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The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 152
Rev. Kay Day
Mission co-worker in Rwanda since 2013 - previously in Malawi
Serving at the invitation of the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS)
Blog: Day's Diary
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Contact: Kay Day (kay.day@pcusa.org)
Kay periodically returns to the U.S. to visit congregations. Email her to learn about her schedule and invite her to visit your ministry.
About Kay Day's ministry
The Protestant Institute of Arts and Sciences (PIASS) is supported by five Protestant denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Rwandan mission partner, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. The school was established in 2010, but its roots go back to the founding of the School of Theology of Butare years earlier. PIASS trains students in divinity, education, and community development. The school strives to produce graduates who will contribute to Rwanda’s spiritual, intellectual, and socio-economic life. PIASS seeks students who are called to be moral pillars of reconciliation, mutual respect, and societal development. As a lecturer in English and practical theology, Kay Day will prepare students for pastoral ministry.
Country context
Rwanda experienced Africa’s worst genocide in modern times in April 1994 with 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutus losing their lives. Rwanda was left with virtually no infrastructure and an impoverished and traumatized population. Since then Rwanda has made tremendous progress in many areas of social welfare, and the government is working to diversify the economy to minimize dependence on subsistence agriculture. Despite a 12 percent reduction in percentage of people living in poverty, economic deprivation remains widespread. The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda has called on the PC(USA) to walk with them as it addresses ongoing inter-ethnic tensions, trains clergy, and builds the capacity of congregations to support their pastors.
About Kay Day
Kay Day is thrilled to share her gift of teaching with future pastors preparing for service in Rwanda. “God has given me gifts to teach,” Kay says. “I taught English for 20 years at the high school and college levels and then God called me to teach his Word through ordained ministry, to make his Word come alive to his people.”
Out of a sense of gratitude for this gift and a desire to obey God’s calling, Kay accepted her assignment in Rwanda. “I want to use my gifts in the places where they will best serve God,” she explains. “I am humbled that my small gifts can help to build his kingdom in Rwanda as the people there are strengthened to rebuild their country.”
Kay hopes that her teaching and that of her faculty colleagues will help the country’s continued efforts to recover from the genocide. “The goal is to equip individuals to contribute to the reconciliation, mutual respect, and societal development in Rwanda,” she says.
As she mentors students doing fieldwork, Kay helps guide them as they pursue reconciliation ministries and other aspects of pastoral service. “I bring the perspective of practical ministry from having served churches in the United States and Malawi, so I offer a broadening context of ministry.” Kay served under Presbyterian mission appointment in Malawi from 2009 to 2013.
In Malawi Kay worked with the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). She was synod chaplain, providing training to pastors, and served as administrator of the Chigodi Women’s Centre, which teaches women leadership and self-help skills and offers training for women in full-time church service. Kay also facilitated Pittsburgh Presbytery’s partnership with Blantyre Synod.
Kay’s role in Rwanda includes facilitating partnerships between congregations and presbyteries in the United States and their counterparts in Rwanda. “Since the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda is eager to further develop partnerships, and I bring experience in partnership development from my work in Malawi, I’m trusting God to use that experience for the growth of partnerships between congregations in Rwanda and PC(USA) congregations.”
In her ministry Kay says a verse that “sings in my heart” is Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Kay says, “I want to do that before God in Rwanda.”
Kay served as pastor at Mount Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 2001 until she accepted her mission appointment in Malawi. As a pastor she was active in supporting two local food pantries as well as a shelter for homeless men. Kay also served as the volunteer chaplain for the local fire department and the city council. Prior to that she was chaplain at Presbyterian Senior Care, with responsibilities for leading worship in three facilities and serving as a counselor to more than 500 residents and staff members.
Kay holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and a master’s in English from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh.
Kay is a member of Pittsburgh Presbytery.
Birthday: August 9
