APC Worldwide
Mission Involvement
See highlights of the recent Burma prayer vigil.
Auburn Presbyterian Church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is what is called a Unified Giving Church. We give 10% of all general fund offerings specifically to the mission general fund. Out of this, all missionaries that are sent out are supported to a greater or lesser extent. We are given the privilege, then, of choosing any of the PCUSA missionaries as a missionary with whom we develop special ties. There is a couple ministering to the Kurds in Germany who are our missionaries of record. We correspond via e-mail, receive their newsletter, pray for them every Sunday, and welcome them every several years to hear an update of their ministry.
The worldwide mission team also leads the taking of the four special offerings taken by churches of The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) each year. The Peacemaking offering (First Sunday in October – World Communion Sunday) supports peacemaking locally and around the world. The Christmas Joy offering (the Sunday before Christmas) helps retired ministers and missionaries in times of need and supports certain Presbyterian colleges. The One Great Hour of Sharing offering (on Palm Sunday) supports the Presbyterian Disaster Relief, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self Development of People (helps with small business grants so people can earn a living on their own). The Pentecost Offering (on Pentecost Sunday 7 weeks after Easter) helps fund ministry to youth at risk.
BURMA
A beloved member of our congregation, Esther Michel, died in 2000. Her husband, Bill, and her children honor her memory and that of her father who lived with them for a time by helping to lead an emphasis on looking at what is happening in Burma and doing something to help the people.
Esther was born in Burma and came to this country as a young person fleeing the Civil War there that has gone on for many years. The army of Burma, now called Myanmar (even though the people are not in favor of this name change), is murdering the citizens who are in the minority tribal groups. Esther and her father were from the Karen (pronounced Kar-in) people group. These people live along the border with Thailand. Thousands are in refugee camps. The army systematically burns their villages and kills the inhabitants. This has been going on for many years, but the world turns a blind eye toward it. The Karens are chiefly Christian. Burma is a primarily Buddhist country.
There is a group called The Good Life Club that is working with the people still hiding in the jungles of Burma trying to survive. The Good Life Club comes from John 10:10 where Jesus promises abundant life. Those helping the children on the run, hiding with their families in the jungles of Burma, are trusting for a better life for all of them. Auburn Presbyterian Church is collecting items like vitamins for infants, children, and adults as well as other needed items to be shipped to this group. Another chief aim of the Worldwide Mission Team that is supporting this emphasis is to spread the information about the situation in Burma so there will be enough of a response that the media and people of power will take note of it and do something to stop the killing.
Please pray:
- For God’s light of truth and love to penetrate every part of Burma.
- For freedom and lasting peace for the whole of Burma.
- For justice and the desire within all those in leadership to work for the good of everyone they represent.
- For relief teams of all ethnic-groups to be trained and sent to give help, hope, and love to the oppressed.
- For friends around the world to stand up for the people of Burma.
- For the restoration of democracy, ethnic rights and freedom for all political prisoners.