Our participation in PC(USA) Mission Challenge ‘07 begins on Saturday, October 20th! Is your congregation ready?

On Sunday, Oct. 21 or 28, please use the bulletin inserts you received in the mail. Some extra copies are available at the presbytery office, or call (800) 872-3283 for additional inserts.

Our guest missionary, Ted Wright, sends the following message to us:

“Nearly 50 of us missionaries are spreading out to visit 144 presbyteries. We represent every continent and variety of work–covering the spectrum of PC(USA).

“When I come to Scioto Valley, Oct. 19-25, I want to share information about Presbyterian mission. What in the world is the church doing today? Where? Why? How? Who are your missionaries (not only the ones you know)? What is our life like? How can a local church connect?

“Using some of my own stories and experience, I’ll try to put a face on world mission. I will invite both my audience and the churches in general to build (or build upon) a relationship with a missionary of their choosing. I will have some DVDs, PowerPoints, and a table display. And, of course, I will be available to answer people’s questions.”

Mission Challenge ‘07 is the largest event of its kind ever carried out by our Presbyterian church.

You and your congregation are invited to be part of this new movement. Please make sure that your and some other members of your church attend one of the six evening gatherings:

See the complete Mission Challenge ‘07 schedule for PSV here!

Rev. Ted Wright will visit First and Second Presbyterian Churches in Portsmouth on Wednesday, October 24th. Ted and Sue Wright were appointed in July, 2005 to serve as regional liaisons for east and central Africa with special attention to Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. Their focus is on the Evangelism and Church Growth Program in southern Africa.

All those who have an interest in missions are cordially invited to be our guest(s) at Second Presbyterian Church for dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation by Rev. Wright at 7 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church is located at 801 Waller Street (corner of 8th Street and Waller Street).

We ask that you call the church office (740-353-4159) no later than Monday, October 22nd to let us know the number attending from your congregation. This will help us greatly with food preparation.

(Editor’s Note: for more information, including other churches which are hosting events, please see 2007 Mission Challenge comes to the Presbytery of Scioto Valley.)

Boulevard Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of Scioto Valley will be hosting the Reverend Matthew Doleak, a Mission to the USA partner from Ethiopia, from October 7th until November 13th.

Rev. Doleak is a father of 6. He serves as a Synod official from the Gambella region which covers the border between Ethiopia and Sudan and can boast well over 67,000 members in 122 different churches.

Matthew will be serving as a missionary to the community and congregation of Boulevard Presbyterian Church but we would like to have as many churches impacted by Matthew’s witness.

If your church has activities going on during the week or on Sunday evening that would be appropriate for Matthew to visit please contact Rev. Brett Swanson at Boulevard Presbyterian Church (rev.brett@blvdchurch.org or call 614.486.0267) Matthew has expressed interest in making contact with members of the Sudanese community and would appreciate any information that you might provide.

Gather with other Presbyterians in your area to hear the feedback from the first listening gatherings and talk about the future plans for the missional direction of the Presbytery.

Dates and Places

Saturday, October 13 - 9:30-11:00 a.m. First Presbyterian, Jackson

Sunday, October 14 - 3:00 -4:30 p.m - Central College, Westerville and First Presbyterian Church, Delaware

Saturday, October 20 - 9:30-11:00 a.m  Washington Court House and First Presbyterian Church, Grove City

Sunday, October 21 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster and Nelsonville Presbyterian Church

Saturday, October 27 - 9:30-11:00 a.m.    Brookwood Presbyterian Church, Columbus

Massive flooding on August 22nd caused major destruction in six counties in Ohio. Declared federal disaster areas, these six countied are located in Maumee Valley Presbytery. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is guiding the presbytery to organize for the long range recovery program.

If your church would like to send a mission work team to this disaster area, contact PDA Call Center, 1-866-732-6121, or the leaders of the Maumee Valley Presbytery Call Center, Lucy Russell, 1-419-260-6831, and Tami Robinson, 1-419-562-1732.

If you would like to personally volunteer to work on the recovery operations, you can register online with PDA Team Registration, www.pcusa.org/pda/register/team.jsp and note Ohio flooding.

If you or your congregation desire to send a donation, the Extra Commitment Opportunity number is ECO#DR000015 Midwest U. S. Flood Recovery. You may specify Ohio flooding.