Venezuela Appeal - December 2019

According to The United Nations, more than 4 million Venezuelans have left their country. Those that remain in Venezuela are struggling. Despite the severe economic crisis the country is experiencing, the Presbyterian Church of Venezuela (IPV) has been demonstrating grace in many ways.

Thanks to ongoing donations, The Outreach Foundation has been able to continue its support of the initiatives of the Presbyterian Church of Venezuela. Thousands of food baskets have been distributed, medications have been provided to members and friends that could not afford them, and Bibles have been handed out in more than 20 different neighborhoods. Grateful for our partnership, the IPV said that Outreach’s support will be very helpful for the expansion of their ministry efforts during the year 2020.

Partnership, South America, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationDecember 10, 2019Venezuela Appeal

Shalom Teaching Ministry - Update

Dear friend in Christ,

Most pastors in the growing Latin American church support themselves by holding other jobs. Although they are often very motivated to learn, it is estimated that less than 30% have access to formal theological education. Their personal study is severely constrained because theological books in Spanish are expensive.

An emerging ministry is now being offered through the Shalom Community Church to help with this challenge. With support from The Outreach Foundation, Shalom is making the Latin American Contemporary Commentary of the Bible available to pastors throughout Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, San Salvador, Guatemala, Cuba, and Ecuador. In addition to substantial theological studies on every book in the Bible, the Commentary includes 100 articles that apply Bible teaching to issues particularly relevant in Latin America. The topics include prison ministry, domestic violence, care of orphans, concern for people with disabilities, and political violence. A result of 12 years of work by the most respected Latino Christian scholars, the Contemporary Commentary of the Bible is the first of its kind because of both its rigorous nature and the attention that it gives to the cultural features and realities of the region. The Latin American Contemporary Commentary of the Bible, along with guidance from Shalom, can serve as a cornerstone for pastors’ theological development throughout Latin America.

Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary - Update

Sureste Presbyterian Theological Seminary believes that every pastor should develop a vision and a heart for sharing the Good News across cultures and countries. On October 12, the seminary sponsored an event called “CIMA Day” which provided an opportunity to share the importance of global mission in today’s world. The information was communicated in three main sessions over the course of seven hours. Through presentations, participants were introduced to the historical development of God’s purposes which focused on themes related to the biblical, historical, cultural and strategic aspects of God’s mission. The event was also sponsored by the Synod of Tabasco of The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico.

New Church Development in Egypt - November 2019 Update

In November, I led a team of 17 to Egypt to learn from and celebrate the ministry of our partners there, one of which is the Synod of the Nile’s Pastoral Outreach and Mission Committee that is planting new churches and revitalizing old ones. My colleague, Rev. Mark Mueller, was part of this team and reflects here on what he encountered.
Marilyn Borst, Associate Director for Partnership Development

Lessons
by Mark Mueller

The Middle East has many lessons to teach the church. In Iraq, the church has remained the faithful remnant despite war, sanctions, and upheaval. In Lebanon, the church moves forward amid protests, poverty, and instability. In Syria, the church is rebuilding after invasion, strife, and migration. In each of these countries, the church has served as a model of resiliency and faithfulness.

Middle East, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 26, 2019New Church Development in Egypt, Egypt

José Carlos Pezini - November 2019 Update

Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is hard to believe that 2019 is almost over. It was an intense year in our ministry here in Brazil. The Lord guided us and opened many doors. Through SARA Ministries, Odete and I spent time caring for pastors and helping them in numerous ways. We saw the lives of many pastors from different denominations being transformed through mentoring and as a result of this transformation, we saw their churches grow in enthusiasm and membership.

The mentoring program includes monthly video conferences and participation in two annual retreats. Through these we work on three fundamental areas in the pastor’s lives:

The pastor and his life with God
The mentee sets aside at least one hour a day, five days a week to be with God, to hear from him, to know him, to develop intimacy with him, and to understand his purpose for their life and ministry. This is not a time for exegesis or sermon study, but a time to feed on God's word and nourish the soul.

Hope for Syrian Students - November 2019 Update

In 2016, with more than 1.2 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon–60% of them school age–the National Evangelical [Presbyterian] Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) came up with a vision: open a school for some of these refugee children and offer them the Syrian curriculum so that they could both build upon their previous education and be prepared to return to their “normal schools” once the war was over. There would soon be six such schools, all under the oversight of a local Presbyterian Church.

Today they are concentrating on their four main schools: Tripoli and Minyara in the north, Kab Elias/Beqaa Valley in the east, and Tyre in the south. The budget for each school for the entire academic year averages about $72,000. This includes the modest cost of the teachers, who work for well below the “normal” salary for a teacher because this is a ministry of love. Most of these teachers are members of the Presbyterian church.

Projects, Middle EastThe Outreach FoundationNovember 12, 2019Hope for Syrian Students, Lebanon, Syria

Refugee/Internally Displaced Persons Appeal - November 2019

Dear generous friends,

They are Iraqi Christians who fled ISIS and Syrian Muslims who were driven out by war. They found safety in Lebanon and Jordan but not much else, as they quickly overwhelmed the capabilities of the governments who opened their borders to receive them. International aid agencies came to their assistance but so much more was needed, especially considering that more than 60% of them are school-age children. The numbers are hard to grasp: 1.3 million Syrians came to Lebanon – in a country of only four million people. In Jordan, the government struggles to serve a refugee community of 1.5 million. In both Jordan and Lebanon, many want to go home but their countries are not yet stable. Others are in the long queue to immigrate to the West and most countries have drastically reduced the numbers they will now welcome. Most just do not know what the future holds for them and their families. Some have made a temporary life in tents. Others crowd together in small rooms. Despair is found in abundance. Hope is a rare commodity.

Middle East, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationNovember 4, 2019Refugee IDP Appeal, Middle East

Dustin and Sherri Ellington - October 2019 Update

Dear friends,

A theme I’ve often found significant for my relationship with God is strength in weakness; the two seem to go closely together in the Christian life. I’ve always been intrigued by the apostle Paul’s words, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

A goal in 2019 has been to draw closer to God and to learn more about how Justo Mwale University and Zambia can be a place where that happens for me. One “action step” toward this goal was to attend a nine-day retreat called “Breathe” in July. The setting of the Breathe retreat was one of outdoor beauty, and the point was to give everyone space to get refreshed and take a deep breath of God’s presence through the times of worship, teaching, prayer, reflection, and conversation. Meanwhile, Sherri and I, and especially Sherri, were quite sick throughout the retreat. It felt ironic that we were attending a conference called Breathe, and she could hardly breathe, and we both felt miserable.

Something I didn’t realize ahead of time was that the focus of the retreat would be how our weaknesses and wounds can be the very things that open our lives to God’s presence and grace.

Bill and Bette Bryant Crisis Nursery - October 2019 Update

Dear friends and partners,

Meet Precious and Blessing (names changed to protect the children’s identity). Several years ago, these sisters were abandoned by their mother who was terminally sick with AIDs and could no longer care for them. The girls were HIV positive themselves and struggled with fevers, rashes, and malnutrition. Staff at the House of Moses Crisis Nursery took them in and brought them to a doctor for treatment. Even though the girls’ health improved with medical care, no other family came for them. Precious and Blessing received shelter, food, and care 24/7 while social workers sought a permanent family environment for these two precious sisters.

Around that time, Bishop Frank and his wife heard about adoption through Alliance for Children Everywhere’s (ACE) Zambian staff. As Bishop Frank listened, he felt God stir his heart to remember his own difficult beginnings.

Iraq Appeal - October 2019 Update

I just returned from my 12th journey to Iraq where our Outreach team (Jack Baca, Mark Mueller, Chris Weichman, Nuhad Tomeh, Mike Kuhn, Tony Lorenz) gathered in Erbil with leaders from the Presbyterian congregations of Basrah, Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Mosul, as well as Presbyterian partners from Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. On a Sunday, led by Rev. Haitham Jazrawi, we headed to Kirkuk for worship with his congregation and so much more. This was “Tony” Lorenz’s second trip to Iraq and I am grateful for his insightful reflection on our time there.
Marilyn Borst, Associate Director for Partnership Development

Holy Ground
by Rev. Anthony Lorenz, pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, PA

“Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5

Iraq is holy ground. I realize this more and more each hour, each day, each trip.

Middle East, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationOctober 24, 2019Iraq Appeal, Iraq

Frank Dimmock - October 2019 Update

Imagine going into a grocery store and not knowing how to read. Think of the extra time it would take to navigate the aisles looking for what you need. Or imagine attending worship and being unable to read the Bible or the hymnbook or the words on a screen. Imagine not being able to text! More than 75% of the 2.3 million refugees from South Sudan are women and children. Most have never been to school.

Now imagine fleeing from your home, fleeing for your life, responsible for your children and maybe several others with no parents. Imagine walking for days and weeks until finally reaching a border crossing into “safety.” There you are handed forms to fill out for registering as an asylum seeker or refugee and for food vouchers. What does it all mean? Being unable to read is embarrassing, frustrating and isolating, and it makes you vulnerable!

An Update on the Ministry of The Outreach Foundation

Thank you for your support of The Outreach Foundation and our mission partners around the world. Sometimes I get the question, “Where in the world is Outreach?”

In Antananarivo and Zagazig, in South Sudan and Northern Pakistan, The Outreach Foundation is reaching out in Jesus’ name.

If you spend time with Outreach staff or trustees, you will hear words like connect, equip, listening, humility and partnership. These words describe our approach to sharing in God’s mission. Our focus is on the church, most often coming alongside the church in places where a witness to the gospel is thriving or threatened – or both. We are learning from our partners what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to shape congregations that exist for the sake of others.

Missionaries, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationOctober 17, 2019

Forman Christian College - Update

Dear friends,

On behalf of Forman Christian College (FCCU) in Lahore, Pakistan, thank you for your generosity and partnership. In this update, we share some stories about what the Lord is doing at Forman, equipping and educating men and women to serve the great nation of Pakistan.

Mrs. Gaylen Baxter, Friends of Forman Christian College board chair, notes: “I visited the campus first in 2011 and again in February of this year and was impressed by the number of new buildings and other improvements that were made in eight years. What hasn’t changed is the energy on campus: students, Christian and Muslim, are enthusiastically learning, playing, and growing together, supported by excellent faculty and resources. Friends of Forman has served as a key partner with Forman to make these and many other improvements happen. Visiting the school made it clear how important this work is. The Forman motto is brought to life, “by love serve one another,” as young people of a variety of faith and ethnic backgrounds prepare to serve as the next generation of leaders in Pakistan. They will bring with them the foundation of an excellent education gained in an environment of tolerance, mutual respect, and love.”

Asia, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationOctober 3, 2019Forman Christian College, Pakistan

Scholarships for Presbyterian Students at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) and Kay Day - Update

Dear friends and family,

In August, I witnessed what God has been doing with your support through the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) for the ministry and the church here, and I was humbled by it.

Each August, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda holds a church-wide-evangelism rally for four days, hosted by a different presbytery each year. The culmination of the rally is the annual ordination service on Sunday. This year the event was held in Zinga Presbytery, in the eastern region, about four hours from PIASS. Ten new pastors were ordained. Seven of them had been my students. I had preached at five of their weddings, baptized two of their children and been on the dissertation team of four of them as they completed the requirements for graduation. I was delighted to watch as they raised their right hands to pledge to serve Christ and the church and to see the presidents of their respective presbyteries place robes and stoles on them. Then all ordained pastors in the congregation were invited to come forward and lay hands on them as they were prayed for. What a joy to be a part of these bright young men and women accepting the call of Christ on their lives.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 11, 2019Kay Day, Scholarships for Presbyterians at PIASS, Rwanda

Syria Appeal - Update

“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have” is a familiar quote of Corrie ten Boom, the courageous Dutch Christian whose family sheltered Jews in their home during WWII and who, along with members of her family, would be found out and sent to a concentration camp where she watched her sister die of starvation.

On my 20th trip into Syria, just a few weeks ago, I encountered an entire congregation whose lives give witness to what many of us sing and to what Corrie ten Boom professed. This congregation was from Kharaba, a small city in the far south of Syria, near the border with Jordan. When terrorists overran the city in 2014, most of the inhabitants were forced to flee to the city of Sweida, about 20 miles away. I met with that congregation when they gathered in a special worship service for the purpose of meeting me. That was a humbling experience. I brought then a word of encouragement and an assurance of our oneness with them. But mostly, they encouraged me by their faith and their faithfulness.

Middle East, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 9, 2019Syria Appeal, Syria

The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda - Update

We received this letter from the Rev. Julie Kandema, who serves as vice-president of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (EPR) and is in charge of church growth for the denomination:

Dear friends,

Over the last five years, we have been teaching our people about decentralization within the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. As a result of many training sessions, people have testified that they now understand the idea of taking responsibility for church operations in general and the development of its people in particular. The results have been positive, leading people to take charge of projects such as building new churches and renovating existing church buildings.

To accomplish these projects, the parishioners organize fundraising activities and collect tithes and contributions. When the church is blessed with a partner in support of these activities, it is truly an encouragement and means that the congregation is not alone.

Last year when the government decided to shut down churches which were not meeting standards, the EPR was not spared. Many of our congregations struggled and our members had to work hard to have their building reopened.

Africa, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 5, 2019The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, Rwanda

Clean Drinking Water in Kenya - Update

The Outreach Foundation and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), along with various local churches, have been partnering to provide clean drinking water in Kenya. Much of this work has concentrated on Maasai households in the Loodokilani Mission Area. The work provides water tanks to families and boreholes in communities.

The PCEA Women’s Water Tank Project in Loodokilani Mission Area was initiated by Presbyterian women in 2015 in partnership with The Outreach Foundation. This project is a wonderful mission agent, bringing many Maasai to Christianity through the Presbyterian Church in Kajiado West Sub-County.

The focus of the project is to address the acute need for water in the Maasai community. Through this project, 441 water tanks have been distributed to Maasai households (88% of the targeted 500 households). The Presbyterian women, Maasai families (the beneficiaries of the project) and PCEA Loodokilani Mission Area thank Outreach and U.S. Presbyterians for the generous financial support that has led to the success of the initiative.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 5, 2019Clean Drinking Water in Kenya, Kenya, Stu Ross

Todd and Maria Luke - September 2019 Update

“Few things are more transformative than to go to another culture where many of your assumptions are not shared. You have to examine what you’ve always taken for granted – that your point of view is right.”

Dear friends,

Our little cistern partnership continues to roll along. Thank God for your participation.

Fifty-six family-owned cisterns were built in 2019. Our Mexican partners Victor, Raul, Isaias, Ezequias, Felipe, Lucas, and Diego guided nine American teams at the work sites. Seventy-six Americans came to Xpujil to lend a helping hand. They came from places like Jonesboro, AR; Los Angeles and Hollywood, CA; Northbrook, Gurnee, Evergreen Park, and Palos Park, IL; Caruthersville, MO; Roxboro, NC; Moncks Corner, SC; Brownsville, Collierville, Germantown, and Memphis, TN; and also towns in New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Our mission team members’ ages ranged from 14 to 77.

N&Ctrl America Caribbean, Projects, MissionariesThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 4, 2019Todd and Maria Luke, Mexico

Partner Updates