NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (PNS)  — “Pray for a new Sudan to come” was the heartfelt plea given by Dr. Aida Weran to the members of the South Sudan/Sudan Mission Network that recently met at the New Wilmington Mission Conference at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa. Weran is an instructor at Nile Theological College in Khartoum, Sudan, an institution that Weran described as being at the “crossroads of the violence.” The most recent Sudanese political turmoil is rooted in former President Omar al-Bashir’s ascent to power in 1989. Throughout his nearly 30-year presidency, al-Bashir used his position to increase his personal wealth and benefit his inner circle. In 2003, several ethnic groups in Sudan’s western Darfur region revolted against al-Bashir’s unfair treatment and economic marginalization of the area. Al-Bashir and his inner circle responded by initiating a genocide against all Darfur people, including civilians. The genocide resulted in 300,000 deaths, thousands of rapes … [Read more...]

(OGA) As the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) prepares to open Big Tent this week in Baltimore, the Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), has become one of the latest to defend the city following criticism from the Trump Administration. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump lashed out at Maryland Representative Elijah Cummings, referring to his Baltimore district as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.” He went on to label the city as a “very dangerous and filthy place.” The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Baltimore officials and other leaders across the country. Nelson has described Baltimore as a city rich in history and filled with good, hard-working people who are committed to making a difference. The Stated Clerk issued a brief statement on Facebook yesterday. “Despite the President’s demeaning comments about Congressman Cummings and Baltimore, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is happy to hold its Big Tent … [Read more...]

(PNS) With its September meeting in Atlanta, the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) aims to get to know the Georgia capital and its surrounding communities better with a series of workshops and meetings. “I’m excited about the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People engagement with the Greater Atlanta Presbytery,” SDOP coordinator Alonzo Johnson says. “I am also enthusiastic about SDOP engagement with congregations and communities in general.” The Atlanta-area meeting Sept. 19-22 will include community engagement days with workshops about refugee care and the church’s role, engaging Presbyterians in the work of preventing and alleviating poverty, community organizing, farming cooperatives and SDOP grants for grassroots groups for community led and controlled projects. “They are doing incredible things in Atlanta,” Johnson says. “There’s a great vision of priesthood and congregational engagement that is happening in the … [Read more...]

(OGA) Can you believe in God and still be committed to science and its discoveries? A group of Presbyterians in Texas believes you can. Webster Presbyterian Church has been home to a number of astronauts, engineers, and scientists working at the nearby Johnson Space Center in Houston. Since the early days of the space program, this group has worked tirelessly to put humans in space and eventually on the moon. But they’ve also found a deep spiritual connection with the work they do. In the final part of a video series on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, members discuss the connection of God and science. by Randy Hobson and Rick Jones, Office of the General Assembly … [Read more...]

SANTIAGO, Chile — The sanctuary at Unión Cristiana Presbyterian Church in Santiago, Chile was full the evening of Sunday, July 21, as representatives of all four presbyteries of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Chile (IEPeCh) gathered to give thanks to God for 150 years of mission partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The message was brought by Rev. Dr. Jan DeVries, General Presbyter of Grace Presbytery in Texas. Grace Presbytery’s Director of Ministry Services, Joanna Kim, accompanied DeVries to explore possible future avenues of mission partnership with the IEPeCh. In her sermon, DeVries focused on Ephesians 4:1-16, emphasizing that the unity of the church is a gift we receive from Jesus Christ, not some accommodation that we cobble together through our own partisan efforts. In this text, she observed, Paul was seeking “how to enable a diverse group of people, all equally zealous in their faith, to stand in the unity they had in Jesus Christ instead of … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) “Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence,” produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s Story Productions, is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime. “This is new ground for the church,” director David Barnhart said on Tuesday. “Over the years I have seen how this film has moved people to action and led to the formation of community coalitions, grassroots initiatives and film forums. We have had festival screenings and network broadcasts in the past, but Amazon Prime is a platform that has so much potential and outreach. I hope the connectional church will support ‘Trigger’ and share this resource even further.” “Trigger” looks at gun violence as a public health crisis and is intended as a resource for churches and communities. The documentary shows gun violence from the perspective of victims, survivors, and their loved ones. The film explores efforts to combat the problem from protests to organizations such as The Coalition to Stop Gun … [Read more...]