PRESBYTERIAN MISSION AGENCY | Summer 2016

GOD’S MISSION IN mission ASIA-PACIFIC INSPIRING FAITH, SERVING IN CROSSROADS SOLIDARITY AND FINDING STRENGTH IN SORROW pcusa.org/missioncrossroads

Proclaiming the Gospel in Bangladesh | Are Muslims and Christians enemies? | Remembering the struggles of ‘comfort women’ AT THE CROSSROADS | Mienda Uriarte, Area Coordinator of Asia-Pacific Mission Crossroads is a Presbyterian Mission Agency publication about God’s mission around the world through the PC(USA) and our church partners.

Peter Lim Peter Half a Presbyterian World Mission is world committed to sending mission personnel, empowering the away global church, and equipping the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for mission as together we Half a world away, address the root causes of sisters and brothers in poverty, work for reconciliation the faith community amid cultures of violence, and thrive in challenging share the good news of God’s saving circumstances. With a love through Jesus Christ. rich and colorful mosaic EDITOR of cultures, languages, philosophies, and spiritual Kathy Melvin traditions, Asia continues to defy attempts at CONTENT MANAGERS easy categorizations. Mienda Uriarte, Rachel Yates Contemporary Asia is a continent of extremes. It may be home to approximately two-thirds of Special Asia Issue the world’s population, but it nevertheless remains the continent with the smallest Christian population. Depending on where you go, the dominant religious expression is Buddhism, PROJECT MANAGER Hinduism or Muslim. Tammy Warren In light of this, what does mission and ministry look like in Asia-Pacific? The paradigm that engages “mission among the peoples” in Asia proposes the understanding of mutual engagement STAY CONNECTED and collaborative global partnership beyond the North-South or majority-minority divide. Mission To subscribe or change your is inspired by empathy and solidarity among the peoples, along with the anguish of suffering and mailing address, contact brokenness in daily life experiences. Mission is empowered by a practice that enables the Christian [email protected] gospel to engage in the religious pluralism of Asia in a spirit of interreligious hospitality. or call 800-728-7228. To request To say that we are living in an age of migration in Asia is an understatement. Without a doubt, additional free copies of migration is a contemporary global phenomenon that is deeply embedded in the lives of millions Mission Crossroads, email of Asians. These migratory movements of people are transforming the sociocultural, religious and [email protected] or call economic landscapes across Asia as they contribute to the breakdown of traditional social order 800-728-7228 x5065. and to an increasing degree of fragmentation and tension, as well as to the loss of stable familial and communal structures. Today’s large-scale global migration patterns are fueled by immense SUPPORT WORLD MISSION poverty, extreme socioeconomic imbalances, and violent ethnic strife, as well as the insatiable Give online: demand for cheap labor and products. The magnitude of this problem is especially dire in Asia, pcusa.org/supportwm and the situation calls for a concerted response on the part of everyone to redress these problems. Mail checks, payable to PC(USA): Presbyterian World Mission is responding to the missional call to solidarity, empathy, sharing Presbyterian World Mission and mutual collaboration that is grounded in Jesus’ own empathy and solidarity with all humanity. P.O. Box 643700 Jesus came to this world to share in the life of ordinary people, experience the tragedy of their Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700 daily life struggles, and engage fully in the ambiguities and complexities of daily living. Mission co-workers throughout Asia-Pacific stand in advocacy alongside global partners in all the ways we Give by phone: are invited to share in the life of that faith community. Teaching in seminaries and universities, 800-728-7228 facilitating events and discussions of reconciliation, engaging in demonstrations of peaceful protest, implementing leader development programs, engaging in spiritual care/formation, On the cover: and inspiring young adults in and through creative witness are a few ways this missional call is Youth Advocates Through Theater expressed. Arts members perform in a festival in The Lord’s Table reaches around and into every corner of the world. We invite you to join Dumaguete City, Philippines. sisters and brothers and actively participate in God’s mission in Asia-Pacific. Photo by YATTA

Mission Crossroads 1 STEWARDSHIP MATTERS | Rosemary Mitchell

Sam and Eileen Moffett’s work challenges us to continue a legacy and help grow God’s reign

erhaps the most visible legacy of When Sam and Eileen arrived in of our church’s Young Adult Volunteers the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Korea, the 1953 armistice that ended (YAVs) in Korea. While working with mission in Asia is in , the fighting in the had marginalized people alongside Korean Pwhere 7 million people are members of been in effect for about two years. Presbyterians, the YAVs experience both Presbyterian churches. Presbyterianism is The country was reeling from poverty the deep devotion of Korean Christians the largest Protestant tradition in South and homelessness, and much of its and the gospel’s ability to transcend Korea, which claims more Christians per infrastructure lay in ruins. In this cultures. Our church also is blessed by capita than any other Asian country. setting, Christianity, which had been several Koreans who serve as YAVs in While working at Princeton much stronger in , gained the United States. Their lives enrich the Theological Seminary, I was privileged to momentum in South Korea. communities they serve and the U.S.-born become acquainted with Sam and Eileen YAVs who work beside them. Moffett, a couple who helped nurture the Certainly the role of mission has exponential growth of Christianity on the The churches our missionaries changed greatly since the 19th century, Korean peninsula. They went to South founded around the world are now when Sam’s father was appointed, and Korea in the mid-1950s and served there our partners in mission, and they since the mid-20th century, when into the early 1980s. After the Moffetts Sam and Eileen began mission service. left Korea, Sam taught mission and invite our church to help them Nevertheless, the legacy they and others ecumenics at Princeton. address urgent needs. left is worth celebrating and building on. Sam had retired from teaching when The churches our missionaries founded I joined the seminary staff, but he and around the world are now our partners Eileen lived nearby and were frequent Sam engaged in mission with in mission, and they invite our church to campus visitors. Sam died last year at age both his heart and his mind. One help them address urgent needs. As we 98 with Eileen at his side. clear demonstration of his passion for answer this call, we perpetuate a cherished In Korea, Sam was a seminary mission was his founding of the mission legacy, but more importantly, we help professor, and Eileen worked in several department at the Presbyterian University grow the reign of God. God’s vision for roles including serving as director of and Theological Seminary. Today South our world is being more fully realized the Bible Club Movement. This effort Korea sends more missionaries abroad because of your prayers and financial established church-run schools for than any other country except the support. Thank you for your faithfulness. children who could not afford public United States. Sam’s scholarly acumen is school fees. I loved the stories the Moffetts especially evident in his work, “A History Rosemary Mitchell is interim senior director told and the insights they shared. of Christianity in Asia.” The two volumes, for Mission Engagement and Support at the Sam emphasized the necessity of published in 1992 and 2005 respectively, Presbyterian Mission Agency. Contact her at strong indigenous church leadership, are widely used by students and scholars [email protected]. a value he learned from his father, of Asian Christianity. Samuel Austin Moffett, who was an The vibrant church that resulted REACH A HURTING WORLD early missionary to Korea. Sam taught at from the work of the Moffetts and other Support mission co-workers sharing God’s Presbyterian University and Theological PC(USA) missionaries in Korea now faithful love. Seminary in , an institution founded nurtures the faith of the church that sent pcusa.org/donate/E200102 by the elder Moffett. them. A notable example is the experience

Mission Crossroads 1 Courage under fire Prophetic witness of the church in the Philippines Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, General Secretary, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Michael Whitman Michael For while we live, we are always There are those who have resisted, being given up to death for Jesus’ whose voices have not been silenced. sake, so that the life of Jesus may Even at the threat of life and limb, they be made visible in our mortal flesh. have taken a daring stand against the So death is at work in us, but life in might of the empire. They have formed you (2 Cor. 4:11-12). communities of resistance and produced numbers of martyrs whose blood, whose his passage of Scripture did not lives, have inspired others to take on the make much impact until I began to fight. be immersed in Philippine realities In our own small way, the UCCP has andT consider the implication of such to contributed to communities of resistance the prophetic witness and mission of the as well as martyrdom. church. From 2001 to 2010, during the term The impetus for prophetic witness of the past Philippine president, Gloria The UCCP Declaration of Principles Macapagal Arroyo, over 1,000 people is enshrined in the 1993 UCCP were killed extrajudicially and more Constitution. I call this the “soul” of the than 20 members of the United Church Constitution, as it details the essence of Bishop Reuel Marigza, general secretary of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) UCCP’s being. of the United Church of Christ in the became martyrs. Behind these numbers of Section 1 declares that the UCCP is Philippines, brings ecumenical greetings trumped-up charges, abductions, tortures an integral part of the apostolic church of to the 220th General Assembly (2012). and extrajudicial killings are human Jesus Christ. As apostles were sent out as faces, human stories, heroic struggles and witnesses, so should the church be sent much sacrifice. Within President Benigno into the world. affirms and upholds the 1984 Convention Aquino’s current term, about 318 have Section 4 affirms that “at the heart against “torture and other cruel, inhuman joined the list of martyrs. of our witness to the world” are the or degrading treatment or punishment, As the church lives out its calling of “fundamental values of love, justice, truth and those that relate specifically to proclaiming life in all its fullness, it often and compassion.” refugees, women, youth, children, runs counter to those in power. And as Section 7 expresses the commitment minority groups and other persons who the church’s prophetic voice continues to of the church to the Filipino people. cannot safeguard their own rights.” be raised, it is often met with the ire of Our mission and ministry take place in the state and those who seek to gain from the concrete realities of Filipino life, into Legal suit conditions of injustice, marginalization, which the gospel must be incarnated. In our being, seeing and doing what social stratification and deep poverty. Article 7 further states that redemption matters to God, we had been hard hit by The reality of the empire stares is not only from sin but covers all areas of extrajudicial killings. The UCCP took us in the face. It sports a new name, life where any form of bondage exists. But legal action on behalf of six families in neocolonialism, but it spawns the same it is not just a salvation “from.” It is also a filing a civil case against former President evils feeding on the hapless states that it salvation “for” the abundant life both here Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for command gazes on and still supplies the rapacious and hereafter, under the aegis of God’s responsibility of extrajudicial executions, and greedy empire what it desires: reign and realm. enforced disappearances, and torture by minerals, precious stones and metals, raw All human beings are created in the military forces. materials and slave labor. image of God. Because of this, UCCP The legal case asserts that labeling the

2 Summer 2016 Thousands of militants protest against Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during the 64th Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Manila in 2012.

UCCP as an “enemy of the state” through be so, our God whom we serve is able to Philippines among them, who will answer, various counter-insurgency plans of the deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; who will stand, who will face the empire military establishment has led to relentless and He will deliver us out of your hand, with the will to resist and with courage persecution and brutalization of church O king” (Dan. 3:17 NASV). even under fire! people. That is faith under fire. But that faith The intensity and rapacity of human became more sterling when they added, Word of hope rights violations in the Philippines “But even if He does not, let it be known As a community of faith, with the has fortified a climate of impunity, to you, O king, that we are not going to support of our ecumenical partners, UCCP which persists with continuing human- serve your gods or worship the golden took a stand for the victims of extrajudicial rights violations under the current image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:18 killings, of arrests on false charges, of administration. NASV). That is courage under fire! abductions and torture, who are our very I am reminded that in the Old The UCCP and the many Asian own pastors, church workers and lay Testament, the friends of Daniel— churches have given to the wider church leaders. These are victims and martyrs of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—were community and to their own people the church whose blood had been poured asked to bow the knee to the symbol of the martyrs who would rather die than out, whose bodies were broken, whose lives empire and its might: the towering, golden succumb to the enticement or threats of were snuffed. image that Nebuchadnezzar ordered built. the empire. These may not be the last, but When we filed this civil suit, I said The three refused to bow down, which as long as the call to make a stand for what in the prayer service held outside the angered the emperor, who ordered them is right and just is issued, there will always courthouse: “This endeavor will not be an thrown to the furnace. Yet they said, “If it be people, your sisters and brothers in the easy one. It may be long. It may strain our

2 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 3 resources. There may be actions that even be dismayed for the Lord God goes before sustains our prophetic witness in the midst weaken our will. But, we must be strong us and God’s light will show us the way.” of fear, I wrote this: and of good courage. We must not fear or In reflecting on questions of what

Living with Fear “Subversives and leftists Fear has been a constant companion Communist coddlers along the pathways of struggle. Enemies of the State” We never know when our number is called, —thus we had been tagged and labelled by motorcycle-riding men vilified and demonized wearing bonnets, branded and marked delivering death by bullets and guns.

Placed on “orders of battle” We have lived with Fear for so long Put under surveillance and we have made a remarkable discovery— Hunted like rats that often Fear does not travel alone With threats, texted and unaccompanied. To military camps, ‘invited’ Not far from Fear treads Courage . . . Dozens killed and assassinated often hidden from the ranks of church people, often unseen including a bishop and Conference Minister. often unbidden . . . yet it is there! “How do you deal with Fear? What do you do with it?” we were asked. So, despite the presence of Fear, we have learned to summon Courage We would not be forthright and honest Courage brought forth by our coming together if we say we are not afraid or scared. in solidarity Many times, Fear is not for our own selves in common advocacies but for our loved ones: impelled by our Christian faith wives inspired by our people’s struggles. parents children Yes, Fear lurks —and their future when we are gone. but Courage looms even much larger as we immerse ourselves But ironic as it may sound, on the ground Fear seems much larger when afar with our people! than when it is near. (Oct. 17, 2012)

Part of what sustains us in our (U.S.A.). What the apostle Paul wrote to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struggles are partners—sisters and rings true with us: struck down, but not destroyed (2 Cor. brothers—who have been in solidarity “We are afflicted in every way, but 4:8-9). with us, like the Presbyterian Church not crushed; perplexed, but not driven

BE COURAGEOUS Support the work of the UCCP. pcusa.org/donate/E052147

4 Summer 2016 Invisible guests in Malaysia Hope of a better life motivates many to leave their homeland John McCall

ou may not see them, but they pick the crops, sweep the floors, care for the children and elderly, build infrastructure,Y labor in factories, cook and serve. They often have to leave their home countries and families to find a job. They send much of their earnings back home to their families. I had the opportunity to teach and preach at a gathering of 20 congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Malaysia. Malaysia has three main people groups: the Malays, who are Muslim; the Chinese, who worship traditional folk gods and include a good number who are Christian; and the Indians, who are Hindu, Sikh or worship other Indian gods. I stayed in a simple hotel in the city of Kluang for five days. Next door was a PC(USA) mission co-worker John McCall says goodbye to friends from Myanmar, Nepal barbecue restaurant owned by a Chinese- and Indonesia before he leaves Kluang, Malaysia, to return to Taiwan. Malaysian. There are a number of folks from other countries working at this he prepared to leave for Malaysia. had dressed up in their finest, and Nini restaurant. Each evening as I returned Another young man, Nini, is from brought his Vietnamese girlfriend so I to the hotel, I would talk with these Myanmar (formerly Burma), a country could meet her. We took pictures and young men. During the week, as they that is experiencing tremendous laughed together. were finishing their jobs of sweeping and governmental change. Nini is a Buddhist I wanted to bless them in some way, mopping and preparing the hot pepper and has nine brothers and sisters. The but I also wanted to be sensitive to them. sauce for the next day, they would offer third young man, Raz, is a Hindu from They knew that I was a pastor, so I asked me a glass of tea and tell me of their lives. Nepal. His eyes lit up when I mentioned if I could offer a prayer of blessing. We I got to know Iman from Indonesia. the Himalayan mountains in his country. held hands, and I prayed for each of He is a Muslim and speaks Malay. These young men welcomed me to them. It was a wonderful moment of He told me how his parents cried when their place of work each evening. They connection. put their mops aside and sat with me. In our divided world, it was such a Their boss joined us at the table several joy to get to know a Muslim, a Buddhist times. They told me of their dreams and and a Hindu and to share tea together. I lives. One showed me pictures of his felt as if Christ was the unseen guest at Vietnamese girlfriend. that table. My last night in Kluang, I told them that I would be leaving the next day. Iman and Nini asked me what time I MAKE A DIFFERENCE would be leaving. Support John McCall’s work in Taiwan. The next morning, I went downstairs pcusa.org/donate/E200487 John McCall talks with a Bunun tribal and saw them standing there. They elder in Taiwan.

4 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 5 Thank you!

Join us as we celebrate the generosity of Presbyterians and the Give by check: Make checks impact you are making around the world. payable to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and mail in the In 2015, by God’s grace, Join us as we keep this tear-out envelope included in Presbyterian World Mission momentum going. Together with Mission Crossroads. received 21,000 gifts for mission our global partners, we can help co-worker sending and support. people around the world emerge Give online: Visit We exceeded our goal by $1.6 from poverty, hopelessness and presbyterianmission.org/ million, for a total of $8.9 million. violence in the name of Jesus supportwm. Thanks be to God for this Christ. wonderful blessing. We thank you For more information: Call for your faithful giving. Please continue your legacy of 800-728-7228 x5611 generosity. Consider giving to Mission co-workers are this vital ministry at the same addressing poverty’s root causes, or an increased level this year. sharing Christ’s good news, and Encourage your congregation or fostering reconciliation in more presbytery to join you! than 50 countries. Your gifts and prayers enable this expansive ministry of our church to flourish. Encouraging generosity Challenge gifts help congregation raise $13,500 for mission co-worker support Pat Cole Gary Baker Gary

he “seed money” planted by three people at First Presbyterian Church of Waverly, Ohio, resulted inT a harvest of generosity directed toward Presbyterian mission co-workers. Bruce Henderson and his wife, Karen, gave $2,500 in support of mission co- workers, as did their friend Nel Huck. The three then invited others to join them by making gifts of any size. After a January mission emphasis, the 110-member Nel Huck (left) and Bruce and Karen Henderson made “seed gifts” that encouraged congregation added $8,500 to the initial others in their congregation to give generously to mission co-worker sending and $5,000. support. The result was a $13,500 gift to Presbyterian World Mission, which is in “One of our goals is to encourage we were not required to end the service of addition to the congregation’s budgetary other churches to do what we did,” says any mission co-workers prematurely,” says support for mission co-workers. Last year, Nel, adding that they will start with Hunter Farrell, director of Presbyterian it gave $4,287 through its budget. congregations in their presbytery, Scioto World Mission. “But, because our mission “Frankly, I was hoping that we would Valley. workers make multi-year commitments get $7,000 to $8,000, including the In their own congregation, Nel and to serve, we cannot look at a single year in seed money,” says Bruce, a retired pastor. Bruce did not identify themselves as the isolation.” “When the church secretary called me and people who made the original gifts, but Members of First Presbyterian of said it was $13,500, I was speechless.” they urged support for the offering. The Waverly are mostly retired people, many News last year that a financial congregation publicized it through bulletin of whom live at the nearby Bristol Village shortfall could result in the recall of up inserts, posters, mission co-worker prayer Retirement Center. “No arm twisting was to 45 mission co-workers motivated the cards, and “minute for mission” emphases. needed to motivate giving,” Bruce and Hendersons and Nel to take action. “We During a “minute for mission,” Nel say. began to talk about how churches might Bruce shared that he had studied the “In my pastorates, I learned that help solve the problem and possibly congregation’s mission giving and found Presbyterians do not give according to change the downward trend in mission its mission co-worker support amounted affordability but rather accountability,” giving,” Bruce says. to only 71 cents per member per week. Bruce explains. “We didn’t try to put a Their decision to make the challenge “I think that was pretty eye-opening to guilt trip on people. We just told them gifts sprang from those conversations, and people,” he observes. about the needs.” Bruce, a member of the congregation’s Giving to support mission Nel agrees, saying, “When people see a mission committee, received the session’s co-workers has increased not only at need for something and have a heart for it, approval for the offering. Leaders of the First Presbyterian of Waverly but also they will give.” effort then worked with the congregation’s among other congregations, mid councils co-pastors, Bob Getty and Rick Hays, to and individuals. Gifts in 2015 exceeded develop a timeline to promote the offering. goal, but World Mission leaders, while MEET CRITICAL NEEDS The Hendersons and Nel hope the offering grateful for the upsurge, stress the need to Support all mission co-workers. will be repeated next year and that other continue the momentum. “By God’s grace pcusa.org/donate/E132192 congregations will follow its lead. and the generosity of many Presbyterians,

Mission Crossroads 7 Seeking unity in God’s mission Are Muslims and Christians enemies? Bernard Adeney-Risakotta Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta felt trepidation as I entered the auditorium at the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) in Yogyakarta. More Ithan 500 students filled every seat and many sat on the floor. The women sat on the left and the men on the right. I knew I was not the main attraction. A radical Muslim cleric, who had been in and out of jail, was one of the speakers. Some of his students had been suicide bombers in Bali. Another speaker was a younger Muslim intellectual known for inflammatory, anti- Christian, anti-Western writings. Some of my Muslim colleagues and I had been the objects of his published attacks. One of my former students from the State Islamic University, Sunan Kalijaga, was now a dean at UII. When his students requested permission to Bernard Adeney-Risakotta (left), mission co-worker and professor of religion, ethics and hold a panel discussion sponsored by two social sciences with the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies, teaches a class in militant Islamist organizations (Majelis Indonesia. Mujahidin Indonesia and Hizbut Tahrir), the dean agreed but suggested they promiscuity, massacres of native Samuel Huntington, whose Clash of should invite me to be on the panel peoples, slavery, crime, pornography, Civilizations generally portrays the West as well. The theme was, “American war, homosexuality, destruction of as the good guys, in this story the forces Hegemony and the Future of Muslim the environment, human trafficking, for good are in Islam, while the West is Relations with the West.” I figured I was abortion, and the sexual victimization the source of all evil. meant to represent American hegemony. of women and children. In contrast During the question and answer The younger firebrand spoke first. He with this gruesome story, he presented period, I felt strong emotions rising used a sophisticated visual presentation the noble teachings of Islam, including within me. I knew I had not effectively to outline the greatest crimes of the West justice for the poor, defense of the weak, addressed the imagination of reality, and of Christians, committed against racial equality, peace, respect for women, which the other speakers had presented Islam and humanity, over the past 1,300 care of the environment, sexual morality, so passionately. Those who observed years. He told a story of oppression, and an ordered, law-governed society. closely could see smoke beginning to cruelty and injustice stretching from the My presentation was next, and I seep out of my ears. The moderator Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition was caught off guard, unprepared for invited me to speak again. up to the bombings of Iraq, the such a vivid, wholesale attack on the For half a minute I was silent. Then I oppression of the Palestinians and the West. Without using the term, his said quietly: war against terror. Also included was a narrative reprised the theory of a “clash “You know, brothers and sisters, fierce indictment of Western capitalism, of civilizations” between Islam and America is much worse than you economic inequality, violence, racism, the West. But unlike political scientist imagine. . . . All of the terrible

8 Summer 2016 Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta

things presented by the other speakers about the West are true. There are also many other ugly realities which they did not mention. There is much in our history and present reality which grieves and shames me. “But the West is also much better than you imagine. There is amazing goodness and beauty in the peoples, cultures and civilizations of the West. The amazing achievements of science, literature, religion, art, education, Bernie says he enjoys being in a position of always learning, always struggling to catch civil society, law, and social up and participate in all God is doing in Indonesia. institutions are all parts of ‘the West,’ which the other speakers failed to mention. The other best teachings of the other. Muslim population in the world, more speakers have only compared the “The world is not divided into than the whole Middle East combined. worst crimes and problems of the black and white, good and evil, It also has over 26 million Christians. West with the noble teachings of the good guys and the bad guys. The Christian church has grown rapidly Islam. That is not fair. Rather there is good and evil in over the last century. Islam is also “Are there no crimes and all of us, as well as in all of our experiencing a renaissance in Indonesia. problems in Muslim societies? histories. Islam is now part of the Muslims and Christians have lived Does Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Saudi West, and the West is part of all of side by side as brothers and sisters for Arabia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan us in this room.” hundreds of years in Indonesia. The or Indonesia embody the noble I paused for them to think about it. government does not tolerate terrorism teachings of Islam? All countries Then I concluded by saying: and most Muslims view Christians as have both beauty and ugliness in “Brothers and sisters, I am a Christian children of Abraham, who worship the their history, including Indonesia. and an American. Am I your enemy?” same God. The vitality of both Islam Every country does not live up I sat down. In that large hall, you and the Church in Indonesia, and to its brightest ideals nor sink could have heard a pin drop. Finally their ability to live in peace, will have a to its lowest shame. If you must the old Muslim cleric broke the silence. decisive influence on the future of this compare different countries, He said, “No, Professor Bernie. You are country, and perhaps the world. religious communities and not our enemy. Only the enemies of civilizations, you should compare Islam are our enemies.” When I left the teachings with teachings, ideals campus, the dean thanked me with tears with ideals, crimes with crimes, in his eyes. He said, “What you said is HELP TRANSFORM LIVES social problems with social something we badly needed to hear.” Support the work of Bernie and his wife, problems. It is not fair to compare Today 62 percent of all Muslims Farsijana, in Indonesia. the worst crimes of one with the live in Asia. Indonesia has the largest pcusa.org/donate/E200303

8 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 9 Transforming the future by reconciling the past Christians in North and South Korea pray armistice agreement may become peace treaty Kurt Esslinger Rev. Roh Hye Min need you to work late translating again tonight, Kurt,” Rev. Seung Min Shin told me at the end of the day. He Ihanded me a statement written in Korean by Christians from North and South Korea in consultation. “We need the English version to send to the World Council of Churches tomorrow, and then we can use it for our peace treaty campaign,” he explained. Rev. Shin is director of the Reconciliation and Unification Department of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK). Since the summer of 2014, I have been working for NCCK, translating and sharing statements, letters of advocacy for peace, and joint prayers written in cooperation between the NCCK in South Korea and Rev. Hye Sook Kim (KCF North Korea) and Dr. Un Sunn Lee (NCCK South Korea) read the the official church of North Korea, the Joint South-North Prayer for Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Korean Christian Federation (KCF). At first, the stories of all the NCCK introduce North Korean Christians to occupation up to 1945 and then under consultations and joint activities with the World Council of Churches. This led competing U.S. and Soviet occupations. the KCF surprised me. Up to that point, to the first, very tense meeting between For example, I learned that when I’d been led me to believe reunification South and North Korean Christians occupying the southern zone of Korea, was impossible. Slowly, as I have become in Switzerland in 1988. In turn, that the U.S. Military Government stipulated familiar with the history of the NCCK, I meeting led to advocacy, which the in 1946 that all Koreans who had been have begun to learn that I had fallen into PC(USA) joined to persuade the North imprisoned by Japanese colonial police the “Danger of a Single Story,” just as in Korean government to ease restrictions would be banned from service in the the famous TED Talk given by novelist on Christians, which it did, creating the southern constabulary, which became Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009).1 KCF as an official church. Together, the the South Korean military.2 When Christians from the North and South two groups have advocated an end to the Koreans rose up in protest of policies have been meeting since the 1980s, idolatry of enemy images in South and such as these, the U.S. and the southern when Eastern European Christians from North Korea as well as in the U.S. and leadership cracked down with devastating the former Communist Bloc agreed to all countries involved in Northeast Asia force, such as in Jeju Island where the conflict. South Korean military, under command Hearing their story, I realized how of U.S. military, killed or caused 15,000 WORK FOR RECONCILIATION little our history books and the news tell people to disappear from 1948-1949, Support the work of Kurt and his wife, us about the creation of Korean division with an estimated 15,000 more added Hyeyoung, in South Korea. and the actions that led to war in 1950. before it finally came to an end in 1954.3 pcusa.org/donate/E200496 With renewed interest, I read alternate These and other stories did not fit with histories of Korea under Japanese the single story I had been told.

10 Summer 2016 Rev. Roh Hye Min

As I read these histories I also saw Ferguson, Missouri, rise up and ask whether our U.S. institutions believe Black Lives Matter. When riots broke out, I saw friends and leaders say our society’s only problems are the violent and angry responses of the black community. They suggested we cannot speak of justice when protestors are so violent. On March 14, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the attempt to ignore transforming a system of oppression by focusing on the violent riots of others in the Civil Rights movement: “It would be morally irresponsible for me to [condemn riots] National Council of Churches in Korea and Korean Christian Federation celebrate without, at the same time, condemning communion at in , North Korea. the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to to hear of the very legitimate fear of leaves North Korea with two options: feel that they have no other alternative annihilation in the hearts of North try to deter a preemptive invasion from than to engage in violent rebellions to get Koreans. In the North they remember a position of vulnerability or develop its attention. And I must say tonight that a the utter devastation of the Korean War. own nuclear weapons capability. riot is the language of the unheard.” Will the next president of the U.S. be Learning this context led me to join I wonder now if our U.S. foreign willing to draw on the Bush doctrine of the NCCK’s attempt to transform U.S. policy continues to perpetuate hostility preemptive strike as in the 2003 invasion policy, so that a peace treaty may pave for over 60 years because there is of Iraq? Mutually assured destruction the way for talks of demilitarization of something we in the U.S. have not appears to be the preferred deterrent to the peninsula. The NCCK is bringing me heard. I believe there is more for me and war for the U.S. Because North Korea with its Unification Committee to the for us as U.S. citizens to learn about our currently cannot match the warfare U.S. in July for its campaign to turn the role in Korean division. capability of the U.S., it has no leverage Korean Armistice Agreement into a peace My NCCK partners want the U.S. to threaten mutual destruction. That treaty. I hope that you might join me

Rev. Roh Hye Min in learning these histories and bringing hidden truths to the light of God.

1. Adichie, C. N. (2009, July). The danger of a single story [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted. com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_ single_story?language=en 2. Cumings, Bruce. The Origins of the Korean War, Vol. 1: Liberation and the Emergence of Separate Regimes. Princeton University Press. 1974 3. The Jeju 4.3 Incident Investigation Report. Published by the National Committee for Investigation of the Truth about the Jeju April 3 Incident, Republic of Korea. English translated by Jeju National University. English Version publisher: Delegates of the NCCK (South Korea) and the KCF (North Korea) in front of Bongsu Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation. 2014. Original Korean Church for the Joint South-North Worship for Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. version published 2003.

10 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 11 Passing the torch Young Adult Volunteers find a new generation seeking justice for wartime atrocity Alyson Kung, Emily Kent and Linda Kofler Alyson Kung hey were handing out orange umbrellas and hand warmers with “UN End Violence Against Women”T emblazoned across them. Though it was raining on the protesters, it didn’t stop camera crews from videotaping women dancing in support of the struggles of the “comfort women,” young East Asians whom historians say were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II. None of the surviving “grandmothers,” as the comfort women are lovingly called, were at the protest because of the cold November shower, but there were plenty of younger Koreans holding the torch for them. The protest was at the site of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, but the building wasn’t even there—it has Each Wednesday protesters rally in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South been torn down to make way for a new Korea, near the Comfort Women Peace Statue. The event remembers the struggles of embassy building. Nonetheless, the women used by the Japanese military as sex slaves during World War II. bronze statue of a young girl was decked out in an orange scarf and umbrella, We witnessed this protest just a As YAVs, we have learned about the with a bouquet of flowers in the chair month before Japan “apologized” and repeated massacres that have occurred beside her. South Korea signed a deal—without in response to political uprisings since During our service as Young Adult consulting the few surviving comfort the start of the Korean War in 1950. Volunteers (YAVs), we have seen many women—to never speak of the incident Continuations of injustice have taken of these peace monuments across Korea. again. Much of Korea is outraged at the form of textbook rewrites, tampered This girl is a symbol of stolen childhood the current government’s disregard for elections and vilification of victims of and an unending pursuit of justice. This these women, a tangible reminder of governmental neglect. demonstration was part of a protest that Korea’s own repeated invasion by outside The Korean spirit remains one of holds the Guinness World Record for forces. The protests sprang up across fortitude and a continued pursuit of “longest running protest rally.” It has the country, with people all the more justice, despite unspeakable tragedy. been held weekly since January 8, 1992. enraged at the Japan and the South And, with the same Korean heart, we Korea governments. have seen the next generation sit beside We also had a chance to witness a the bronze girl and keep her warm in the PROVIDE PROPHETIC WITNESS candlelight vigil protest in our own city winter with hats and scarves. They keep • Encourage a young adult to serve. of Daejeon. It was surreal to be a living, the fight alive every Wednesday, even pcusa.org/yav breathing part of this story. Not many when the grandmothers themselves no • Support the YAV program. of the grandmothers are still alive today, longer can. pcusa.org/donate/E049075 and those who are may not live to see the day when justice is truly served for them.

12 Summer 2016 Japan’s short-term memory and our Christian response

Thomas Goetz

olitical forces in Japan, encouraged by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are waging a Pcampaign to deny the disgraceful chapter in World War II when the Japanese military forced thousands to serve as “comfort women” in wartime brothels. “They want to bully us into silence,” said Takashi Uemura, the reporter who wrote the Asahi Shimbun newspaper’s early story on the topic of comfort women. Uemura later became a lecturer at Hokusei Gakuen University, a small Christian college in Sapporo, Japan. In response to a December 2, 2014, New York Times article, “Rewriting Thomas Goetz with retired journalist Takashi Uemura (right) in Sapporo, Japan. the War, Japanese Right Attacks a Newspaper,” Ian Vanderberg, (not his How can a group of people move call to repentance, and forgiveness even real name), wrote: “A few years ago, a forward unless admitting wrongdoing, in the absence of repentance. We see the friend brought me to Japan…. He did and then seeking and accepting result. not know Japanese troops had killed a forgiveness from others? Conversely, how Under criticism from China and number of my family, nor did he know can a victim learn to forgive when her South Korea and frustration in the my mother had been a comfort woman. perpetrators are unrepentant? United States, Mr. Abe said that he She was a Dutch colonial resident of the Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus of would uphold the status quo apology Netherlands East Indies. While I have no Nazareth saw the heaviness of life under of 1993. In it, Japan admits that tens independent proof, she told me, during Imperial Roman forces. The phrase of thousands of women from South one of her frequent nervous breakdowns, “all roads lead to Rome” referred to Korea and elsewhere were coerced into what the Japanese Imperial Army had Roman taxation and the hard economic sexual slavery. It is one step toward done to her.” times it created. Jesus’ teaching and repentance. Vanderberg questioned his faith miracles challenged the inequities and In turn, we are called to hold on to response in light of Japan’s unwillingness led religious leadership to believe that our resolve for truth and accountability, to acknowledge this war atrocity: “The killing him was the only solution. That while extending grace to our neighbor, rules of Buddhism don’t allow for the plan failed. Though Jesus died on the a grace freely given in God’s promise denial of one’s past bad behavior—I cross, he rose from the grave on the of salvation and eternal life through know this because I am a Buddhist third day, victorious over death. In that Jesus Christ. myself,” he said. “Was I mistaken [in] victory, the call to repentance was not visiting a country, and forgiving a people silenced. Yet Jesus offered forgiveness that has caused so much pain in my and reconciliation even though his TAKE ACTION family?” tormentors remained unrepentant. Support the work of long-term volunteer Placed in our Christian context, the Our Christian response today to Thomas Goetz in Japan. key word is “forgiveness.” But forgiveness persecution of people under government pcusa.org/donate/E074285 is second to another word, repentance. regimes shares this twofold approach: a

12 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 13 Offering at Presbyterian Youth Triennium will help build ‘calamity resilient’ shelters Shipping containers to become Philippine churches and schools Paul Seebeck Frank Dimmock n 2014, an email in the Philippines was sent out that contained an idea from Silliman University President IDr. Ben Malayang, who’d seen his country suffer through two deadly natural disasters. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake had shaken Bohol in October 2013, destroying many churches. A month later the strongest storm ever recorded at landfall, Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, hit the islands at 180 mph, killing more than 6,000 people and causing catastrophic damage, especially on the island of Leyte. Malayang proposed having Silliman engineers build “calamity resilient” classrooms and churches out of shipping containers. Mienda Uriarte, Presbyterian World Mission Asia-Pacific area coordinator, was in the Philippines visiting partners in the aftermath of the typhoon when Malayang’s idea was proposed. At Silliman University and Divinity There is no shortage of shipping containers parked near landfills in the Philippines. School, which is a World Mission partner, Uriarte heard countless stories Triennium had been looking for a project could be available and retrofitted over from people in the villages who had to support with an offering. Yeager- a shorter period of time than a more no place to go as high winds and rising Buckley saw how it might fit with this traditional structure,” says Jane Annette waters were destroying their homes. year’s Triennium theme of “GO.” She Bellarmino, Silliman’s vice president for Uriarte returned home and began sharing took it to the Triennium team who development. with the wider church what she’d seen agreed; here was an opportunity for Using standard measurements of and heard in the Philippines. youth to make a difference in people’s shipping containers, engineers worked By fall of 2014, the Presbyterian lives affected by climate change, which to keep as much of their fundamental Youth Triennium director, Gina Yeager- scientists point to as a factor in the recent materials as possible. The steel used to Buckley, had heard about the Silliman increase of super storms like Typhoon build the cargo containers contribute to mission project and was intrigued. Haiyan. the shelters being calamity-resilient. As engineers presented designs of “We fit it into a design that would what these churches and classrooms make the structure essentially a classroom BUILD A SHELTER might look like, people began to see it or church . . . infusing practicality Help build a calamity-resistant classroom, was a very workable idea. They were both and calamity-resiliency into it,” says school or church in Asia. creative and functional. Bellarmino. pcusa.org/donate/E052070 “They showed how these shelters Receipts from the Triennium offering

14 Summer 2016 Silliman University

This illustration shows a classroom to be built from shipping containers. Silliman University

will contribute to a calamity-resistant classroom and shelter at the National Heroes Institute, part of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The institute is committed to providing quality Christian education in Leyte, especially for poor children in grades 1-12. “This project helps us celebrate our Filipino spirit,” says Bellarmino. “It reminds us how our resilience is like a shipping container—solid in the purpose, yet flexible in terms of the conditions it finds itself in.”

An illustration depicts a new calamity-resistant church—built out of shipping containers.

14 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 15 Volunteers: The lifeblood of the church Short-term mission assignments provide long-term perspective Sharon Bryant

hristian Volunteers in Thailand a child protection program to educate (CVT), a joint ministry of the individuals in 30 schools, eight hospitals, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) two universities and more than 15 andC the Church of Christ in Thailand has ministries of the Church of Christ in been working to change lives in Thailand Thailand about advocacy to stop human and around the world for more than 50 trafficking. The program provided safety years. Yet God is also doing a new thing training and resources for children at in the lives of those who come to serve as risk of being trafficked. As the end of volunteers in Thailand. her term drew near, Andréa realized God was calling her to continue to work on human trafficking in Thailand. Now James Riggins she is working with “bar girls” who are seeking a better life. Andréa is focused seminary, studying online. on learning Thai, because she desperately James Riggins, a seminary graduate from Pennsylvania, always wondered why God gave him a passion for all things Asian. James discovered his passion for Asia was not a “passing phase.” In June 2015, God called James to be the Andréa plays a game with a student pastor of the first international church at Klongtoey Community Center in planted by a Thai congregation to serve Bangkok. expats in Thailand. For Thai Christians, James demonstrates that the church in Andréa Nascimento do Espírito Thailand has come full circle. Established Santo traveled to Thailand from her by foreigners for the Thai people, the home in Brazil. When she arrived, Thai church and Thai Christians now she knew only a few “tourist phrases” serve people from many lands living and in the complicated Thai language— working in Thailand. enough to find her way home each Lucas Peters These are a few of the stories of day. Through CVT, Andréa worked in more than 40 people who have come to wants to communicate with these Thailand with CVT in the past five years. women and share their struggles. They range in age from 21 to 77 years Lucas Peters, the wandering son of a old, come from all walks of life, countries ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE pastor from Iowa, served in Malaysia as and Christian denominations. They stay Learn more and apply or support education in Thailand. a Young Adult in Global Mission before for six weeks to two years or more. They • Visit teachingenglishinthailand.org coming to Thailand. One of his goals share God’s love with everyone in their was to spend time in as many countries path, and their lives are transformed by • Support mission co-worker Sharon as possible, hoping to live and work on the volunteer experience. Bryant in Thailand. pcusa.org/donate/E200484 every continent in his lifetime. After two years with CVT, God called Lucas to be • Support the ‘Educate a Child’ campaign. a full-time teacher at the Thai Christian pcusa.org/donate/E052143 school where he’s been volunteering. And to our delight, Lou also has enrolled in ✁ 16 Summer 2016 MISSION TOOLKIT Ellen Sherby

Bringing mission home

Is mission a vital part of your Their stories open our eyes to the human Use lectionary mission stories for congregation? Have you established close faces behind global issues and invite us to worship and Sunday school connections between congregational pray and engage in mission. Find letters Looking for a sermon illustration mission involvement, weekly worship and by country to connect with the places in or a story related to the lectionary to Christian education? Bring mission alive which your church is already involved. use in Sunday school? Visit “Mission in by learning how to tell a mission story Encourage church leaders to share education and worship” at pcusa.org/ well and by bringing mission workers’ letters in session meetings, mission and missionresources to find mission stories into the weekly service and Sunday outreach meetings, in church newsletters stories for every Sunday of the year. school. and on bulletin boards. Visit pcusa.org/ missionconnections to read mission Invite a mission co-worker to Fine-tune the story co-worker profiles and letters. preach and teach The World Mission 2016 Guidebook Bring mission alive with face-to-face includes practical information and Read Young Adult Volunteer blogs or online visits from PC(USA) mission resources for mission involvement. Use The Young Adult Volunteer program co-workers. Congregations can invite a Appendix C to craft a compelling story (YAV) provides young adults ages 19-30 mission co-worker to preach and teach. about how your church is already involved with the opportunity to serve for a year Don’t limit a speaking engagement in mission. Download the Guidebook at in more than 20 locations in the U.S. to Sunday; get creative and find times pcusa.org/missionresources. and countries around the world. The throughout the week for the mission volunteers keep blogs chronicling their co-worker to share with others. For Share mission letters and day-to-day experiences. Read them by information write to mission.live@ read blogs visiting YAV blogs at pcusa.org/yav. pcusa.org or call 800-728-7228 ext. Mission co-workers provide updates 5826. on their work through letters and blogs.

Mission is a two-way street

Are you bringing mission into your church or 800-728-7228 ext. 5065 or rebecca.johnson@ Bring your church into mission your church into mission? Both are needed pcusa.org to order. Find out how Presbyterians are making a and either can come first. Here are a few tips. difference by collaborating to address poverty, • Skype with a mission co-worker during share the gospel and work for reconciliation. Bring mission into your church Sunday school or worship. Contact Anne Visit pcusa.org/calltomission to learn more. • Place prayer cards in worship bulletins. Blair, [email protected] or 800-728-7228 Prayer cards for PC(USA) mission co-workers ext. 5272. are free. Contact Rebecca Johnson,

✁ 16 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 17 WORLD ROUNDUP | Lauren Butz

Presbyterian World Mission brings God’s global family together to address the root causes of poverty, work toward reconciliation and proclaim God’s saving love in Jesus Christ. God’s mission in Asia God’s mission in Africa Sharing a spirit of reconciliation and Educating and empowering Malagasy people resilience in the Philippines PC(USA) mission co-worker Jan Heckler

in lv PC(USA) mission co-workers Cobbie and feels as though the Lord has been preparing her e M y h Dessa Palm work alongside The United for her work her whole life. That work is with t a K Church of Christ in the Philippines the 5 million member Church of Jesus Christ in (UCCP). Cobbie has served in mission for Madagascar (FJKM). more than 20 years while Dessa accepted Jan was invited to help FJKM’s leadership mission appointment in 2012. heighten the effectiveness of its wide-ranging Both Cobbie and Dessa were born in ministries. FJKM’s programs include the Philippines. While Dessa is of Filipino health, rural development, environmental descent, Cobbie is the son of longtime conservation, HIV/AIDS prevention and Presbyterian missionaries who have a deep more. In addition to her work in sharing understanding of the struggles of the Filipino effective teaching technology, Jan facilitates people. programs for women and assists FJKM with Dessa works as artistic director of Youth program planning and management. Advocates Through Theater Arts (YATTA), In training trainers for the Evidence-Based which partners with local UCCP churches Methods of Instruction Project (EBMI), who use theater for evangelism and advocacy. teachers in three FJKM primary schools in Through YATTA young artists-teachers- Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, have advocates use theater arts to address challenging learned to use EBMI. In their implementation subjects such as human trafficking, gender- of EBMI with 300 children over 11 semesters, based violence, children’s rights, teen pregnancy average scores improved from 60 to 95 percent. and speaking out against sexual abuse. Jan worked in Africa before entering Cobbie facilitates several UCCP mission PC(USA) mission service in 2012. From 2002- priorities. He leads church development 09, she was a teacher educator in Ethiopia, seminars for pastors and spiritual formation for Namibia and Malawi. Before that she co- seminary students. He also coordinates projects facilitated adult Sunday school at her church in related to clean water, waste and sanitation Decatur, Georgia. and develops curriculum and church training Jan also has worked in education, public programs to promote peace and reconciliation health, mental health and social for the Philippine Ecumenical Peace services positions in Georgia, Platform. Cobbie appreciates the Florida and Virginia. Asian proverb “To hear is to forget, “I realized I wanted to see is to remember, but to feel is to do more,” Jan says of to understand.” God’s calling of her to Cobbie and Dessa serve as site Africa. Many, including coordinators for the PC(USA)’s Presbyterian World Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) Mission and the United program in the Philippines. Nations, see education as a stepping stone for Support Cobbie and Dessa in the overcoming extreme poverty. Philippines. pcusa.org/donate/E200393 Support Jan in Madagascar. pcusa.org/donate/E200490

18 Summer 2016 God’s mission God’s mission in South America in the Middle East Training leaders for transformation Seeking peace in the land of Jesus’ birth in Colombia After 20 years in Louisville as the Since he was a boy, PC(USA) mission PC(USA)’s area coordinator for co-worker César Carhuachín has the Middle East, Victor Makari been sharing the good news of and his wife, Sara, began serving Jesus Christ. Christ in a new way in 2014. “I received the call of Victor and Sara both work the Lord to the Christian with the Diyar Consortium, ministry when I was 15 an ecumenically oriented years old,” César says. organization, part of the Christmas Not only did César spend Lutheran Church of Bethlehem. his childhood going on Victor serves as regional consultant mission trips far beyond his for the Diyar’s Religion and State Program, native city of Lima, Peru, he which studies the relationship between religion also moved to Argentina where and governments in the Arab World. He also he earned a doctoral degree in theology serves as a partnership liaison, facilitating from the Pontifical Catholic University of the work of the PC(USA) in Israel-Palestine Argentina. César then moved to Charlotte, and supporting the ministries of Presbyterian North Carolina, where he began a Hispanic associates for ecumenical partnerships. Sara ministry and later served as coordinator of edits English language publications produced Hispanic/Latino Ministries at the Presbytery by the Diyar Consortium. of Charlotte. Both Victor and Sara have strong roots César teaches biblical studies in the School in the Middle East. Victor is a native of of Theology at the Reformed University Egypt and says his sense of call came early in of Colombia. The school is the country’s life. “My vocation to mission was awakened first Protestant university, receiving official through the study of Scripture pointing to government accreditation in 2002. The School the use of the word ‘go’ as a key word in the of Theology stresses the study of the Bible in vocabulary of Christ and throughout the its original languages. César’s classes are filled New Testament.” Sara grew up in Egypt and with men and women who will become the Lebanon as the daughter of Presbyterian future leaders of the Presbyterian Church missionaries. She is fluent in Arabic and of Colombia and other Protestant churches developed a deep love for Middle Eastern in Colombia. In addition to teaching at people, both of which helped prepare her to the university, César often preaches at local follow God’s call to Israel-Palestine. churches. In his ministry, César says he has been Support Victor and Sara in the Middle East. inspired by Mark 10:45: “For the Son of Man pcusa.org/donate/E200525 came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Support César in Colombia. pcusa.org/donate/E200425

18 Summer 2016 Mission Crossroads 19 NONPROFIT ORG Presbyterian Mission Agency U.S. POSTAGE 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396 AID LOUISVILLE, KY PERMIT NO. 972

Peace matters now more than ever N e a r l y e v e r y d a y w e a r e w i t n e s s e s t o c o n f l i c t a t h o m e a n d a b r o a d — v i o l e n t , d a m a g i n g , and seemingly unsolvable. Yet when peace seems most remote, God’s grace brings it closer. A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering supports Presbyterian ministries that give witness to the peace of Christ and transform cultures of violence into communities of peace.

For more information, visit presbyterianmission.org/peace-global