Presbyterian Mission Agency

A letter from Tom and Judy Harvey serving in England

October 2014 - Students Behind the News

Dear Friends and Partners in Mission,

For those of you not familiar with the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS), we have 113 doctoral students from over 40 nations who continue to serve in often very difficult situations even as they pursue their research.   This means that one of the great joys and sorrows at OCMS is simply reading the news.  

When I read about the flood of Muslim, Christian and Yazidi refugees fleeing the violence in Iraq, my thoughts turn to our student Malkhaz Songulashvili in Georgia.  Currently Malkhaz is struggling to cope with the massive tide of individuals and families flooding into Tblisi.  Not only are they in desperate need of food, clothing and shelter, they have suffered horrible physical, psychological and spiritual trauma.  Georgia is a poor nation and therefore dealing with the onslaught of refugees as the bitter Georgian winter prepares to set in is an impossible task. Further, many Georgians despise the refugees, and ethnic tensions are rising. Malkhaz must work as well to address the frustration of his fellow Georgians even as he attempts to work with the refugees.  Malkhaz’s research has uniquely prepared him for this difficult work. His research specialty is addressing conflict and reconciliation between the churches and peoples of the region.  He is a bridge-builder in the right place, with the right training and at the right time.

McDonough Presbyterian Church - Atlanta, Georgia

By Emily Martin, PAN Co-Moderator

McDonough Presbyterian Church is a friendly 775-member congregation about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Led by member Teressa Staten, a new member of the Presbyterian AIDS Network (PAN), McDonough has held a number of AIDS awareness events leading up to World AIDS Day, which occurs on December 1 each year.

In 2006 the Global Missions Committee at McDonough planned a series of AIDS awareness events leading up to World AIDS Day. Dr. Frank Dimmock was invited to speak to a combined adult Sunday School class …

Linnis Cook

Email: Linnis Cook

Arch and Linnis retired from service as mission workers in June 2009. They are available to speak as their schedule permits. Email them to extend an invitation to your congregation or organization.

Linnis Cook and Arch Woodruff have been under appointment as mission co-workers since 1986. Linnis works with victims of domestic violence and prostitutes, and Arch is professor of New Testament at São Paulo Theological Seminary of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil and professor of New Testament in the graduate religious studies program at the Methodist University …

Read letters from Elizabeth and Marthame Sanders

June 29, 2006
March 27, 2006
September 21, 2005
August 31, 2005
March 27, 2005
December 14, 2004

Elizabeth and Marthame Sanders

Email: Elizabeth Sanders
Email: Marthame Sanders

Elizabeth and Marthame returned to the United States in 2005 to serve as missionaries-in-residence at the national offices of PC(USA) in Louisville. Marthame was called to a pastorate in November 2005 (Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia). Elizabeth ended her term of service in June 2006. See …

Read letters from Virginia Gartrell

October 2007
May 29, 2007
November 2006
March 30, 2006
February 2002
December 2001

Virginia Gartrell

Email: Virginia Gartrell

Virginia ended her term of service in December 2008. She is available to speak as schedule permits. See her contact information on the mission speakers page

Virginia Gartrell has been under appointment as a PC(USA) mission co-worker since 1979. Her current assignment is with the Bethel Children’s Home in Sorocaba, an urban center about 60 miles from …

Read letters from Bob and Julie Dunsmore

August 2008
March 6, 2008
October 2, 2007
July 2007
November 27, 2006
August 2006

Bob and Julie Dunsmore

Email: Bob and Julie Dunsmore

Bob and Julie ended their term of service in November 2008 and are no longer under appointment as PC(USA) mission co-workers. They are available to speak as their schedule permits. Email them to extend an invitation to your congregation or organization.

In August 2004, Bob and Julie Dunsmore finished their term of service in El Salvador as facilitators for Presbyterian …

Campus Ministry Locator - Georgia

Acworth

Presbyterian Student Assoc.
Heritage Presbyterian
PO Box 2345, 5323 Bells Ferry Rd.
Acworth, GA 30102
Email
(770) 926-3558
Kennesaw State University

Americus

First Presbyterian
125 South Jackson Street
Americus, Georgia 31709
Email
(229) 942-4140
Georgia Southwestern State University

Presbyterian Student Center
100 William B. King Dr.
Americus, GA 31709
Email
(912) 924-8210
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Technical College

Athens

Central Presbyterian
380 Alps Road
Athens, Georgia 30606
Email
(706) 549-9284
University of Georgia - Athens

Friday, November 26

Savannah Presbytery

Georgia

The campers get ready to launch their kayaks. Photo by Lou Ellen Hartley

On its southeastern border Savannah Presbytery is blessed with a beautiful example of creation: tidal marsh and the Atlantic Ocean. Fully one-third of the Atlantic Coast’s marshes are found on the coastal plains of Georgia. This land and the people who are part of its history provide inspiration and awe at God’s wondrous creation.

Each summer the presbytery’s Christian Education Committee holds Kayak Adventure Camp, which takes a small group of young people and …

Monday, November 22

Northeast Georgia Presbytery

Members of Rabun Gap Presbyterian sort food for the church’s monthly food distribution. Photo by Laura Vollmer.

Trusting in Christ, almost eighty years ago Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church was founded as a mission of Athens Presbytery in the mountains of northeast Georgia. In the early years Methodists and Presbyterians worshiped jointly, before Presbyterians began to worship at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. In the early 1990s a church was built.

In the midst of majestic mountains and lush green gaps the Rabun Gap congregation has faithfully served this community. They …

Monday, November 15

Cherokee Presbytery

Georgia

Cherokee Presbytery in Northwest Georgia has a membership of 10,030 in 41 congregations, 6 immigrant fellowships, and 2 new church developments. In 2008 a Vision Team discerned that God is calling the presbytery to pray the faith together, think the faith together, and live the faith together so that the whole body of Christ may be built up and grow together in Christ.

As a result, in 2009 Cherokee Presbytery began moving from program to relationship, from top-down to supporting congregations, from business to sharing faith, and from governing to …