The scriptural theme of the 2009 book is drawn from the recent 218th General Assembly: Do justice, love kindness ,,. walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).
The yearbook — pretty much unchanged in style and subject, matter from last year, Healy said — includes mission stories and information on nearly 100 countries in which the PC(USA) serves and the mission personnel who serve in those places. It also contains information and stories on the ministry and mission of each of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries and 16 synods.
Other resources include daily Bible readings and prayers, plus lists of Presbyterians engaged in mission at all levels of the church so they can be prayed for
individually.
Special full-color sections in 2009 highlight the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the 500th birthday celebration of the Reformer and “founder” of Presbyterianism, John Calvin.
There is no other resource like it, Healy said. “It is the only denominational mission prayer book with that history. Some churches have weekly or other periodic prayer guides, but no one else has anything like this.”
More than 300 writers and photographers contribute to the yearbook each year. “Our goal is to have as many Presbyterian voices as possible represented,” Healy said, adding that the Mission Yearbook is “a year-round project — we’ve already sent out invitations to prospective writers for 2010.”
In addition to the print edition, Healy said the 2009 Mission Yearbook will have an expanded presence on the Web. Beginning in January, daily features will appear, as will, for the first time, podcasts of Mission Yearbook feature stories. Another new Web feature will be direct links to the people being prayed for each day “so readers can communicate with them directly,” Healy said.
This is the church’s book,” Healy said. “We are recording mission history one year at a time as it is happening.”
The book has a loyal and dedicated following and even provides marital therapy, Healy added. “One couple wrote to me and said, ‘The Mission Yearbook’s kept our marriage together — we read it to each other every morning over
breakfast,’” she laughed.
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is available from Presbyterian Distribution Service at (800) 524-2612. The ISBN number is 9781571530875.
