Few of us are able to respond to the call to discipleship and “. . . go forth into all the world. . .” when it means traveling to foreign lands. Yet through our prayers, letters, and financial support of our Presbyterian Church (USA) mission coworkers, we are partners in their ministries.
The challenge of spreading the gospel throughout the world has been brought into sharp focus this year. A worsening global economy, civil unrest, natural and human-caused disasters, and the unrelenting assault of AIDS and malaria, have exacerbated the suffering of millions in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Peace in the Middle East has continued to elude its people and frustrate the world community. At a time of such great need, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has seen a dramatic decline in its capacity to respond. The denomination’s ability to provide financial support for mission co-workers has decreased to the point that many positions, requested by our overseas partner churches, go unfilled and retiring servants are not replaced. To respond to this critical need, the PC (USA) General Assembly Council issued Mission Challenge ’07 in the fall, sending mission co-workers throughout the denomination, including the Presbytery of East Tennessee, to describe the unmet needs in the mission field and encourage increased giving by Presbyterians. The Global Mission Committee responded to the Challenge by increasing its budgeted support for mission co-workers. In addition to on-going support for mission coworkers in six countries, the committee began support for Carlton “Cobbie” Palm (Wayne Kramer’s cousin) in the Philippines and provided an additional $1,000 for Frank Dimmock’s health ministries in southern Africa.
Several changes have occurred this year among the mission co-workers we support.
Stephen and Ruth Kaeja Cho (Budapest, Hungary) After serving many years among the Roma people in Hungary through a joint appointment by the PC (USA) and the Presbyterian Church of Korea, Stephen Cho has retired and Ruth Kaeja Cho is awaiting reassignment (possibly to the Philippines). Ruth shared the moving story of her life and work with us in a visit in February ’08. They were jointly appointed by the PC(USA) and the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea, worked on developing faith communities for the Roma people. The status of Roma in Europe resembles that of the Dalit (”Untouchables”) in India. There are estimated to be about five million Roma in Europe, with one to two million in Hungary alone.
- Douglas Dicks continues working for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East from his home in Amman, Jordan. Doug hosts visiting church groups from the US and works with church and government officials in Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli societies. He serves as regional liaison for the PC(USA) in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, including the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem. Since May of 2007 Doug has made his home in Amman Jordan.
- Frank and Nancy Dimmock are based in Lesotho in Southern Africa. Frank’s new job title is Africa Health Liaison for the PC(USA), working with partner churches on issues of HIV/AIDS, responding to the “diseases of poverty,” and helping with administrative issues and strategic planning. Nancy ministers to orphaned and vulnerable children through the Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL).
- Farris and Thelma Goodrum, in Londrina, Brazil, where Farris is professor of music and Christian education at the Theological Seminary Rev. Antonio de Godoy Sobrinho, an institution of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB). Thelma developed and directs a project to help underprivileged children with their school work. During his May ’08 visit to FPC, Farris Goodrum, now on home assignment with his wife Thelma, explained how a proposed consolidation of the seminary at Londrina, Brazil with two others, might impact his ministry of teaching and Thelma’s work with “at risk” children .
- Thomas and Judy Harvey are in the midst of a move from Singapore to England where Tom will be Associate Academic Dean of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. They were based in Singagpore where Tom lectured in systematic theology and ethics at Trinity and worked throughout the region teaching seminars that address pertinent issues facing the church and society in Southeast Asia. Judy taught English as a second language, led Bible studies and supported those recovering from breast cancer
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- Hunter and Ruth Farrell moved from Peru to Louisville, when Hunter became the new Director of World Missions. Hunter and Ruth keynoted our Mission Festival in April, telling of the positive impact of the church’s witness on a US company that is polluting the town of La Oroya, Peru, and describing the success of fair trade efforts through Partners for Just Trade in lifting over 230 artisans out of poverty.
- Carlton “Cobbie” Palm is director of spiritual formation at the Divinity School at Silliman University, founded in the Philippines by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1901. With his wife Dessa, he is active with a local organization known as Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE), whose efforts have sought to end exploitation suffered by young Filipina women and children.
- Christian Medical Institute of the Kasai (IMCK) is a story of healing which carries on the work begun by Dr. William and Effie Rule (former members of FPC) in the Congo over fifty years ago. Following a presentation by Charlotte Rule White in November ’07, and in honor of Effie Rule, members of the church and the Global Mission Committee made the first contributions toward the building of the Founders Chapel in Tshikaji, near the city of Kananga, where the Good Shepherd Hospital is located. The gift of $2939 from Endowment Fund interest, plus $3400 in members’ gifts, enabled FPC, known as the mother church of the IMCK for its long-standing commitment, to provide the challenge gift in a campaign to raise over $80,000. Speaking to the combined church school classes in March “07, the IMCK Administrator and Medical Director called FPC “the mother church of the IMCK” and thanked the congregation for its years of support. During worship a gift of $15,000 from the Trinity Campaign was presented to the IMCK to support the nursing school and provide medicines in a country beset by civil unrest, extreme poverty and disease.Through the vision of short-term mission volunteers, Beth and Bill Rule, a clinic has been built in Embangweni, Malawi, for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, a dream being realized today in part through the gifts of over $15,000 from FPC members (including $1403 from 2006 Endowment Fund interest). In August ‘07, Elaine Steele, past Chair of Global Missions traveled with the Rules to Malawi as part of a work team for the dedication of the clinic and to carry additional gifts from FPC members.
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