The National and World Missions Committee
has approved funding the following ministries and missionaries for 2008:
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
Cook School for Christian Leadership, Tempe, AZ
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
African Leadership
Amor Ministries
Asian Access - Stan & Faith DeLaCour
Crisis Nursery - Zambia, Africa
Cuba Matanzas Evangelical Theological Seminary
CUPS (Comunidades Unidas Pro Salud) - Mexico
Disaster Relief Projects
Hannah Ministries
International Justice Mission (IJM)
International Teams - Youth World Ecuador
Jamaica - Balcarres Road New Testament Church of God
Living Waters for the World
Local Refugees - Lost Boys of Sudan
Medical Benevolence Foundation
Middle Tennessee New Church Development
Mission Celebration Event
Nations Ministry Center
Native American Ministries - Charles & Dianne Wonnenberg
Presbytery of Middle Tennessee
The Outreach Foundation
Russia - OPORA
Russia - Twinning Church and Camp in Tula
Russia - Twinning Missionaries in Moscow - Alan & Ellen Smith
Uganda - Juna Amagara Ministries
Taiwan Seminary - Reverend John McCall
Youth Conference Ministries (Son Servants)
See below for more detail on each ministry and missionary.
Presbyterian Seminaries and Theology Education Institutions
FPC-Nashville has decided to maximize its educational contributions by making relatively large donations to the top institutions in our denomination rather than making a number of smaller contributions to a more diverse group. Our goal is to help attract and retain quality clergy in our denomination.
African Leadership
FPC-Nashville's William Mwizerwa helped establish this local branch of an African Outreach Ministry to serve the spiritual, physical and resettlement needs of refugees recently relocated to the Nashville area. William helps the refuges find churches and jobs, conducts Bible studies, and assists with social and cultural assimilation. William's local refugee ministry was started with the assistance of FPC and has grown into a successful mission of the church, reaching hundreds of refugees who otherwise might not receive spiritual nourishment. www.africanleadership.org
Amor Ministries - Mexico
For over 25 years Amor has provided a unique, life-changing mission experience to thousands of Christians from all over the world. Over 800,000 Mexican families live below the poverty line. Amor builds these families a solid, safe home, and we do so in the name of Christ. Amor mission trips are all about life change in trip participants and Mexican families. As you work alongside on another you build unity, appreciation, and gratitude for what you have. The sweat of hard work, and eternal purpose develops a heart to serve others. www.amor.org
Asian Access - Stan & Faith DeLaCour
Asian Access is an interdenominational, evangelical mission agency that is developing leaders and multiplying churches across Asia. Started in 1967 in Japan, Asian Access has worked with over 600 churches in every part of Japan. For nearly 40 years, Asian Access has deployed short- and long-term missionaries to partner with these local congregations and national leaders to start and strengthen Japanese churches. FPC's funding provides support for missionaries spreading the gospel in Japan in areas where Christianity is little known. Faith DeLaCour is the daughter of Reuben Brooks. www.asianaccess.org / thedelacourier.blogspot.com
Crisis Nursery - Zambia, Africa
The Crisis Nursery offers care and compassion ministries to children who have been abandoned or orphaned because their parents are ill or have died from AIDS. FPC funds provide program upkeep for the nursery for over 2 months for staff including nurses & social workers, food, supplies, and upkeep for 15 children. Zambia is a peaceful nation with rich natural resources, composed of 72 different tribes whose national anthem proclaims, "One people, one nation." Yet, the pandemic of AIDS is ravaging the nation, as it has the entire continent of Africa, and is stealing its future. A crisis nursery is a "safe home", typically in a shanty neighborhood, where emergency food and medical supplies are available. theoutreachfoundation.org/2006/crisis%20nurseries.htm
Cuba Matanzas Evangelical Theological Seminary
FPC's gift will underwrite the construction of the Seminary in Matanzas as well as support other church development in the Matanzas Presbytery. Over the years the buildings of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba have deteriorated. Some repairs and rebuilding have taken place, but this project is far from being finished. Meanwhile, another condition of great urgency has arisen. At least half of the 31 churches need expansion: sanctuary space, classrooms and restrooms. Manse or like accommodations for seminary interns to stay overnight need to be expanded or improved.
CUPS (Comunidades Unidas Pro Salud) - Mexico
CUPS is an ecumenical Christian organization founded in 1989 to improve the quality of life in rural communities along the Mexico-U.S. border. Maximizing the use of capital and human resources, CUPS unites Mexican and U.S. communities in projects that touch the lives of thousands of people. Health projects are a primary focus, but community defined needs for projects and programs are equally important in our work. FPC's funding helps with the costs of administration for this organizer of mission trips in Mexico. For more than 20 years, FPC-Nashville has sent mission groups each spring break to help poverty stricken areas just across the Texas border . www.cupsmission.org
Disaster Relief Projects
Through both the PC(USA) Disaster Assistance Fund as well as directly, FPC-Nashville includes annual funding in its mission budget to respond to natural disasters around the globe. Past response efforts have provided disaster relief funds for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the U.S. as well as Hurricane Dean's effects in Jamaica and Belize. Additional disaster relief efforts in recent years have provided funds for the disastrous tsunami and earthquake in Southeast Asia in late December 2004. www.pcusa.org/pda
Hannah Ministries Tumurere
Hannah Ministries Tumurere is a Christian organization working with AIDS-infected mothers as well as children at risk (orphans, children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, children living in a child-led household, and street children). It is a local initiative in Byumba, Rwanda born to respond to the needs of these individuals. Its priorities are to provide education; feeding; medical expenses; vocational training; HIV/AIDS care & counseling; and self-sustainable development. www.helpinghannah.org
International Justice Mission (IJM)
Funds assist in the pursuit of legal justice for disenfranchised peoples, particularly those sold into bonded slavery, in third world countries. American attorneys, including Wally Dietz, Cathy Celaro and other FPC members travel to foreign countries to provide legal aid. IJM leader Gary Haugen has been a regular visiting speaker at our Missions Celebrations and Sunday services. Through the work of Wally and others, Nashville has become a strong pillar of support for IJM and the outreach model that proved successful in Nashville is now being applied in other cities. www.ijm.org
International Teams - Youth World Ecuador
International Teams is an interdenominational Christian, evangelical ministry living out worship and service to God from our wide range of backgrounds and styles. To know International Teams, is to know its values…We ourselves are utterly lost apart from the grace of Jesus; The call to "follow me" means transformed people building transforming communities; We will go to extraordinary measures to bring the present and future hope of God's kingdom to each person; We believe the Church is God's agent to reach the world; There are no marginalized people in God's kingdom; We want to build deep and long-term relationships; We are relational and strategic, living among those we serve; Following God is a risk-taking adventure, requiring dependence on His miraculous ways; Missions belongs to the whole world; and Expressive worship of the living God is humanity's highest calling and ultimate end. In late 2007, FPC-Nashville's own Adam and Sara DeVries (son and daughter-in-law of Mark and Susan DeVries) began a 3-year commitment to Youth World International Ministry in Quito, Ecuador, one of International Team's Latin American ministry areas. Youth World International exists to identify, teach and equip leaders to impact young people and families to be disciples of Jesus Christ. In June 2008, FPC-Nashville's graduating high school seniors as well as a team of college students will travel to Ecuador to serve alongside Adam and Sara. www.iteams.org / www.youthworld.org.ec
Jamaica - Balcarres Road New Testament Church of God
FPC-Nashville's funding provides administrative assistance for this church and pre-school serving one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Mandeville, Jamaica. Believing that education provide the ultimate opportunity for hope and prosperity, FPC-Nashville has sent adult mission trips for more than a decade to work in getting the pre-school accredited by the Jamaican government so the school will be self-sufficient thru government funding and student tuition payments. In addition to working on improving the pre-school and readying it for accreditation, FPC-Nashville members have worked on improving the church to serve as a gathering place for the community to serve neighborhood children and youth beyond those participating in Sunday and weekday church activities. As team size allows, home repair projects are often undertaken in the community to replace roofs and walls damaged in the all too common hurricanes that frequently batter Jamaica.
Living Waters for the World
Living Waters for the World is the global mission resource of the Synod of Living Waters PC(USA). Its vision is to use the gift of clean water to bring together congregations of the Synod of Living Waters PC(USA) and others interested in mission, with their sisters and brothers in need, for a life-changing experience with the risen Christ. Living Waters for the World serves as a resource to churches of all denominations, civic organizations and others in mission, enabling them to provide clean water to their partners in need. Joining hands with those who need clean water, we find ourselves holding the hand of God. www.livingwatersfortheworld.org
Local Refugees - Lost Boys of Sudan
Lost Boys of Sudan is the name given by aid organizations to refer to the more than 27,000 boys who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1984-2005). Most of the boys were orphaned or separated from their families when government troops systematically attacked villages in southern Sudan killing many of the inhabitants, most of whom were civilians. Orphaned and with no support, they would make epic journeys lasting years across the borders to international relief camps in Ethiopia and Kenya evading thirst, starvation, wild animals, insects, disease, and one of the most bloody wars of the 20th century. Many of these orphaned boys, now grown men, have settled in the Middle Tennessee area. FPC-Nashville provides assistance for urgent, one-time needs for newly arrived refugees, and for activities to help with cultural indoctrination. For the last several years our church has "adopted" a number of refugees and refugee families into our worship and their urgent needs have been met by a number of individuals and Sunday School classes. This funding will provide a more stable and dependable means to assist refugees with urgent needs.
Medical Benevolence Foundation
For over 40 years, the Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) has worked to provide hope and healing to those most in need. Working with its partners, MBF supports healing ministries in more than 100 hospitals and clinics throughout the world. Its work includes providing funding for medical care to needy persons, securing donations of medical supplies, working toward long term lasting changes that effect whole communities in terms of health care, and provind awareness campaigns that inform donors of the great needs around the world and how they can be a part of this exciting work through MBF. www.mbfoundation.org
Middle Tennessee New Church Development
Working in concert with the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, FPC-Nashville will help to identify and financially support the establishment and development of new Presbyterian churches in the Middle Tennessee area.
Mission Celebration Event
Each year FPC holds a Missions Celebration for its members in order to elevate awareness of the missions and missionaries supported by the church. Funding covers the cost of the celebration including travel and expenses for the Missions Celebration speaker.
Native American Ministry - Charles & Dianne Wonnenberg
Reverends Charles and Diane Wonnenberg joined The Outreach Foundation as missionaries to the USA among Native Americans in 2005.
Following their earlier assignment in Mozambique as Presbyterian Church (USA) missionaries helping to facilitate the evangelistic mission efforts of the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique, Charles and Diane are now serving through a unique partnership established by The Outreach Foundation, the Presbytery of South Dakota and Dakota Presbytery, a non-geographic presbytery comprised of Native American congregations.
Charles and Diane now lead a mission fellowship based in Dallas, South Dakota, where they extend the outreach and evangelism work of the Dakota Presbytery to areas of need. At the heart of this work is a vision to proclaim the Gospel, to strengthen and equip existing Native American congregations toward a mission vision, and to encourage discipleship through Bible study and leadership training. http://theoutreachfoundation.org/2006/Wonnenberg.htm
Presbytery of Middle Tennessee
The Presbyterian Church (USA) in Middle Tennessee bound together by our shared faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to the Reformed Tradition. We are members of a connectional church family and part of the Synod of Living Waters. http://presbyterymidtn.org/
The Outreach Foundation
The Outreach Foundation supports and monitors overseas missions on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (USA). FPC-Nashville gives financial support to the Foundation's administrative offices as well as to the individual missions identified by the National and World Missions Committee and Missions Council. The Outreach Foundation is one of only three PC(USA) Validated Mission Support Groups and is an Extra Commitment Opportunity of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Their office is located in Franklin, TN. Until his recent retirement, former senior minister of FPC-Nashville, Bill Bryant, served as Executive Director. Rob Weingartner now serves in that position. Set up to offer packages of missions and missionaries in need of support, they send their request annually to our Missions Program committee for consideration. http://theoutreachfoundation.org
Russia - OPORA
The Training Center OPORA (a Russian word for "support") is operating under the umbrella of a non-profit institution "THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ALLIANCE". The organization was formed to provide a basis for cooperation with educational, medical, social, cultural, charitable and Christian organizations in Russia, and abroad to further develop good health. OPORA is a Christian teaching ministry to equip leaders in the principles of the 12-step program to free people from alcohol and drug dependence. Our own FPC-Nashville member, Dr. Anderson Spickard, adds his professional support to OPORA. www.opora.org
Russia - Twinning Church and Camp in Tula
FPC Nashville has an exciting "twinning" relationship with a church in Tula to which annual visits are made. FPC-Nashville has contributed funds toward building a new church. Through 2007, Craig Parrish has taken college students to help run a Christian youth camp in Tula. Approximately 400 children benefit from the funds made available by FPC-Nashville.
Russia - Twinning Missionaries in Moscow - Alan & Ellen Smith
The Smiths began their first missionary assignment in 2001 after completing orientation and intensive language study. As coordinators for congregational "twinning", the Smiths support the 20 already-existing relationships between PC(USA) congregations and congregations of Russian Christians. Russian churches participating in the project include not only Presbyterian but also Baptist, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Reformed congregations. To date, most of the relationships are in western Siberia and western Russia. The Smiths' goal is to expand the quantity of partnerships and also to help deepen the quality of the relationships between U.S. and Russian Christians. http://theoutreachfoundation.org/2006/Smiths.htm
Uganda - Juna Amagara Ministries
Juna Amagara Ministries was founded in 2004 to help children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic grow in Christ to become healthy, productive members of society. The mission is to propagate socially healthy and productive life relationships through Children Care Homes, Schooling, Life-skills training, Fellowship groups, Counseling and Reconciliation programs; to provide life sustenance through Nutritional and Medical facilitation; and to present the life saving and transforming power of the Gospel. www.amagara.org
Taiwan Seminary - Reverend John McCall
John McCall was appointed to serve as a Presbyterian Church (USA) mission co-worker in 1996. After two years of language training, he served the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan in a variety of ministries. He spent his first term among aboriginal peoples in southeast China. More recently, he has taught at the Taiwan Theological Seminary in Taipei. His subjects are spiritual formation, preaching, worship and theology of ministry. He continues to visit churches on weekends and during school breaks. http://theoutreachfoundation.org/2006/McCall.htm
Youth Conference Ministries (Son Servants)
The vision of Youth Conference Ministries is to minister to young people in such a way that they would experience the power of God in their lives daily. Their mission is to awaken a desire for Christ in young people so that they will return from our programs to their local church empowered to live for Him. FPC-Nashville, through both its youth and adult programs, works with YCM to create mission trip opportunities for its members. www.ycmhome.org |
