Scholarships for Presbyterian Students at PIASS - November 2020 Update

Dear friends,

We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Outreach Foundation is committed to helping equip the global church with capable leaders, particularly in areas like Rwanda where the church is growing. The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR for the French name “Eglise Presbyterienne au Rwanda”), needs trained pastors for their many young and vibrant congregations. In recent years, Outreach and partners have helped train five pastors who graduated from the theology department at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) and are now leaders of EPR congregations. There are currently several Presbyterian students sponsored by The Outreach Foundation in the theology program. This update includes stories from two of these students who are studying at PIASS thanks to your generous gifts.

Forman Christian College - November 2020 Update

Forman Christian College (founded in 1864 by Presbyterian missionary Charles Forman) continues to educate men and women, Christians, Muslims and Sikh students under the leadership of a Christian board led by the school motto, “By love serve one another.”

Denationalized and returned to Christian control from the government of Pakistan in 2003, Forman quietly has become again an educational leader in the liberal arts and sciences as it prepares men and women with moral values for peaceful service to their churches, communities, and nations.

In 2019 FCC graduated 928 students – 442 were women and 115 Christians. As COVID-19 hit Pakistan in 2020, Forman was able to move over 900 courses online and continue education at a distance. They are now using a hybrid model with ½ of the student body on campus at a time.

Asia, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 12, 2020Forman Christian College, Pakistan

CCAP Community Schools in Zambia - November Update

There are 40 community schools for orphaned and vulnerable children managed by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Zambia. More than 6,000 children are supervised by over 120 volunteer teachers. Many classes use church buildings but have been lacking student desks and teaching materials.

As reported in the June update, Zambian schools were closed in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Most of the schools reopened on September 21. There were some challenges in reopening the community schools since they did not have adequate space for social distancing.

Africa, Partnership, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationNovember 11, 2020CCAP Community Schools in Zambia, Zambia, CCAP

Stu Ross - November 2020 Update

Based in Kikuyu, Kenya, Stu Ross is responsible for partnering through the Mission Projects Committee of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in a ministry of building schools, churches, and girls’ rescue centers as well as managing water projects. Stu helps link U.S. congregations with East African partners to strengthen the church for God’s mission. We recently received the following update from Stu:

Everything in Kenya has been shut down since March 23. Kenya has a dusk to dawn curfew which is strictly enforced. There is no movement allowed between counties. This has affected our church construction work in Kenya since that would involve moving from one county to another. Consequently, construction has stopped on ten churches that were in the process of being built.

Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo - November Update

Students Entrust Their Hope and Dreams to ETSC

I continue to be amazed and grateful at the growth of the ETSC student body, as 509 students have enrolled in nine different degree and certificate programs. This year will have a different feel about it, however, as we will not have the pleasure of face to face interaction with students. Once more classes continue to be taught through our online distance learning platform for the fall term. Candidly, I will miss seeing them walking across campus and meeting them in chapel, as well as teaching some of them in class. Nevertheless, I give thanks for their willingness to invest in themselves and their preparation for ministry. Perhaps no greater compliment can be paid to us as a seminary than that these young men and women are entrusting their training to our leadership.

We received applications from 257 young men and women, of whom we accepted 148 for the fall term. The online platform has enabled students to enroll from virtually every part of Egypt and most of the Middle Eastern countries,

Middle East, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 10, 2020Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt

Namumu Orphanage Center - November Update

After COVID-19 forced schools in Siavonga, Zambia to close, they have reopened recently and some are offering online learning. In response to a request from the Namumu Orphan Center (NOC), The Outreach Foundation was able to provide $2,000 so that the secondary school children could access classes virtually.

With that $2,000, the director was able to purchase five computers, one smartphone, a modem, and a large bundle of internet usage time. With your support for Namumu, through The Outreach Foundation, you have enabled five high school girls to stay in school and learn virtually. With that $2,000 you have made an impact in the lives of these children and their community and country, beyond your imagining. THANK YOU for your generosity in support of the children at Namumu.

Africa, Partnership, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationNovember 10, 2020Namumu Orphanage Center, Zambia

PCEA Church Construction - November Update

Dedication of PCEA Itangi Church

On November 1, we dedicated Itangi Church. This was the fourth baby of the mother Gateway Church in Embu, which was built in 2007. Itangi Church was started in 2014 in a rented 8 x 8-foot metal structure. They celebrated their first Holy Communion on April 15, 2014. Then in 2017 they struggled to buy a one-acre plot of land and constructed their old church. After a while, their 65 members couldn’t fit into that church so they visited me to see if we could partner in building a new modern church.

Their new church will seat about 500 members. It is a very different feeling going from a mud floor to a nice, clean tiled floor. At the dedication, the church was filled with worshipers, about 400 spaced somewhat for COVID. There were also four tents outside with another 300 people. There were many visitors and many more from other parish churches.

Palestinian Bible Society - Update

The Palestinian Bible Society (PBS), registered with the United Bible Societies, is committed to making the Word of God available to Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The PBS ministry also includes children’s programs, vocational training projects, and leadership development. Nashat Filmon, General Director, shared a recent update:

Community Care-Jenin and Beyond
In July, the Palestinian Bible Society welcomed to its Zebabdeh office the governor of Jenin, the town’s mayor, and the pastor of a local church. The meeting launched a campaign to distribute masks and sanitizing materials around the governorate. The governor thanked PBS for this initiative, and those present then distributed masks in the town. PBS is also distributing food and other basic supplies throughout the country, including the Gaza strip, to help those in need because of the pandemic.

Middle East, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 4, 2020Palestinian Bible Society, Palestine, Israel

Haiti Outreach Ministries - October 2020 Update

The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools, churches, and the airport in Haiti to close down in March. But we are happy to share that Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM) has allowed all campuses to reopen except Cité Soleil. Unfortunately, due to social unrest, gang violence, and flooding, only the church has reopened on the Cité Soleil campus. Their medical clinic and school were moved to the Terre Noire campus. But the ministries on all other campuses, which employ over 200 Haitians, are thriving.

Since HOM has been unable to receive U.S. church groups for two years, they have had to innovate to stay in touch with U.S. churches and medical mission teams. Zoom and live FB have worked well.

Latin America, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationNovember 4, 2020Haiti Outreach Ministries, Haiti

Lauren Scharstein- October 2020 Update

The Rev. Lauren Scharstein is Deputy Director for Mission with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. The PCEA Mission Department has responsibility for PCEA mission schools and rescue centers, sustainable water projects, evangelism, church-planting, and global partnerships. Lauren recently shared this update on her work with Mother Esther School:

Laughter, Cookies, and Hair-braiding
It has been seven months since many of our students were sent home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Communities across East Africa are reporting higher rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Girls who were sent home from school are less likely to return than boys the same age.

PCEA Church Construction - October 2020 Update

The building and dedication of Archer’s Post Church was a challenge. Geographically, it is situated about a 7-hour drive to the NE from our home. The tribe there are the Samburu and are cousins to the Maasai tribe. The area is very poor and arid almost desert. Building this church was difficult! Everything except sand and stones had to be carried from our home office. It is not far from Somalia and Ethiopia in the NE quadrant of Kenya and Muslims and Mosques dominate this region. So, I felt it was important that PCEA have a strong presence there. This is the fifth church that we have built in this area and this happens to be our 350th church built in East Africa.

Rwanda Church Construction- October 2020 Update

In partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (EPR), The Outreach Foundation has helped build several new sanctuaries in Rwanda and complete a few more with roofs, windows, and doors. Here are excerpts from a note that Outreach Africa Mission Specialist Frank Dimmock received from Kicukiro church pastor the Rev. Julius Ngendahayo:

I'm happy to hear from you and for your commitment to the partnership between Outreach and EPR. This will be helpful in the development and growth of the church. May God be with you. I will be with you in prayer.

As you mentioned, the most urgent projects are the construction of churches. Kicukiro, Ndera, and Kiruhura are the three churches that need your prayers and support. The rainy season is coming and church members are not able to complete these projects by themselves but they are doing their best to raise funds. Your advocacy for these projects is highly appreciated. Here are updates on the ongoing construction projects:

Africa, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationOctober 22, 2020Rwanda Church Construction, Rwand, Stu Ross

Syria and Lebanon Partnership

I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. (Romans 1:9c-10)

In looking through a travel journal from 2015 I paused to see this Scripture there. That trip was centered around the annual women’s conference that is put on by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) at their retreat center in Dhour Choiuer in the mountains of Lebanon. It was filled with reunions: Americans with their Lebanese and Syrian sisters. Syrian women with each other in the midst of war. A Syrian mother from Homs with her two sons who worked at the center. Extraordinary, emotional, uplifting moments of reunion.

Middle EastThe Outreach FoundationOctober 22, 2020Syria Lebanon Partnership, Syria Appeal

New Church Development in Egypt - October 2020 Update

Luxor: An Old Church is Destroyed…and a New One Arises

American Presbyterian missionaries came to Egypt in 1854. They sailed the Nile to share the Gospel, and in 1907 a Presbyterian Church was established in Luxor, the site of ancient pharaonic temples across the river from the Valley of the Kings.

For more than 112 years, this place was a witness for the Gospel and reached out to many villages around the city. In 2012, the Egyptian government decided to renovate the Avenue of the Sphinxes that joins Luxor Temple with Karnak Temple. That Avenue went underneath the Presbyterian church, part of the Presbyterian school, and some other nearby buildings and so the government ordered their removal.

Middle East, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationOctober 14, 2020New Church Development in Egypt, Egypt, Luxor

Vulnerable Children's Fund-October Update

Established in 1998 as a shelter for street children, Home of Hope in Beirut is under the governance of the Lebanese Evangelical Society. They now serve children between the ages of 7 and 18 who have been exposed to abuse by their primary caregivers or by members of their community and are at risk. The children are brought to Home of Hope upon a judicial order and with a protection file.

Raghida Al Assal has been the Executive Director for three years and shares this: Our purpose at Home of Hope is to help the children heal through Jesus Christ. Even though 99% of our children come from non-Christian backgrounds, they attend a weekly chapel at the home.

PCEA Church Construction in Kenya - October Update

Dear friends,

Last week we dedicated PCEA Mikaro Church which is situated near the Aberdare Mountains in Central Kenya. Mikaro Church was started in 1970 by the late Rev. Thaba. They fellowshipped in the local primary school. In 1994, the church bought a one-acre plot of land and soon after built a temporary shelter. Over the years, that structure was expanded to the wooden structure shown here. The church was dark and couldn’t accommodate the then membership of 22. It also had a mud floor.

In 2015, members of Mikaro started donating money towards the construction of their new church. The leadership is great. They have a very mission-minded minster named Rev. David Ntore.

Africa, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationOctober 6, 2020PCEA Church Construction in Kenya, Kenya

New Church Development in Brazil - October Update

We recently received the following letter from Outreach partner the Independent Church of Brazil (IPIB):

Dear Outreach Foundation friends,

The mission ministry is pleased to inform you of some of the actions carried out by the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil during the pandemic period.

With the support of the Central Office (represented by its President Rev. João Luiz Furtado), the local church councils, partnership with The Outreach Foundation, and members of the IPIB, the denomination was able to provide significant help to people who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPIB developed a project entitled "All Together in Mission" which has helped pastors, missionaries, and seminarians in communities impacted financially by the pandemic.

Mark Mueller named new Executive Director of The Outreach Foundation

After an extensive search process, The Outreach Foundation is pleased to announce the Rev. Dr. Mark Mueller as its new Executive Director.

Mark succeeds the Rev. Dr. Rob Weingartner who served The Outreach Foundation for 18 years and officially retires October 1, 2020. Mark served congregations for twenty-two years in Alabama and Indiana before arriving in 2018 at The Outreach Foundation as Director of Development.

The Outreach FoundationOctober 1, 2020

Partner Updates

Dedication of PCEA Itangi Church