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Churches Large and Small; Different Theologically, Different Geographically

PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA A UNIFYING VISION – DOING MISSION TOGETHER GOD’S CALL FOR PWNC?. Churches Large and Small; Different Theologically, Different Geographically. PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 112 Churches 18,521 Membership 39 < 50 Members

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Churches Large and Small; Different Theologically, Different Geographically

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  1. PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINAA UNIFYING VISION – DOING MISSION TOGETHERGOD’S CALL FOR PWNC? Churches Large and Small; Different Theologically, Different Geographically

  2. PRESBYTERY OFWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA • 112 Churches • 18,521 Membership • 39 < 50 Members • 61 < 100 Members • 80 < 150 Members • 10 > 500 Members PWNC spans east to Gastonia, north to Banner Elk and west to the Tennessee line.

  3. Presbytery of Western North Carolina’s Mission Strengthen churches to witness to Jesus Christ Equip Churches for Ministry Witness to God’s Love Build Relationships Strengthen People Make Disciples

  4. Witness to God’s Love Strengthen Churches God’s Calling to the Presbytery Witness to God’s Love Equip Churches • Guatemala Partnership (17 years) Build Relationships Strengthen Leaders Make Disciples • Dr. Barbara Nagy/ Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi (7 years)

  5. What is God Calling PWNC to Do and Be? Is Our Mission Focus Part of God’s Call? • IS IT – • Effective for others? (Witnessing to God’s Love) • Strengthening the congregations? (Equipping them, making them disciples, strengthening leaders) • A valid focus for today’s world? • A valid way to spend resources? • If our focus is right, what about the way we are doing mission. • Both technical and adaptive • How should we be defining things differently? • What could we do better? • What should we be doing differently? • What can we learn from other Presbyteries?

  6. PWNC’s MISSION AREAS • 17 Year Guatemalan Partnership • 80% Support for PCUSA Pediatric Doctor in Malawi • Support PCUSA Mission Co-Workers/Other Missionaries • Disaster Relief and Work Crew Project • Hunger Work & Local Mission • Youth, Camp Grier, Homes for Children • Other

  7. Guatemalan Partnership17 Year Relationship • Partner With Two Presbyteries • Suchitepequez (Suchi) and Sur Occidente (Sur) • Different in size • Different in theology • Similar in their extreme poverty • West Coast Presbyteries • Covenant Vision (5 Year Commitment) • Together we • Affirm our integral faith in Jesus Christ • Work as partners in support and mission • Learn from each other • Encourage one another • Share our joys and pains • Experience God’s abundant life • Demonstrate Christ’s reconciling love • Appreciate the gifts that each church offers* • The Focus is Relationship Building • We stay in the villages in primitive conditions • Our focus is mutual support; not building projects *Condensed from 5 year Covenant

  8. Guatemalan Partnership 31 Church-to-Church Partnerships All Sizes – Different Theologies • PWNC has Coordinator/Executive Committee • PWNC sponsored church to church visits each year • Churches also visit their church • Guatemalans visit partner churches/PWNC • Partnership Banners in every church • Letters go back and forth • PWNC churches are limited to $300 per year • Guatemalans determine its use • Plus children’s scholarships • Plus projects approved by Partnership PWNC Church Partners gather every other month

  9. Guatemalan Partnership • Three executive committees meet each year • Reports discussed/decisions made • Projects are prioritized • Plans for education, health & youth Communication is Constant & Frequent • Partnership • Coming to the table as equals • Always a growing experience • Moderating rotated • Agenda setting together • PWNC not in control – A Real Partnership • Partnership is Time Consuming/Costly • Paid Coordinator in each of the 3 Presbyteries • Three Partnership Committees • Budget for 2011 - $31,500

  10. Guatemalan PartnershipImpact on PWNC Mission Members • Our faith grows and deepens • Individuals are changed • Awareness of Christians around the world • New eyes to see ourselves/others • See our abundance • Experience the Holy Spirit at work • Know people who must depend on God • Want to experience God more • See gratitude “Gracias” prayers • Seen the face of Christ/heard Christ speak • Youth changing their future work • Changing majors • Immigration lawyer • Different perspective on role of USA • More concern for Hispanics in USA • See partnership as God’s call to ministry • Learn to be a partner • Bring change to the congregation/PWNC

  11. Guatemalan PartnershipImpact on Guatemala • Worshiping/praying together-united in Christ • Experiencing caring from PWNC • Thinking in new ways • Opening possibilities – the baptism of children • Women being elders/pastors • Enabling more children to go to school • Improving and/or having a church building • Improving water in a few places • Having a missionary in Africa

  12. Guatemalan PartnershipPWNC Focus Broader then Church Partners • At Presbytery Meetings • New Pastors are given Guatemalan stoles • Teams are commissioned/report • Partnership covenant is signed • Weavings on lectures/communion table • Guatemalans are welcomed and speak • Other Exchanges • Youth Trips • Kevin Frederick – discusses family abuse with the men • Guatemalan Youth to Triennium • Prayer request in PWNC & Guatemala • Throughout the Year • Alternative Christmas Giving • Children’s Scholarships, Seminary Scholarships, Nutrition • Monthly mailings include reports & letters

  13. Triangle of Love Malawi, Guatemala, PWNCSeven Year Relationship • Three Presbyteries support 80% of a PCUSA Mission Co-Worker • Dr. Barbara Nagy from the Presbytery of Western NC • Pediatric doctor at Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi, Africa • “Triangle of Love” mural in PWNC meeting room

  14. Triangle of Love Malawi, Guatemala, PWNC • Guatemalan Participation • The first mission trip had a Guatemalan Doctor • Medical Protocols from Malawi went to Guatemala • Letters are translated into Spanish • Guatemalans collect money at their presbytery meetings for Dr. Nagy • Children in Guatemala collect cans at soccer games for the children in Malawi • Guatemalans have a missionary in Africa • They are giving, not just receiving • Churches in Guatemala are praying for Dr. Nagy and Nkhoma Hospital

  15. PWNC Seven Year Partnership withDr. Barbara Nagy, Nkhoma Hospital & Ebenezer School • PWNC Support – Nkhoma Hospital • Toilets for Children’s Ward • Electrical Work • Consistent Oxygen for the Hospital • X-ray Boxes, More Oxygen Concentrators • Create a Children’s Examining Room (children don’t have to wait – saves lives) • New Laboratory Equipment & Training • Housing for Medical Staff • 3 Houses for Medical Staff • Plus Matching Grant for 2 More Houses

  16. PWNC Seven Year Partnership withDr. Barbara Nagy, Nkhoma Hospital & Ebenezer School • Health Centers • Mission Vision signs at all the village health centers • Health Center staff housing renovation • Repairs at a few Health Centers • Health Center Equipment improvement • Relationship Building • Establishing a relationship of caring • We return to Malawi even when Dr. Barbara Nagy is in the USA • Consistent Visiting • Finance • $100,000 kept Nkhoma Hospital operating • Responding to emergency financial problems

  17. Ebenezer School • For Children of Hospital Staff and the Community • Keeps Staff at Hospital • Idea/Grant Developed by Malawian Parents • First Principal – 80 year old Member of PWNC • A New Grade Each Year (3 yr olds to 3rd Grade) • Sent Long-Term Volunteers to Help • A Principal • A Teacher

  18. Ebenezer School • Funded – Construction • School Buildings • Teachers’ Housing • Furniture/Supplies • Curriculum • Library (coming soon) Staff House Jan 2011 Staff House May 2011 New Curriculum & Supplies being delivered by PWNC Mission Team Classroom furniture

  19. Triangle to Circle of Love - Korea • PWNC Retired Missionary to Korea • Challenged Korean Graduates of a Missionary School • They Funded Second Building-Plus More • Korean Graduates Part of Mission Team

  20. Strengthening Churches • Everyone in PWNC knows Dr. Barbara Nagy and her children • She is here when home • One of our own • For Interpretation • Everyone had an opportunity to hear Barbara Nagy-even the smallest churches • Barbara spoke at Presbytery meetings and Women of the Church gatherings • About 60-80 engagements in all

  21. Strengthening Churches • Churches Support Barbara Nagy financially • All churches could meet/hear Barbara Nagy • Members in churches knit caps for infants • Members collect supplies for the school • Members help with medical supplies • Give to Barbara Nagy’s support • Alternative Christmas for hospital, school, nutrition programs, mosquito nets • Nickel a Meal grants go for fertilizer and children’s nutrition • Members support the Ministry of Hope, a crisis nursery, started by the Dimmocks, also mission co-workers from PWNC • Church cluster groups hold fund-raisers for hospital projects (BBQ and pastor talent show, bowling with basketball star, etc • Malawi team videos at Presbytery meetings • Prayer requests in churches for Malawi • Church members remaining at home wear prayer wrist bands during mission trips • Build Relationship – 7 years of mission trips

  22. PWNC Supports PCUSA Mission Co-Workers 74 PWNC Churches Support a PCUSA Mission Co-Worker 2007 Presbytery Emphasis “Got Mission?” Becca Young Professor, Systematic Theology Jakarta, Indonesia Frank & Nancy Dimmock Health Ministry Lesotho, Africa John McCall Spiritual Formation/ Pastor Development Taiwan 4 PCUSA Co-Workers from PWNC Barbara Nagy, Pediatrician Nkhoma Hospital Malawi, Africa

  23. Disaster RecoveryLocal Home & Church Repair • PWNC Disaster Mission Teams • Any church • Small churches • Support Churches’ Mission Trips • Built a Shower Trailer • Publicize PDA Information • Local Teams Renovate Homes, Paint Churches, Work at Camp Grier • Housed Work Teams in PWNC after floods • Churches Together Build Habitat Houses

  24. Hunger Nickel a Meal Fight Hunger Locally & Worldwide Provide grants to Malawi, Haiti, Guatemala and more 72 Churches Contributed $113,855 in 2010 Provide grants to Local Sponsored Agencies Checks to Agencies are Presented at Sponsoring Church’s Worship Service by Members of Hunger Committee

  25. Souper Bowl of Caring 58 Churches Participated in 2011 PWNC adds .50 for every $1 collected $13,803 matched by PWNC in 2011 Total collected for hunger - $41,409

  26. Hunger – Local Churches Food Pantries Community Gardens • Annual Education Events Include: • Backpack Workshop – Youth & Adults • Helps aid Advocacy • Mission Ideas for Small Membership Churches Feeding/Shelters for Homeless Backpacks (Weekend Food for Children) Grace Covenant has a community garden on their beautiful front lawn. They and some people who eat at the McDonalds next door tend the garden. The produce is shared with local food banks. They deliver over 100lbs of broccoli one week. The garden is a visible sign of God’s grace at work.

  27. Impact on the Presbytery of PWNC • A Unifying and Helpful Impact – Mission Involvement • Mission Involvement • Builds relationships across theology, church size, and geography • Contributes to unity and trust • Helps people see God at work • Mission involvement grows other mission involvement • Churches are more open to strangers • Part of PWNC’s identity as being a “mission oriented Presbytery” • Even churches not directly involved know about/care about mission and co-workers • People look forward to the 2 day meeting with a mission emphasis • Mission contributes to pastors wanting to stay in PWNC

  28. Mission Focused PWNC Operating Budget* 911,471 *Contains mission giving Benevolent Giving Guatemala Partnership $103,579 Barbara Nagy (Malawi) $158,340 Becca Young (Indonesia) $ 29,782 Other Missionary Support $ 83,867 Nickel-a-Meal (Hunger Relief) $113,855 PC(USA) Offerings Supported by Committee $ 78,431 Other PC(USA) Offerings $ 48,430 Total $616,284 Total Institutes & Agencies $12,000 (Does not include gifts from churches) Total Synod Giving 13,428 Total GA Giving $180,004 Grand Total $821,716

  29. What is God Calling PWNC to Do and Be? Is Our Mission Focus Part of God’s Call? • IS IT – • Effective for others? (Witnessing to God’s Love) • Strengthening the congregations? (Equipping them, making them disciples, strengthening leaders) • A valid focus for today’s world? • A valid way to spend resources? • If our focus is right, what about the way we are doing mission. • Both technical and adaptive • How should we be defining things differently? • What could we do better? • What should we be doing differently? • What can we learn from other Presbyteries?

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