Missions Committee Meetings
Betty Burkeenis the Missions Committee Chairman and can be reached at
Burk7053@Bellsouth.net. The Missions Committee meets the first Thursday of the month
except for July and December. The meetings are usually in the Fellowship Hall.
Everyone is welcome to come and/or join the committee.
Missions Newsletter 10/06
St. Patrick Church is currently supporting missionary efforts through prayer, volunteerism and money. The Committee has made its selections to receive support for the fiscal year June 1, 2007 – May 31, 2008 and would like to share them with you.
World Missions
Tibet -Two single women who call themselves "Your Favorite Yak Racing Professors" have served as missionaries for 17 years (they ask that due to the sensitive nature of their work that their names aren’t printed here). They develop curriculum for summer language camps in China, Vietnam and Hong Kong. They are sponsored by Missions of the World. SPPC made an initial donation to in May of 2003 and have been sending monthly support since then. Here is an update from them: (1) The young man who graduated from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary this spring is now back home. He has taken on several responsibilities with the local fellowship and with evening home groups. (2) A young Chinese woman who taught in the summer camps is now pursuing a Master's degree in Michigan. We have connected her with a good church and an International Students Group. For the first time in her life she is able to openly attend church and Bible Study. (3) Our curriculum is now being used at several new universities in China. The teachers have been thrilled with the discussions they've had in the context of studying Western Literature!
Prayer request: That we are able to continue spreading the gospel through language curriculum.
Contact them at: favoriteprofessors@mac.com
9500 Osuna N.E. Apt. 1031
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Tibet telephone number: 011-136-2898-3113
The Sylwestrowicz Family in Poland – Faye and Stasiek have four children, Michal, Daniel, Ester and Madzia, and live in Gdansk. Stasiek is a student at Covenant Seminary, and both of them lead two Bible study courses. They are sponsored by Church Resource Ministries. They visited St. Patrick this summer when they were in the states to raise money so they could return to Poland to continue their missionary efforts there. Stasiek reports: “Our time till Christmas will be very intense one. I will continue to work on my current seminary course plus on the capstone project and also on multimedia materials focusing on spiritual growth of new believers. We see it as a great need in our church and also in other churches. We will continue to partner with Nowy Dwor Missionary Church (Jarek Korzeniowski) and great news is: his wife is going to have a baby 8 months from now.”
Prayer request: We a very urgent need. We will file for official interpretation of the Polish tax law as it applies to Faye. I (Stasiek) am registered as clergy and pay minimal tax, but this year new tax regulations concerning foreigners residing in Poland was introduced. We do not mind paying taxes, but Faye could benefit from tax-exemption as a staff member of a US non-profit religious organization, if the interpretation of this very complex bill will be favorable for us. Otherwise our all income for the year 2007 will be taxed 19%, which would be very difficult for us financially. Speaking of finances – the value of the US dollar continues its downward direction at a very scary pace – which means we will have to simultaneously raise our support while staying on the field. We covet your prayers in this matter, because we would like to focus on ministry with people here, whose needs are so urgent, rather than calling churches and people far away in the States. Praise the Lord – we have learned about an Internet telephone service called VOIPdiscount, thanks to which we can have 120 days of free calls to landlines and cell phones in the whole USA – it’s amazing! So if you want to talk to us, just e-mail us your phone number and we will call you back for free. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for us.
Contact them at: fssylwes@rubikon.pl.
Ul. Okulickiego 108/2
80-041 Gdanisk
Poland
The McCalls in South America – Hannah and Charles, with baby girl on the wayin January,, are working with the Ayore Indians in Bolivia. The fund accounts that they draw from for personal expenses (rent, food etc.) and for visitation to the villages to minister to the Indians have been depleted to the point that they are in great financial need.
Visit their website at: www.mccallsinbolivia.blogspot.com.
Hannah and Charles McCall
SAM, Casilla 2010
Santa Cruz, Bloivia
Local Missions
The Millers at Cornell University – Michael and Joanna are with The Navigators on the campus of Cornell in Ithaca, NY. They both spent four years as student leaders with Navigators prior to getting married and moving to Ithaca. This is their first year as husband and wife and also in the Navigator program as staff members. Michael writes curriculum and teaches Bible studies. Both are working one on one with university students as well as conducting Bible studies.
They can be reached at mrm82@cornell.edu
403 E. Marshall St. Apt 2
Ithaca, NY 14850
646-621-3367.
The Palmer Home for Children – Palmer Home cares for 61 children at the original campus in Columbus, MS, and 18 children at the expansion campus in Hernando. The Hernando campus opened two years ago, and it is still in the first phase of construction with three cottages complete, and a chapel and director's home. A future lodge will contain a dining hall, meeting rooms, hotel-type rooms, and dorm space for nearly 80. The lodge will be a great resource for church retreats and corporate events. There are also 12 children on our Sheriffs Boys and Girls Ranch Campus. Here is an update from Jonathan: “This past month we have received a number of new children to our Columbus Campus. Construction on the Lodge project on our Hernando Campus has not yet started but is in motion. We are making some changes to the plans and working on securing funds for the project. We are hoping to start soon!! We just had a very successful Palmer Home for Children Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show in Memphis and are planning to have this event in Jackson, MS in November. School is back in full swing. The summer was full of camps and events along with many church groups and visitors to campus for work or just spend time with our children. We also just received a wonderful gift to start an Equine Therapy Program for our children at our Sheriffs Ranch Campus. God is Good and Takes Great Care of Us. Thank you for your continued support.” Palmer Home is searching for volunteers to be child sponsors, to work in their thrift store, or to work on the campus.
Prayer Requests: (1) Pray for the children who live at Palmer Home that their lives are blessed. (2) Pray that this ministry will continue through support of donations.
Contact info: Jonathan Ahern jahern@palmerhome.org
Hope Fellowship of Nashville – Hope Fellowship, located in Nashville, is one of the newest church plants of the Central South Presbytery. The desire of Hope is to have a church that impacts the diverse area of Nashville in which they are located. Here’s an update from Rev. Steve Burton: “On behalf of the body of Hope Fellowship I want to thank you for your faithful support and prayer. We are continuing to negotiate with the Foursquare church with whom we share office space for the use of the facility on Sunday mornings. We are waiting to hear their answer on our latest proposal for them to have their service at 9 a.m. and then we will move our service to 11 a.m. This move would put us right in the middle of our parish and make us incredibly visible to the surrounding community. Would you please be praying for my meetings with these dear folks? We are anxious to get this opportunity as it means we have more childcare space, no set-up/tear-down, and a presence in the heart of where our hearts are.”
Prayer request: That Hope Fellowship will attract people of diversity so that the gospel will reach people of all cultures. Pray also for Steve Burton as he tries to grow this new church plant.
Steve can be reached at steve@hopefc.net or www.HopeNashville.org
Hope Fellowship,
1207 Linden Ave., Nashville, TN 37212
(615)577-4673
Collierville Young Life – Young Life, which began in 1941, is a non-profit organization committed to making an impact on kids' lives and preparing them for the future. Young Life leaders leave the comfort of their adult worlds and enter the arena of high school and middle school life. You will find Young Life leaders sitting in the stands at football games, walking the streets of inner-city neighborhoods, driving carloads of kids to the shopping malls or tutoring students in study centers after school. In fact, you will find them almost anywhere you can find kids. Young Life leaders model trust, respect and responsibility to their young friends, and they do it within a meaningful context, within the context of a teenager's world. Joel and Camille Brantley and Susan Greene are the counselors for the Young Life group here in Collierville. We have pledged monthly financial support, but hope that the opportunity to do more will present itself. Here is an update from Joel: “This past summer, we took 27 local high school folks to our camp at Crooked Creek Ranch, Colorado where we saw eight of our high school friends begin a relationship with Christ while there. Our current team of three full-time staff and three volunteer leaders has over 200 kids involved in our local outreach ministries to Collierville and St. George's High Schools and Middle Schools. Our Sporting Clays Shoot fundraiser last month generated almost $15,000 to benefit Collierville Young Life. Our annual Collierville Young Life Fundraising Banquet will be Tuesday evening, November 13th at Ridgeway Country Club.”
Prayer Requests: (1) We need additional volunteer leaders to love kids and live out the Gospel for all of our high school and middle school ministries. (2) We are looking for folks who would be interested in serving on our local adult committee. (3) We are also seeking more prayer as well as financial partners for the ministry here in Collierville.
Contact Joel, Camille and Susan at joel.younglife@gmail.com; camille.younglife@gmail.com; susan.younglife@gmail.com
Young Life, 340 Byhalia Road, Ste. 4A1
Collierville, TN 38017
(901) 481-7190.
St. Patrick Missions
Community Clothes Closet at St. Patrick
Deb Ford has accepted the role as coordinator of the Clothes Closet. We thank Lisa Silvestri for serving in that capacity for many, many years. We welcome Deb and ask for everyone to consider helping her manage the overwhelming task of running the closet. The Thursday before Clothes Closet day (the second Saturday of the month) anyone who is willing may come between 1-4 pm or 6-9 pm to sort and fold clothes in preparation for the Saturday opening.
Prayer requests: (1) Pray that people from our congregation will volunteer to help in this outreach to our community. (2) Pray that people will continue to donate clothes, household items, toys, etc. (3) Pray for the families who receive clothing from the clothes closet, especially that the children will be blessed.
Contact Deb Ford at 576-9890.
Love Knot Blanket Ministry at St. Patrick
This group of dedicated women (Joyce Holland, Coordinator, JoAnn Treadwell, Joyce Shepherd, Louise West, Sue McGregor, Lee Parnell, and Susan Champagne) joined this ministry to make fleece throws for people who are ill, need comforting or to welcome new babies of SPPC. They meet the third Thursday of every month at 9:30 to make blankets and then they often get a bite to eat together after.
Prayer request: Pray that the blankets that are made for people will help them feel God’s love and peace.
Contact Joyce Holland at 854-5119.
Meals on Wheels/ MIFA Program
Patsy Madewell coordinates the volunteers from SPPC for this program who deliver warm meals on Wednesdays for seniors and those with disabilities.
Prayer requests: (1) Pray for those from SPPC who currently volunteer – Beth Bond, Ed & Susan Champagne, Patsy Madewell, Teresa & Kevin Payne, Arma Jean Perry, Maureen Rice, Joyce & Jack Shepherd, Rob & Stephanie Threlkeld. (2) Pray that others will feel moved to get involved.
Contact Patsy Madewell at pjmadewell@aol.com or 647-0270.
Members of the Missions Ministry Committee are: Betty Burkeen, Chairman. Joan Castle, Susan Champagne, Erika Henson, the senior James Holland, Howard Kimball, Kendall Mitchell, Herron Odle, Rick Rice and Rick Sullivan.. Meetings are the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 at the church. Please feel free to join us!
