Why we support Presbyterian World Mission
More than 94 million Christians around the world belong to churches that were founded or co-founded by PC(USA) missionaries during the past two centuries. Early efforts focused on evangelism and building churches, schools, and hospitals. Because of these efforts, self-sustaining churches and institutions have grown in over fifty countries.
We partner with the local leaders of these institutions, sending financial aid and prayer support. In some cases, we support mission-workers who’ve traveled from the US to help the local leaders in their work of:
- sharing the faith
- combating poverty and violence
- providing education and medical care
- promoting racial and gender equity, and
- promoting peace and reconciliation.
Kinnaird Academy - Lahore, Pakistan
Set among one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Kinnaird Academy has been an academic institution since 1864, when it was established under Presbyterian leadership.
Despite going through many challenges and setbacks that have destabilized its buildings and property, as well as its quality of instruction, the school continues on with persistent care for its students, achieving high results in state-mandated testing.
Today, the needs of the Kinnaird Academy include the construction of more classrooms, training of qualified teachers, and general support to reach more students and provide more academic success.
Synod Mission Giving
In the Presbyterian form of governance, the synod is the level of administration between the local presbytery and the national general assembly. Our Synod of the Pacific serves the local churches and presbyteries through a savings and loan program, as well as serving the national denomination by providing financial support to a variety of mission projects.
Ministry of Hope, Malawi
The core mission of Ministry of Hope is to nurture the spiritual lives of children who face a harsh and difficult existence on their own. Ministry of Hope has developed a variety of programs for orphaned and vulnerable children, and the communities in which they live, with a goal of addressing their basic needs.
There’s a mobile medical clinic in communities that would otherwise have limited access to any form of medical care, as well as feeding centers for orphans in six villages in the central region of Malawi.
Ministry of Hope also cares for some of the smallest orphans in Malawi with two Crisis Nurseries. Additionally, Ministry of Hope runs a per-school for children under the age of five, and, since there is no free education after the 8th grade, provides scholarships to orphans to continue their education through high school.
Theological Scholarships for Women in Guatemala
Women of the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala are being called to support and advocate for other women whose voices go unheard. Lack of education heightens traditional barriers to female leadership. We support two funds to educate Guatemalan women:
- Scholarships for women studying theology, so that they may serve as teachers, pastors and leaders in their churches
- Basic literacy training for indigenous women in the remote mountains of northern Guatemala
Near East School of Theology, Lebanon
N.E.S.T. is a Protestant Seminary serving the evangelical churches of the Middle East. The primary purpose of the School is to train women and men for pastoral ministry in the churches and other evangelical organizations in the Middle East. N.E.S.T. also provides continuing education for pastors, church workers and laypeople.
Ark of the Rainbow, India
Ark of the Rainbow is a school for children of families located in the slums of Bangalore, India.
Dana Allen, who grew up in our church, and his wife, Christine, founded the school. Christine had visited India a number of years ago and, saddened by the lack of opportunity for women and children, was determined to make a difference. Having started with a preschool they have now expanded through grade five.
As a result of their efforts, the school recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. The original concept has been broadened and strengthened to include educating parents regarding the dangers of human trafficking, providing families with food boxes, and having a clinic on site for minor health situations.
Some of our members sponsor students at a nominal cost.
Christmas Joy Offering
This offering collected during Advent helps provide financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families and also enables deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools.
Theological Education Fund
Our eleven PC(USA) seminaries count on denomination-wide support to fulfill the ministries we Presbyterians require of them—educating transformational leaders who can preach, teach, pray, counsel, and serve in bearing witness to the Gospel.
Alternative Gift Fair
For the past several years, we have offered an alternative to the commercial Christmas shopping season by hosting our Alternative Gift Fair. Unique gifts that benefit people local and around the world.
This offering collected during Lent enables the church to share God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, providing food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed.