Metropolitan/Urban Ministry Sunday • July 27, 2008

Metropolitan/Urban Ministry Sunday celebrates the work of urban congregations both within and outside of their communities. A collection of worship resources and suggested activities is available to help you plan your service on this day.

Pastor advocates ‘speedboat ministry’

Because they are able to adapt and change quickly, small churches are frequently better able to respond to community needs, an innovative small church pastor told 100 people attending the Small Church Luncheon at the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) here June 23. Read more.

Changing Lives

God is changing lives through First Thai-Laotian Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. This smaller membership congregation, led by its organizing pastor Prachuab Dechawan and his wife, Gloria, is reaching out with people of all cultures and situations in life.

One of the lives that has been changed is Ron Waters. Ron, a drug user who spent 17 years in prison, was homeless. He camped out behind a bush at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where the Thai-Laotian church nests. He bathed with the garden hose when no one was around. His food came from the Westminster Food Pantry.

One Sunday night when Ron was sitting on the patio in front of the church building, Carey Allen invited Ron inside for the English language Bible study class. When Ron walked in, a young girl met him. Ron says, “Heather jumped into my arms and said, ‘I’ve missed you so much.’ Later I realized that was God speaking to me. From then on my life changed. I no longer had any desire for drugs. Now the church is my family.” Ron is currently training to be a lay pastor.

A member of the Thai-Laotian church provided work and a place to live for Ron and two of his homeless companions, Mark Perez and Robert Schrader. All three continue to be drug and alcohol-free and active members of the congregation. This congregation now has a special concern for changing the lives of the homeless.

39 organizing groups to share $214,000

Grants will support congregation-based community programs

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) in partnership with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Small Church and Community Ministry office, recently allocated $214,000 to 39 congregation-based community organizations (CBCOs) in urban and rural areas across the country.

They are among the hundreds of Presbyterian U.S. congregations making a difference in their local communities through CBCOs.

CBCOs are broad-based coalitions of congregations working in partnership with other community organizations that address quality of life issues such as affordable housing, public healthcare for children, living wage and public education.

Grants are provided to support training for lay leaders, pastors, middle governing bodies staff and seminarians to develop the skills for congregational-based community organizing.

“Presbyterian congregations and their leaders are working together through congregational-based community organizations with other churches and faith communities to effectively address poverty-related issues impacting their larger communities,” said the Rev. Phil Tom, associate for the PC(USA)’s Small Church and Community Ministry office. Keep reading this story.