Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of stories about congregations engaged in significant outreach and evangelism ministries, reflecting the General Assembly’s commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide.” ― Jerry L. Van Marter

Brentwood First Presbyterian Church in Brentwood, TN, was a dying church, so having a pastor with a primary job as an oncologist probably wouldn’t be a concern.

That’s what the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee thought. It didn’t expect much and had left the church to fade away on its own.

“It was a dying church for years,” said Phil Leftwich, Middle Tennessee’s executive …

Editor’s note: A memorial service was held July 7 in Westfield, NJ, for Bill Forbes, a much-loved church leader who died June 30 after battling pancreatic cancer for several years. A mainstay at General Assemblies for more than 30 years, Forbes wrote the following excerpted reflection last summer during the 218th General Assembly in San Jose, CA. — Jerry L. Van Marter

Pancreatic cancer has assisted me, indeed it has endowed me, with a mandate to re-order my priorities. I don’t “sweat the small stuff” nearly as much as I used to!

Prayer shapes and guides my life more than …

If you happen to become acquainted with Robert W. James a verse from the book of Psalms may come to mind: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye Lands.”

James, who prefers the name Bob, loves music, singing, and helping people — he is a fortunate man to have found a way to combine all three of these virtues in his life.

Since his retirement in 2004, as Title III grants program administrator for Fayetteville State University, James admits that life has not slowed down very much. He is an elder at College Heights Presbyterian Church, where he …

Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of stories about congregations engaged in significant outreach and evangelism ministries, reflecting the General Assembly’s commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide.” — Jerry L. Van Marter

Sometimes we are shocked when we get a good dose of reality, when we see what is really happening around us and realize it’s not what we thought it was at all.

This was the case for North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.

In 2003, Atlanta was identified by the FBI as one of 14 U.S. cities with the highest rates of children …

In an amphitheater by a placid lake on the Westminster College campus, nearly 2,000 people were at prayer last week -- as others have been every summer since 1906 -- about how God might call them to preach the Christian gospel to people of another culture.

Hundreds of veterans of the New Wilmington Mission Conference have given their lives to full-time service as missionaries. Those who served short-term or worked behind the scenes to support missionaries "would be in the thousands and thousands," said the Rev. Donald Dawson, director of the conference, which is related to the Presbyterian Church (USA). …

HUNTSVILLE, AL — On Sept. 19, North Alabama Presbytery will mark the retirement of longtime Presbyterian leader, the Rev. John Lorrits Herndon III.

Herndon, who will retire as pastor of Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Huntsville after 24 years, has served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at all levels. He has also been a powerful witness in civic affairs in Huntsville.

In addition to the banquet, retirement festivities will include an ice cream social on Sept. 17, a festival of music on Sept. 18 and worship on Sept. 20.

ANCHORAGE, AK — Yukon Presbytery is getting ready for the 50th anniversary celebration …

The July meeting of the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns was a busy one.

In addition to meeting in small work groups and hearing from several presenters, the committee focused on crafting a presentation of its own — to representatives from the Advisory and Advocacy Review Team of the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC).

That presentation came on July 18, the end of the three-day meeting. ACWC answered 15 questions put forth by the review team, presenting the answers to representatives from the team. 

The questions largely focused on the role of advisory and advocacy committees. They were also put …

The 15-month-old grandson of longtime Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders Manley and Ann Olson of St. Paul, MN, died July 17 after a tragic accident in Duluth, MN.

Sam, the Olsons only grandchild, died after becoming entangled in a venetian blind cord while in a porta-crib.

Services were held July 24 at Christ Episcopal Church in Woodbury, MN.

Notes may be sent to Ann and Manley Olson, 1974 W. Summer St., St. Paul, MN 55113-5550.

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The Rev. Jerry L. Cannon, pastor of C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, has been named church specialist in the …

Throughout Ciera Minor’s young life, role reversals have been the rule rather than the exception.
                 
Prior to entering the foster care system, Minor was raised in an unstable household where both parents were addicted to drugs and alcohol and were rarely at home. A child herself, Minor became parent to her three younger siblings.

“Being the oldest, I took it upon myself to take care of them,” said Minor. “I pretty much did everything a mom would do, except there was one difference. I was eight.”

Because she was already functioning in that capacity, the young student also knew …

When asked why peacemaking is an important part of the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Jo Lucas pauses thoughtfully.

“The work of social justice is peacemaking,” she said. “Without justice there can be no peace. Without committing our lives to that I see no connection to Jesus.”

Lucas is the chair of the Mission and Social Justice for the Presbytery of Ohio Valley. Along with the other committee members, she began reading books by the Rev. Mitri Raheb, general director of the International Center of Bethlehem.

According to its Web site, the ICB is an ecumenical institution …