their communities affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS, especially children orphaned by the disease Unsung Heroes equips these indigenous ministries at a spiritual and organizational level to better serve South Africans who are in such great need ASIA Fraser AND Liz Bennett Wycliffe Bible Translators (Dallas, Texas) wwwwycliffeorg wwwsilorg/training Fraser and Liz Bennett have served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for over twenty years, primarily in training roles, both in Southeast Asia and in Dallas, Texas Currently, Fraser leads and coordinates training for work in Bible translation, linguistics, literacy, and other kinds of language development This training happens through a network of nearly thirty institutions worldwide, as well as through training workshops for minority language community members STEVE AND JANICE QUAKENBUSH Wycliffe Bible Translators (Global, USA, & Philippines) wwwwycliffeorg wwwsilorg Steve and Janice Quakenbush served in the Philippines ( ) as linguist-translators in the Agutaynen New Testament project, country director, and coordinator for academic services for 10 11

7 Asia Since 2009, Steve has led a globally distributed team of specialists who provide academic resources and training for a worldwide Bible translation movement, so that peoples of all nations can have access to the Scriptures in their own tongue, the language that speaks to their hearts Long-time members of NPC, Steve and Janice plan to return to the Philippines in the summer of 2013 McGILVARY COLLEGE OF DIVINITY (Chiang Mai, Thailand) MCD, an educational institution within Payap University, continues its 100-year legacy of training for ministry in Thailand and Southeast Asia For over a decade, NPC s Southeast Asia team has partnered with McGilvary through financial support, English tutoring in Thailand to faculty and students, hosting Thai faculty members in the US for language immersion, and mentoring Southeast Asian pastors and leaders pursuing advanced degrees in the US New project plans also include providing technical expertise to MCD s library Europe For many years, NPC has been a mission partner with McGilvary Seminary in Chiang Mai, Thailand not only providing financial support, but through mission trips where tutors help out at the seminary JOHN A BERNBAUM Russian-American Institute (Moscow & Washington, DC) wwwrussian-american-instituteorg Dr John Bernbaum is Founder and President of the Russian- American Institute RAI s mission is to strengthen the Christian community in Russia through educational and cultural programs that encourage disciples of Jesus Christ to be salt and light in the marketplace and to be agents for building a just, secure, and peaceful society As an active lay leader and member of NPC, John has served in many capacities, including teaching and mission MARY LOU LYON CrossCare International (USA & Eastern Europe) wwwfaithinthefamilyorg As a professional counselor, Mary Lou serves as a resource to pastors, missionaries, churches, and mission agencies in providing emotional and spiritual care for their ministries A special focus of her work is support for Christian workers in Eastern Europe She travels to this part of the world, meeting with mission leaders, speaking at conferences, and providing individual counseling The goal of her ministry is to help missionaries and Christian workers survive and thrive in the midst of the unique pressures they encounter Mary Lou is a current deacon, active in mission, and long-time member of NPC 12 13

8 COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY AND EDUCATION (Chisinau, Moldova) wwwbinookcom/moldovacte The College of Theology and Education (and US partner, KEYS Ministries) offers undergraduate and graduate programs to train pastors and others CTE educates national Christian leaders in theology, social services, education, and small business development for ministry throughout Central Asia and in Eastern Europe Through their programs, the church is being equipped, strengthened, and encouraged in republics of the former Soviet Union, Romania, and Slovakia EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (Osijek, Croatia) wwwevtoshr/en/home An evangelical seminary with an interdenominational board of directors, ETS provides graduate and undergraduate training for pastors and other Christian leaders ETS encourages theological education so graduates can engage the world through their chosen profession business, education, IT, construction, arts, law, or sciences Exploring the Bible and Christian identity offers the opportunity to grow in understanding that the earth is the Lord s and everything in it Above, the chapel at the Evangelical Thological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia At left, NPC helps sponsor The Marriage Course in Moldova MOLDOVA MARRIAGE MINISTRY/ Moldova Baptist Union (Republic of Moldova) wwwfamiliacrestinacom Moldova Marriage Ministry (MMM) is a model member-initiated ministry involving a rich collaboration of NPC Marriage Ministry, discipleship, and NPC Mission Building on the work of mission trips to Moldova in the 90s, the NPC Moldova team works closely with leaders of the Moldova Baptist Union to deliver and support family ministry activities, including Alpha s The Marriage Course, to couples in local churches This ministry is delivered across Moldova in response to requests to help strengthen marriages in the churches NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL (Eastern Europe) wwwnewhopeinternationalorg New Hope International partners with churches in Eastern Europe, collaborating with them in their CORE purposes of reaching Children with the good news of Jesus Christ (Mat

9 thew19:14), Outreach and evangelistic efforts (Matthew 28:19a), Resources, including biblical print, video, and Internet materials (Hebrews 4:12), and Educating believers in faith and righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Led by national leaders, New Hope teams are working in Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, and a new initiative in Moldova is being launched in 2013 LATIN AMERICA Working side by side with new friends from another culture sometimes makes saying goobye very difficult A hug succeeds where words fail FOUNDATION FOR PEACE (Dominican Republic, Haiti, & Kenya) wwwfoundationforpeaceorg Foundation for Peace is a Christian ministry dedicated to working alongside people in materially impoverished areas to provide educational support, health care access, economic opportunity, and hope As a hand-in-hand ministry, FFP facilitates personal success and community achievement Over time this will result in sustainable and successful initiatives to relieve the effects of poverty, encourage personal growth, and overcome injustice Foundation for Peace also seeks to educate Christians in the US about needs in the communities it serves MIDDLE EAST BETHLEHEM BIBLE COLLEGE (Bethlehem, Palestine) wwwbethbcorg Bethlehem Bible College prepares Christian leaders to serve churches and society in Israel and Palestine They train students to model Christ-likeness, godly humility, and biblical wholeness Graduates seek to follow Jesus way of creative justice and mercy in both their personal and professional lives BBC offers academic programs in Biblical Studies, Christian Education, Tour Guiding, and Media Studies It also serves the community through the Shepherd Society, its charitable ministry, and through language classes HOLY LAND CHRISTIAN ECUMENICAL FOUNDATION and HCEF SENIOR DAYCARE CENTER (Birzeit, Bethlehem, Palestine) wwwhceforg HCEF is committed to the presence and well-being of Arab Christians in the Holy Land and to developing the bonds of solidarity with Christians world-wide Its programs create jobs, 16 17

10 foster education, build and renovate homes, and offer support to Christians who remain in the Holy Land HCEF Senior Citizens Center The Birzeit Senior Citizens Center improves the living conditions of the elderly Christians in and around Birzeit by providing day care services which include nutritional, social, cultural, psychological and medical support Because of unemployment and a shortage of housing, many younger Christians, who would normally care for their parents, are moving to other countries Often this forces the elderly to struggle to survive on their own limited capabilities and with no infrastructure to support them OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE (Birzeit, Palestine) wwwbirzeitchurchps/en-indexphp A Roman Catholic community of Palestinian Christians, this church works to improve the education, housing, and other material needs of their Palestinian community, as well as enriching their individual spiritual lives The parish offers a message of hope and reconciliation through Jesus Christ in this very troubled part of the world NPC has sustained this ministry partnership since being introduced to it through World Vision in the 1990 s PC(USA) MISSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST As part of its mission work with the PC(USA), NPC supports a missionary couple (names withheld for security reasons) who has ministered for many years to Middle East refugees in Berlin, Germany They now serve in a Middle Eastern country where the Presbyterian Church has a long history PC(USA) seeks to support and sustain Christians who live within the country s cultural and religious mosaic A glance at where in the world NPC mission partners are located Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age MATTHEW 28:

11 20 National Presbyterian Church 4101 Nebraska Avenue, nw Washington, DC wwwnationalpresorg