Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) World Mission (WM) has hired three “catalysts” to help the church engage with the three critical global issues ― poverty, reconciliation and evangelism ― around which World Mission has chosen to focus its work. .
The three critical global issues, which address the changing mission realities of the 21st century, were defined as key mission issues by WM’s global partners, mission co-workers and PC(USA) congregations through an extensive survey and feedback process completed last year.
Frank Dimmock —World Mission file photo
The three catalysts are Frank Dimmock, the Rev. Haemin Lee and Shannon Beck. They will start work this spring and will be available to speak to congregations, mission committees and presbyteries about the these issues as they network passionate Christians together to address poverty, especially as it impacts women and children, share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and work towards reconciliation in cultures of violence, including our own.
Haemin Lee —World Mission file photo
“I am excited for the level of expertise and attention that the three Catalysts will bring to these issues," said the Rev. Hunter Farrell, director of World Mission. “They will also be a key resource to help inspire, equip and connect churches and individuals who have passion and energy to work in the areas of poverty, evangelism and reconciliation. They will be the ‘catalysts’ to start a movement of Presbyterians involved in God’s mission in the world in each of these areas.”
Shannon Beck —World Mission file photo
Dimmock, the poverty catalyst, grew up in North Carolina and graduated from North Carolina State University in 1977. He has a master’s degree and completed doctoral work in international public health and epidemiology from Tulane University. He has served as a PC(USA) mission co-worker in Africa in Christian health and development since 1979. Dimmock also assists Christian Health Associations in Africa and has helped to form a continental network. He is married to Nancy Miller Dimmock and they have eight children, six of whom are adopted.
Lee, the evangelism catalyst, grew up in Seoul, South Korea and graduated from Yonsei University in 2002 He has an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Emory University focused on mission and evangelism. Lee has traveled to more than 70 countries working for the NGO Korea Food for the Hungry International. He has taught at Kumi University in Uganda and the Youth Theological Initiative at Emory and has served PC(USA) Asian, African and Hispanic pastorates as a Presbyterian minister.
The reconciliation catalyst is Shannon Beck, a graduate of Seattle Pacific University and Fuller Theological Seminary. She is an educator, singer-songwriter, poet, blogger and peace-seeker who currently serves as director of young people’s ministries at First United Methodist Church of Seattle. She has worked for peace and justice concerns in various capacities, including seven years as chair of Seattle’s Presbytery’s Peacemaking Committee and on the Peacemaking Committee of the Synod of Alaska-Northwest. She helped found the PC(USA)’s Israel/Palestine Network, has done organizing for the Washington State affiliate of the National Religious Campaign against Torture and co-wrote the 2012 “Season of Peace” for the PC(USA).
For more information, contact World Mission General Manager Greg Allen-Pickett by phone at 502-569-5353 or by email at greg.allen-pickett@pcusa.org.