Minute for Mission: Pentecost Sunday/Pentecost Offering

I often wonder about the future of the Church. Who will come after us to show God’s love to the world? What will they speak into a fearful world? How will they do it? And what will future Presbyterians find compelling about our uniquely Reformed witness in the world? I never claim to have answers, but I don’t worry about the future of the Church; I wonder how the Church will be different in the future.

In that spirit, I often ponder how the first Christians, those we hear about in Acts chapter 2, consider the future. We know that that they are sure that Christ could return at any moment so they live their lives like every day could be their last before our Savior returns. But I wonder what they felt like — it could feel much like the present moment considering all that swirls around us in the Church and the world.

Pentecost celebrates the renewal of the relationship between God and the community of faith. We know that God continually comes to us and that we will never be forgotten by the God whom we know is here with us in the person of Jesus Christ, so Pentecost is like an invitation to take a deep Spirit-filled breath and thank God for the gift that is the Church, which will not cease.

In the future, the Church will certainly not look and sound like what we know today. The songs will be different, yet they will still praise God. The ministries will be different, but they will still show forth God’s justice, mercy and compassion. The people who make up the Church will be more representative of God’s holy diversity yet the heart of our life together — worship — will always remain central to our witness. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for that day even though I may not be on this side of heaven to witness it!

The Pentecost Offering helps us live into this Spirit-filled opportunity to embrace future now. Through our giving we tell the story of God, who is always there for us, coming to us. The Pentecost Offering supports children at risk through the Educate a Child, Transform the World initiative and high schoolers attending the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, which shows them the inescapable loving presence of God. It also enables young adults to share Christ’s light while living alongside those on the margins of society and preparing themselves for a life of service through the Young Adult Volunteers program.

This is a glimpse of what the Church can be, for if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.

Rev. Wilson Kennedy, Associate Director, Special Offerings

Let us join in prayer for:

• Jenny Oldham, Mission Specialist I, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Interim Unified Agency 
• Dayna Oliver, Mission Associate III, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Interim Unified Agency  

Let us pray:

God of fire and Spirit, thank you for this holy day of Pentecost where we pray for your church. Help us be faithful in all we do and compassionate in the ministries we perform. Show us how we can be more faithful today and always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Pentecost Offering helps young people challenge the world’s injustices

Young Adult Volunteer Program transforms lives not just for a year but for a lifetime

June 15, 2023

A portion of the Pentecost Offering goes to support the work of Young Adult Volunteers serving around the world. (Contributed photo)

Yuriko Beltran doesn’t ask for much — just an opportunity to change the world.

Which is exactly why the 23-year-old entered the PC(USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer program.

“I like the fact that I actively contribute to change, which is what the YAV program mainly seeks to accomplish,” she said.

The YAV program, an ecumenical, faith-based year of service in sites across the U.S. and around the world, has been changing the lives of young people ages 19–30 for nearly three decades. In addition to service, the YAV experience emphasizes living in intentional Christian community, spiritual formation and vocational discernment.

Beltran, a native of Peru and a recent communications sciences graduate of the Pedro Ruíz Gallo National University in Lambayeque [lahm-bai-EH-kei], is completing her 2022–23 year of volunteer service at the Peru YAV site, managed by PC(USA) mission co-worker and site coordinator Jenny Valles.

“This is a program where young people can experience dramatic transformation in their lives through their experiences serving in different parts of the world alongside our global partners,” said Valles, a native of Moyobamba [moi-oh-BAHM-buh] who now lives in Lima with her husband, the Rev. Jed Koball, also a PC(USA) mission co-worker, and their son Thiago. “To be able to accompany the young adults in a personal way through these experiences is such a privilege and makes this ministry both fun and meaningful for me.”

In 2021-22, the Peru YAV site underwent its own transformation in that it was staffed for the first time by two Peruvian YAVs — like Beltran — under Valles’s direction.

“The Peru YAV site had to shift during the pandemic when it could not accommodate U.S. young adults due to the health concerns and safety of the volunteers, host families and partners,” said Destini Hodges, coordinator for the YAV Program in Presbyterian World Mission. “Still yearning to bring transformational ministry to young adults through mission, Jenny decided to develop a plan and shift her attention to work with young adults locally. It was a great cross-cultural mission engagement experience to have the Peruvian YAVs engage in the virtual orientation and bring their perspectives around Christian identity, race, poverty and social justice to the table with their U.S.-based counterparts.”

Beltran said that she was attracted to the Peru YAV site primarily because of its emphases on protecting the rights of the LGBTQIA community, empowering women to become agents of change in their communities and “reorienting the culture toward protecting our bodies, water and land.”

“I believe that being able to hear firsthand the testimonies of people who face a certain problem and the goals they set to generate positive changes makes me identify and empathize with people and their needs,” said Beltran. “It is nice to be able to meet people who care about achieving a positive change in their environment. This motivates me and fills me with admiration.”

Young adults like Beltran, who seek to transform not only themselves but also the systems that perpetuate injustice in the communities where they live and serve, are supported, in part, through the Pentecost Offering, one of the PC(USA)’s four Special Offerings.

Not only do gifts to the Pentecost Offering benefit the YAV program, but the Offering also supports the Office of Presbyterian Youth and Triennium and the “Educate a Child, Transform the World” national initiative. A hallmark of this shared offering is that 40% of it is retained by individual congregations for local ministries, while the remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

“Having the opportunity to deal with people and know their problems directly is important for me,” Beltran said, “since I can then generate strategies to support their efforts from my strengths and abilities.”

Emily Enders Odom, Associate Director of Mission Communications, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Today’s Focus: Pentecost Offering

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Rich Embry, Systems Developer, IT Application Development, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
David English, Trust Officer, Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray

Lord, let us never forget the greatest commandment — “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Amen.

Minute for Mission: Pentecost Offering

How Did They Do That?

“… building up the Body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12

May 28, 2023

How many times have we seen a modern building, an historic landmark, a great cathedral or a monument and thought, “How did they do that?” Regardless of when it was built, the skill and craftsmanship needed to not only imagine it, but to make it sturdy enough to safely and securely withstand the test of time, boggles the mind.

But what of people? We watch, listen and read as sports legends, great orators, talented musicians of every style of performance and brilliant writers astound us with their skills. And even though we know that the raw talent that leads to great skill is honed through years of practice, patience and persistence, we still look with awe at these accomplishments and say, “How did/do they do that?”

They did it because someone saw a spark. A spark that with the right teaching, coaching, leadership and practice could lead to great things.

Someone working with Good Success Academies in New Jersey recognized Tariq’s academic potential and helped him pursue his dream of studying computer science. A Young Adult Volunteer named Yuriko, which means “lily girl” in Japanese, blossomed in Peru, while a shy teenager named Grace boldly connected with her peers at a statewide youth conference.

How did they do that? They were lifted up, they were mentored and they were encouraged to grow into the person God was calling them to be. Fanning that spark, the raw talents and abilities within young people throughout the church and beyond builds strong and gifted leaders that God can use.

Your support of the Pentecost Offering assures that these young people of God have opportunities to participate in programs as varied as the Young Adult Volunteer Program, Presbyterian Youth Triennium and other ministries with youth, and the Educate a Child, Transform the World national initiative. Each leads to interacting with educators, mentors and leaders committed to building these youngest members of the body of Christ into the people God would have them become.

On this day of Pentecost, God gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower witnesses to the resurrection. How can you help young people to build a foundation of faith?

Special Offerings

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Leon Davis, Dishwasher, Stony Point Center, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Nora D’Ambrosio, Reservation Specialist, Stony Point Center, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Empowering God, Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the Spirit’s power to transform lives. Help each of us to hear the Spirit’s call every day of our lives. May we follow that call and build up the body of Christ. Amen.

Minute for Mission: Pentecost Offering

June 5,  2022

“We plan and God laughs” is identified as a Yiddish proverb, the title of a book or two and the headline of multiple online articles meant to help people navigate periods in life when personal plans seem to disintegrate in front of their eyes. When we hear or read the proverb, it can be difficult not to nod along, especially when the phrase encapsulates something most of us have experienced: a perfect resume or proposal sent, but no word back; a flawless itinerary dissolved by the smallest delay; an event set to begin, upended by a storm; a setback or an entirely “new normal.”

As much as we might nod along, or wince at our own experience, the proverb points us in another direction, too. And if not the proverb, Scripture certainly does.

In most of the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet focuses primarily on God’s judgment, but then Jeremiah shares the statement: “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans … to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). These words were sent by the prophet Jeremiah to the Israelites who had been taken into Babylonian exile. These striking, comforting words reminded them that, despite their experience of the present, God’s gesture, thoughts and plans for them — and for us — are peaceful, abundant and hopeful. “We plan and God laughs”? Perhaps. But it is just as possible that “we plan, and God smiles, imagining a future with so much more.”

At Pentecost, we celebrate that God offers more than we can possibly plan. Our gifts to the Pentecost Offering connect with God’s hope for our future, supporting ministries with children, youth and young adults by building lives of faith. Through the Young Adult Volunteer program, Presbyterian Youth and Triennium, the “Educate a Child, Transform the World” initiative, as well as locally supported ministries of congregations, we join in ministries that connect young people with one another and with caring communities, helping them shape lives and futures beyond even ones we could plan.

Special Offerings, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Rebecca Storti, Director, Meetings & Special Events, Church Engagement, Board of Pensions
Gail Strange, Director, Church & Mid Council Communications Ministry, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

God of hopeful futures, make your plans in us. May they be beyond our imagining, so that our children, youth and young adults may see your kin-dom come and your will done. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Building the household of God with children, youth and young adults

We look especially to the younger members of God’s family

July 29, 2020

Take a minute to look back on your life. Who all have you lived with? In the earliest parts of our lives, we might live with parents or grandparents or other caring adults. Perhaps siblings. Over the years, we might live with friends and extended family, family of choice or even sometimes with strangers. And sometimes we might find ourselves living alone.

No matter whom we live with now, or whom we have lived with before, God’s vision for the world is that everyone finds a place within God’s kingdom — God’s house. What we celebrated during the season of Pentecost was God’s pouring out of the Holy Spirit so that people of every identity and language can hear a word of welcome into God’s household. All belong in God’s household, and we get to live together, and learn together and celebrate together.

At Pentecost, we looked especially to the children, youth and young adults with whom God has called us to live. The psalmist reminded us of the importance of faith being established during our earliest years, saying, “God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.” God’s youngest family members need support to build their full potential in both faith and life, and all of us have a role to play. These young ones also show and sometimes teach all of us more about faith in Jesus Christ and how the Holy Spirit is moving in our world.

The Pentecost Offering lets us support the development of children, youth and young adults in our community and throughout the country. Forty percent of this offering stays within our community because we want to build the household of God together, in this place. The remainder is sent on to our denomination so that young adults can lay a foundation for their lives through a year of service as part of the Young Adult Volunteer program. It is also used to support ministries with youth, through experiences of worship and formation like the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, which gathers nearly 5,000 young people every three years to learn and grow together. There is also a portion of this Offering that supports the education of every child in this country, through the Educate a Child, Transform the World national initiative. Even when there are no children or young people in the places where we live, there are many, many with us in the household of God.

I want us to celebrate the fact that we are building a life of faith and building the household of God with our children, youth and young adults. Through our gifts today, we join with them and with God in building that household together.

If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.

Bryce Wiebe, Director, Special Offerings, Mission Engagement & Support, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Nicholas Johnson, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Sandy Johnson, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray:

Holy Spirit, breathe on us. Inspire us to give and to grow your household. Thank you for the special place you offer to the youngest members of your family. May our efforts reflect the joy and delight that Jesus showed in welcoming children. Amen.

The Young Adult Volunteer Program; Educate a Child, Transform the World; and Presbyterian Youth Triennium are all supported by your gifts to the Pentecost Offering.

Minute for Mission: Pentecost Sunday/Pentecost Offering

Take a minute to look back on your life. Who all have you lived with? In the earliest parts of our lives, we might live with parents or grandparents or other caring adults. Perhaps siblings. Over the years, we might live with friends and extended family, family of choice or even sometimes with strangers. And sometimes we might find ourselves living alone.

No matter whom we live with now, or whom we have lived with before, God’s vision for the world is that everyone finds a place within God’s kingdom — God’s house. What we celebrate at Pentecost is God’s pouring out of the Holy Spirit so that people of every identity and language can hear a word of welcome into God’s household. All belong in God’s household, and we get to live together, and learn together and celebrate together.

At Pentecost, we look especially to the children, youth and young adults with whom God has called us to live. The psalmist reminds us of the importance of faith being established during our earliest years, saying, “God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.” God’s youngest family members need support to build their full potential in both faith and life, and all of us have a role to play. These young ones also show and sometimes teach all of us more about faith in Jesus Christ and how the Holy Spirit is moving in our world.

The Pentecost Offering lets us support the development of children, youth and young adults in our community and throughout the country. Forty percent of this offering stays within our community because we want to build the household of God together, in this place. The remainder is sent on to our denomination so that young adults can lay a foundation for their lives through a year of service as part of the Young Adult Volunteer program. It is also used to support ministries with youth, through experiences of worship and formation like the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, which gathers nearly 5,000 young people every three years to learn and grow. There is also a portion of this Offering that supports the education of every child in this country, through the Educate a Child, Transform the World national initiative. Even when there are no children or young people in the places where we live, there are many, many with us in the household of God.

During this Pentecost season, I want us to celebrate the fact that we are building a life of faith and building the household of God with our children, youth and young adults. Through our gifts today, we join with them and with God in building that household together. And you know what we always say … if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.

Bryce Wiebe, Director, Special Offerings and Appeals

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Chad Dusatko, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Sandra Duverge, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Holy Spirit, breathe on us. Inspire us to give and to grow your household. Thank you for the special place you offer to the youngest members of your family. May our efforts reflect the joy and delight that Jesus showed in welcoming children. Amen.