PCA 39th General Assembly

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) General Assembly is the largest annual gathering of the denomination. Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders from the churches across the country gather to study, discuss, and decide biblical, theological, ecclesiastical and ministry issues, and programs. The agenda of the Assembly will include a wide variety of matters important to the life of the church and the progress of the gospel. As a GA commissioner or exhibitor, you must register on-line here:

GA 2011 Registration Web Page.

Additional activities of the Assembly include several worship services, committee meetings, seminars, programs for women and children, an exhibit hall, fellowship functions, and a variety of food events.

More about the meeting location.

The local PCA churches form a Host Committee who provide a warm welcome for attendees, plan the evening worship services, and organize the women and children activities, in addition to a multitude of behind the scene functions.

Visitors are invited to participate in the worship services, observe the business sessions of the Assembly, and visit the Exhibit Hall.

Living Hope Presbyterian Church

For more information on the newly renamed campus of Bethel Christian Church which meets at the University of Chicago. LHPC meet for worship Sundays at 11:30am at 1212 E 59th St at the corner of Woodlawn Ave and 59th St in Ida Noyes Hall, in the beautiful first floor Library. Sunday and Thursday evening fellowship meals are in various homes. Check the website events and calendar for details.

http://www.livinghopechicago.org/content/directions

More on Living Hope Presbyterian Church: Click here

23rd Stated Meeting | January 19, 2011

Our Stated Meeting for January 19, 2011 will be held at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. Presbyters have been sent an email with the agenda, last quarter's minutes and the request for RSVPs for lunch and business.

Location:
Spring Valley Presbyterian Church
903 East Nerge Road
Roselle, IL 60172 (map)
http://www.springvalleypres.org/
630-980-4450

Schedule:
12:00 pm - Lunch, RSVP to clerk by Wed., Jan 12 (Yes or No)
1:00 pm - Worship begins, all are welcome
2:15 pm - Business Meeting
6:30 pm - Business Adjourns

PNI Youth Camp Updates

With our plans to update the CMP website with stories from the churches and ministries we support, here is an excerpt from the PNI Youth Camp Update from Deedee Freemire:

Other news with the camp ministry is that my Assistant Director, Heather Cooper and I are in the process of getting a Board of Directors together and becoming a Non-for Profit Organization.  PNI will continue to support this ministry fully until the end of 2011 and then support it with less funds after we are established.  They are excited about the path that God is leading us on and we have their full support.  Bob Allums is not only mentoring Heather and I, he has also agreed to sit on our Board.  He has been a wonderful supporter and encourager. 

You can read more here: one page update from Deedee

Called Meeting: Wednesday, 12/8, 11:00 am

There will be a Called Meeting of Chicago Metro Presbytery on Wednesday, December 8, 11:00 – 1:00 pm, at the office of Jone Bone which is at 1 S. Wacker on the 38th floor. This location is at the intersection of Wacker and Madison. There are parking garages available in all directions from there on Madison, Franklin, Washington and Adams, all within a block or two. Please see email for content and purpose of this Called Meeting.

Haiti Mission Team Supplies

Volunteers from 4 CMP churches, a PCA church in Las Vegas, and some friends from elsewhere will be traveling to Haiti in February. We ask the churches of CMP to distribute this list of priority supplies needed (all easily available) and donate what you can. If you don’t have a traveler within your church but you have things to donate, please contact Ann Powers for drop off suggestions. Details and deadlines are on the flier. Thanks for your partnership with this mission.

Click here

Update: Haitian Christmas Project

Many thanks to the six CMP churches who have committed to providing gifts for 187 of 200 children who's names have been provided by Rev. Hector Mardy of New Hope Haitian Community Church. These children will receive gifts this holiday season in our annual outreach and mercy ministry.

There are 13 names still to be covered, if you are interested and willing to help in this way, or would like to hear more, please contact Ann Powers for more information: apowers@pcanet.org

Vision 2020 | Living Hope Presbyterian

Vision 2020 is a blueprint for seeing the church of Jesus Christ on the south-side of Chicago strengthen its foundation and stretch the boundaries of its influence as Bethel Christian Church (Presbyterian Church in America) seeks to purchase and rehab a building in a prime location to expand a critical ministry.

Read more here on Facebook

 

Because BCC is at the world-class University of Chicago, where the mind is hailed as king, but where God's truth is often ignored. Your gift will make an immediate impact in partnering with us in what God is doing on this world-shaping campus and and also in Woodlawn, one of the lowest income, highest crime neighborhoods in America. This is the front line of the battle for hearts, minds, and lives, as we bring Christ's life and light to young people who are educated on deadly streets, where teenagers literally cannot read or add 1 + 1. We are in a tug-of-war for children being pulled by drug-funded and trigger-happy street gangs and the greedy idols of sex and money.

Vision 2020 is Bethel's next step on the bridge between these two very different worlds as we become more and more God's New City within the city of Chicago, a multi-ethnic family crossing imposing boundaries between classes and cultures by the power of God and grace of Jesus. Your gift will help propel us forward to be more present and potent on this mission field.

The University campus of Bethel Christian Church is now named Living Hope Presbyterian Church. More infomation here: http://www.livinghopechicago.org/

Ministry in Asia

Paul Taylor shares this newsletter with us about the ministries in Bangladesh and Manila, here is an excerpt of the newsletter, you can read more here:


After these meetings, we traveled a couple of hours to Rangamati which is the central town for the Chakma people.  The king lives there.  It is the nicest town in the Hill Tracts.  I had not been into the town before only passed by going between Bandarban and Khagrachary.  This is the area where about 2000 have decided that they want to leave the Buddhist religion and become Christians. 

They are doing this in a very organized way.  Some key folks had the idea and decided that it would be best if a large group of them make the step at once.  So they began seeking signatures of people who would like to make that move and had 2000 people sign.  The reasons that they are giving for making the switch are:

1. Buddhism says that they are not to kill animals, but they have been doing it consistently for food, so they feel like they’re always sinning.
2. They didn’t have any way to “unload” the sin.  Buddhism offers no way.
3. They consequently had no assurance of being able to be saved.
4. And they had heard that Christianity gives answers to each of these issues. 

So they organized themselves into a committee and appealed to some Baptists to baptize them.  They were baptized.  They then began to look for someone to teach them about the Christian faith.  The Lord led them to Bijoy, one of the pastors and leaders in the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh, who offered to help them.  That was about four months ago. 

The PCB has now assigned their best missionary for at least one year, and a second fellow that is not supported by either the PCB or MTW.  Those two have moved there and are being used to disciple these young Christians. 

God is at work.  His story of grace is being written on the hearts of men.

Haitian Christmas Project

Consider supporting the 2010 Haitian Christmas Project. Click on the link for more information on the opportunity. Please email Ann Powers with specific questions about this mission.

Fact Sheet

Ann Powers

apowers@pcanet.org