A letter from Sherron George in Brazil
February 2009
Dear Partners in God’s mission,
Is this heaven? Seated in a circle in the living room of a plantation with decorations from around the world, after a scrumptious Brazilian meal, we enjoyed our freshly brewed coffee. Brilliant sun, blue sky, green grass, stately palm trees, flowering trees, idyllic lake, white swans, mango, banana and lemon trees, bamboo and flowers of all colors. Before lunch we walked around the 150 acres and climbed to the highest point to contemplate the rolling green hills. It was hard to believe that we were only one hour from the center of São Paulo with its 20 million inhabitants.
We were pastors and theological educators from Brazil, Ghana, Egypt and the United States. As we savored our coffee, the Reverend Assir Pereira, moderator of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB), said: “You are the first visitors to tour the plantation which the IPIB has purchased for our new consolidated resident theological seminary and convention center. We are becoming a ‘green church’ for environmental preservation. It is significant that we begin this new venture with our doors open to the world. I see our four churches as a quartet. My hope is that during this week together we can sing in melodious harmony.” I think we did. We learned a lot from each other and saw many similarities in our histories and in our challenges, especially in the Muslim world.
Brazil-Ghana-Egypt consultation
After visiting the IPIB property and worshipping in São Paulo on Sunday, a bus took us to an IPIB camp. This was the third consultation of three partner churches of the PC(USA), the IPIB, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Presbyterian Church of Egypt. The first was in Egypt and the second in Ghana. This consultation was about cross-cultural mission.
Sherron during worship with the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Herbert Opong (right) and Thawart Wahba, professor of mission at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo.
“Ale Ale Alleluia!” This we could all sing together. We did well in a Portuguese translation of: “Let´s praise the Lord!” and learned several African songs, including “Thurma mina! Send me, Jesus!” Yes, worship reminded me of people from many tongues praising our one Lord as one Body.
Each church made a presentation of the history of cross-cultural mission projects in their countries and beyond. For the Ghanaians, there is much cross-cultural mission within the country, which has many dialects. One of the pastors uses four languages in the liturgy in his congregation of more than 2,000 people. For the Egyptians, cross-cultural mission means getting out of the country. The IPIB was amazed at how cross-cultural both denominations are. We were all impressed by the strategic role Egypt plays in Africa and in the Middle East today and historically. One of the Egyptian pastors gave a talk on the regional and global political picture. The Egyptians were surprised at the size of the Arab community in the city of São Paulo, and the Ghanaians asked lots of questions about Afro-Brazilian religions.
PC(USA) mission co-workers Tim Carriker and Sherron George.
My colleague Tim Carriker and I represented the PC(USA), together with Jeff Ritchie from the Outreach Foundation. Tim and I have been friends and colleagues for decades. Tim made a presentation on the cross-cultural mission movement in Brazil. I translated for him (picture). It was fun. When I gave a devotional on holistic mission in Ephesians, he translated for me.
South-to-South mission partnerships
One evening the Rev. Assir asked the churches from Ghana and Egypt to enter into bilateral partnerships with the IPIB. The request to Ghana is already in process. They plan to ratify it at both General Assemblies this year. Partnership with Egypt might go more slowly, as leadership is changing, but I think it will go forward. Partnerships are expanding! The church in the global South is now the majority church in the world and the leader in cross-cultural mission. How I rejoiced to see these south-south relationships proceeding. Clearly the Spirit of the Lord is moving powerfully through the visions and the energies of all of these servants of God.
New roles for the PC(USA)
The Outreach Foundation has sponsored and shepherded this initiative, but kept in the background. This is a great example of how the role of the PC(USA) has changed in global mission. We accompany and at times facilitate interactions and initiatives of our partner churches. Regional liaisons come alongside our partners and mission personnel to offer encouragement and support.
Rejoice with me for this harmonious quartet! Pray for the IPIB, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Presbyterian Church of Egypt as they put into practice all the suggestions and dreams expressed in this consultation. Pray that each of them and their partnerships may continue to produce much fruit.
Please pray for me as I finish writing a book entitled Better Together: the Fullness of God´s Mission with biblical foundations from Ephesians.
My prayer is that the One who came into the world so that all may have fullness of life will empower you in mission.
In Christ´s love and service,
Sherron George
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 274
