What the Mission Pledge makes possible
The short answer: every mission and ministry of Presbyterian Women.
But the long answer is relationships, personal transformations, spiritual development, and life-changing programs. Here's one example—the 2011 Global Exchange to India—of how your gift to the Mission Pledge makes all of that possible.
The Global Exchange is a triennial trip that takes U.S. women to another part of the world to learn about that area’s history, culture and biblical witness. The following year, women from that part of the world attend PW’s Churchwide Gathering. Although participants pay for their own trip (often with help from their presbytery or synod), the Mission Pledge makes possible the long-term relationships at the root of the Global Exchange, as well as the resources to promote and interpret the trip throughout the U.S. Put another way, the Mission Pledge provides the seed money that’s tended by the Global Exchange participants and the PW groups who hear about the trip.
Presbyterian Women’s witness is compounded through engagement. That’s why itineration after an exchange is crucial. Twenty-seven Presbyterian women participated in the 2011 Global Exchange to India. While in India, they identified two projects doing particularly good work to improve the lives of women, children and India’s other vulnerable people. When these faithful women returned home, they talked with hundreds of other Presbyterian Women. Thanks in large part to the Mission Pledge, the joys and challenges of life for Christians in India came alive for sisters in Christ who never set foot on Indian soil.
After hearing about the two projects, Presbyterian Women from across the nation gave generously. That’s right: women who were already giving to their churches and to PW’s Mission Pledge gave yet again, to help fund two vital, life-changing projects.
Skills Development
Learning a trade can dramatically change the lives of this generation and future generations, particularly with the most vulnerable communities who otherwise are susceptible to trafficking. That’s why Presbyterian Women have given more than $9,000 to purchase sewing machines and looms for the Presbyterian Church of India’s Jiangseng Kynthei Tailoring and Weaving Training Center. With this equipment, more women can learn—and make a living from—tailoring and sewing.
Health and Hope
The Arunima AIDS Hospice provides holistic care for individuals living HIV/AIDS, as well as food and educational programs for the individuals and their family members living at Arunima. Many individuals who go to Arunima have children or a spouse who depend on them, who have no other options for housing or assistance. That’s why Presbyterian Women have given more than $15,000 to this vital ministry operated by the Church of North India.
Presbyterian women know that giving to the Mission Pledge is crucial for ministry. PW’s Mission Pledge provides a way to ensure that the gifts intended for the projects are received a world away and used for their intended purposes. The Mission Pledge also provides the structure to continue the conversation with ministry partners well after an exchange, visit, or offering is received.
For Giving Tuesday on December 1 (or any day before then!), please consider giving a gift to Presbyterian Women’s Mission Pledge. Your gift of any size will help ensure Presbyterian Women’s life-giving witness, and the strengthening of relationships between sisters and brothers in faith across the world, continues.
