Jesus promised his disciples that once the Holy Spirit came over them, they would become his witnesses from Jerusalem “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Growing Together in Mission Campaign (GTM) is about bringing people, churches, and new worshiping communities together as participants in God’s work. From June 15 to November 28, we will live out our faith together by engaging in prayer, service, and financial support in three missionally impactful areas:
1) Partnering with our Emerging Pastoral Leaders: GTM will be an opportunity for us to get to know several individuals discerning God’s call to serve among us. We will also create a fund to provide scholarships and financial support as they fulfill the constitutional requirements related to:
- Reformed Polity
- Presbyterian History
- Reformed Theology
- Presbyterian Worship and Sacraments
- Other areas as needed
2. Partnering to address Food Insecurity in our Region: According to a recent USC study, 24% of the households in Los Angeles County report not having access to sufficient food, or food of adequate quality to meet their basic needs. GTM will be a way of becoming more involved:
- With the support of the Presbytery and several of our congregations, North Valley Caring Services (NVCS) has grown to be the largest single-site food distribution center in the San Fernando Valley.
- NVCS serves over 2,200 households a week and provides approximately 10,000 pounds of food to partner distributors such as churches, organizations, sober living homes, senior care facilities, LAPD, and the LAUSD.
- NVCS brings together Christ-like-minded partners that share the Gospel and stands in solidarity with the most vulnerable.
3. Partnering with the Global Church:
Our Presbytery and congregations have been in relationships with Mission Co-workers that serve closely with fellow Christians on five continents to facilitate:
- Water sanitation efforts in South Sudan and Niger
- Community outreach in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq
- Support to peace efforts of Presbyterians in Colombia
- Seminary studies for pastors in Egypt and the region
- University Education to Christian Leaders in Indonesia
We have created banks (pictured above) that you can place in a visible place. I am also pleased to share that to celebrate our Presbytery’s 55th anniversary; the Property and Finance Committee has approved matching 100% of all the gifts up to $55,000. In addition to the Facebook and Instagram posts you may have seen, we are putting together other downloadable videos and bulletin inserts.
I am excited to see the unity, enthusiasm, and expanding ministry opportunities this campaign already generates among us. I can’t wait to hear about its significant effect on individuals, communities, and our churches.
Please write to us at GTM55@sfpresby.org to let us know who will be in charge of GTM in your congregation or if you have any questions.
In the Spirit of Pentecost,
Juan