PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINAA UNIFYING VISION – DOING MISSION TOGETHER

GOD’S CALL FOR PWNC?

Churches Large and Small; Different Theologically, Different Geographically

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.

Presbytery of Western North Carolina’s MissionStrengthen churches to witness to

Jesus ChristEquip Churches for

MinistryWitness to God’s

Love

Build Relations

hips

Strengthen People

Make Disciples

Witness to God’s Love

Strengthen Churches

Witness to God’s

Love

Equip Church

es

Make Discipl

es

Build Relations

hipsStrengt

hen Leaders

God’s Calling to the Presbytery• Guatemala

Partnership (17 years)

• Dr. Barbara Nagy/ Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi (7 years)

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 adaptiveHow should we be defining things differently?What could we do better?What should we be doing differently?What can we learn from other Presbyteries?

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

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

The Focus is Relationship Building•We stay in the villages in primitive conditions•Our focus is mutual support; not building projects

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*

*Condensed from 5 year Covenant

Guatemalan Partnership31 Church-to-Church

PartnershipsAll Sizes – Different

TheologiesPWNC 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

Guatemalan PartnershipThree executive committees meet each year•Reports discussed/decisions made•Projects are prioritized•Plans for education, health & youth

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

Communication isConstant & Frequent

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 majorsImmigration 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

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

Guatemalan PartnershipPWNC Focus Broader then Church Partners

At Presbytery MeetingsNew Pastors are given Guatemalan stolesTeams are commissioned/reportPartnership covenant is signedWeavings on lectures/communion tableGuatemalans are welcomed and speak

Throughout the YearAlternative Christmas GivingChildren’s Scholarships, Seminary Scholarships, NutritionMonthly mailings include reports & letters

Other ExchangesYouth TripsKevin Frederick – discusses family abuse with the menGuatemalan Youth to TrienniumPrayer request in PWNC & Guatemala

Triangle of Love Malawi, Guatemala, PWNC

Seven Year RelationshipThree Presbyteries support 80% of a PCUSA Mission Co-WorkeroDr. Barbara Nagy from the Presbytery of Western NCoPediatric doctor at Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi, Africao“Triangle of Love” mural in PWNC meeting room

Triangle of Love Malawi, Guatemala, PWNC

Guatemalan ParticipationThe first mission trip had a Guatemalan DoctorMedical Protocols from Malawi went to GuatemalaLetters are translated into SpanishGuatemalans collect money at their presbytery meetings for Dr. NagyChildren in Guatemala collect cans at soccer games for the children in MalawiGuatemalans have a missionary in AfricaThey are giving, not just receivingChurches in Guatemala are praying for Dr. Nagy and Nkhoma Hospital

PWNC Seven Year Partnership withDr. Barbara Nagy, Nkhoma Hospital &

Ebenezer School

PWNC Support – Nkhoma HospitalToilets for Children’s WardElectrical WorkConsistent Oxygen for the HospitalX-ray Boxes, More Oxygen ConcentratorsCreate a Children’s Examining Room (children don’t have to wait – saves lives)New Laboratory Equipment & Training

Housing for Medical Staff3 Houses for Medical StaffPlus Matching Grant for 2 More Houses

PWNC Seven Year Partnership withDr. Barbara Nagy, Nkhoma Hospital &

Ebenezer SchoolHealth CentersMission Vision signs at all the village health centersHealth Center staff housing renovationRepairs at a few Health CentersHealth Center Equipment improvementRelationship Building

Establishing a relationship of caringWe return to Malawi even when Dr. Barbara Nagy is in the USAConsistent Visiting

Finance$100,000 kept Nkhoma Hospital operatingResponding to emergency financial problems

Ebenezer SchoolFor Children of Hospital Staff and the CommunityKeeps Staff at HospitalIdea/Grant Developed by Malawian ParentsFirst Principal – 80 year old Member of PWNCA New Grade Each Year (3 yr olds to 3rd Grade)

Sent Long-Term Volunteers to HelpA PrincipalA Teacher

Ebenezer SchoolFunded – Construction•School Buildings•Teachers’ Housing•Furniture/Supplies•Curriculum•Library (coming soon)

Staff HouseJan 2011

Staff HouseMay 2011

New Curriculum & Supplies being delivered by

PWNC Mission Team

Classroom furniture

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

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

Strengthening ChurchesChurches 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

PWNC Supports PCUSA Mission Co-Workers

2007 Presbytery

Emphasis

“Got Mission?”

74 PWNC Churches Support a PCUSA Mission Co-Worker

4 PCUSA Co-

Workers from

PWNC

John McCallSpiritual

Formation/Pastor

DevelopmentTaiwan

Becca YoungProfessor, Systematic

TheologyJakarta, Indonesia

Frank & Nancy Dimmock

Health MinistryLesotho, Africa

Barbara Nagy, Pediatrician

Nkhoma HospitalMalawi, Africa

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

Hunger

72 Churches

Contributed

$113,855 in 2010

Nickel a MealFight Hunger Locally & Worldwide

Provide grants to

Local Sponsored Agencies

Provide grants to Malawi,

Haiti, Guatemala and

more

Checks to Agencies are Presented at Sponsoring Church’s Worship Service by Members of Hunger

Committee

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

Hunger – Local Churches

Community Gardens

Backpacks (Weekend Food for Children)

Food Pantries

Feeding/Shelters for Homeless

Annual Education Events Include:

•Backpack Workshop – Youth & Adults

•Helps aid Advocacy

•Mission Ideas for Small Membership

Churches

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.

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

Mission FocusedPWNC Operating Budget*911,471 *Contains mission giving

Benevolent Giving

Guatemala Partnership $103,579Barbara Nagy (Malawi) $158,340Becca Young (Indonesia) $ 29,782Other Missionary Support $ 83,867Nickel-a-Meal (Hunger Relief) $113,855PC(USA) Offerings Supported by Committee $ 78,431Other PC(USA) Offerings $ 48,430

Total $616,284

Total Synod Giving 13,428Total GA Giving $180,004

Total Institutes & Agencies $12,000 (Does not include gifts from churches)

Grand Total $821,716

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 adaptiveHow should we be defining things differently?What could we do better?What should we be doing differently?What can we learn from other Presbyteries?