Featuring a mix of interviews and video presentations, members of Assembly were encouraged by reports of how God is at work in diverse ways across the globe, hearing from delegates from partner churches and organisations in South Sudan, India and the Middle East & North Africa.
Opening the afternoon session, Council for Global Mission Secretary, Rev. Uel Marrs said, “God is constantly at work in His world today, doing new things, making a way where humanly we cannot see one, pouring out life-giving streams in the deserts. This afternoon we would like to explore with some of our guests from partner churches and agencies the life-giving streams that are flowing through new initiatives they are witnessing, sometimes in the most adverse and challenging of wastelands.”
He also recounted the story of a young woman he met in Lebanon, who had been attending university in Damascus before the war forced her to flee. “In coming to the church for help in Lebanon, she began to feel torn between her Muslim traditions and hearing about Jesus for the first time. Very slowly, she dared to begin to talk to God as one who was personal, who knew and loved her, beginning to realise that as she asked Him questions, He was answering!” Rev. Marrs explained.
Talking about South Sudan, Rev. Marrow said that, “The situation is horrible. The people have suffered greatly because of the war. Many are starving, many have tried to leave the country, but due to closed borders in neighbouring countries, now find themselves internally displaced,” he explained.
“Most churches are found in the rural areas of South Sudan, in the worst affected areas. The church works to bring hope to people in the midst of the conflict, to try to bring peace and reconciliation. We are grateful that the church is trusted by people, as we seek to work through the three pillars of advocacy, providing a neutral forum in which talks could take place, and bringing about reconciliation.”
Responding to a question about what members of PCI could be praying for, in seeking to support its partner church in South Sudan and Sudan, Rev. Marrow responded, “Prayer is a vitally important tool. Pray for peace for our country, for an end to conflict, for reconciliation. But the church is also a voice for the voiceless, and equally important is the need to provide food and resources, to provide relief for the hungry, the displaced and the suffering.”
India
During the presentation, members of Assembly also heard from Rev. Liz Hughes, who summarised the encouraging work of the Church of North India (CNI), particularly in the Gujarat Diocese.
Highlighting the long relationship between PCI and CNI, Rev. Hughes reminded the Assembly of one of the first actions in 1840 of the newly formed General Assembly, which was to commission Rev. Alexander Kerr and Rev. James Glasgow for missionary service in India.
“Now our partnership takes a different form – as the church in Gujarat grows while PCI may be shrinking in number, we find that we have a great deal to learn from the church in Gujarat today,” she continued.
Summarising the encouragement PCI has received from the ministry of CNI in Gujarat, she drew attention to the youthful and sacrificial leadership of the church, the growth of the church, and the encouraging mission of the church in reaching out to people with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Middle East & North Africa
The afternoon’s presentation also focused on the work of SAT 7 in the Middle East & North Africa, through an interview with Dr. Terence Ascott, SAT 7’s International CEO. Talking about the slowly changing culture in the Middle East, he explained how “the rise of ISIS has shaken faith in religion.”
“The ministry of SAT 7, in broadcasting Christian television programmes throughout the region, has taken advantage of the new era of satellite television, where we now can speak to people in their homes without censorship. …In Saudi Arabia, a country where apostasy is illegal and converts away from Islam can face beheading, over 2 million people watch SAT 7 broadcasts, and allow their children to watch SAT 7 kids programming.
“These are not so much stories of streams in the desert, but rivers. …The church in the Middle East & North Africa is growing. Maybe not in a visible way, but I am sure that within the next decade, we will have some real surprises as the church becomes visible,” he concluded.
The Council for Global Mission is responsible for developing mission overseas, including developing partnerships with Churches and sending personnel to serve in mission fields beyond Ireland. Its report and accompanying resolutions will go before the General Assembly today at 4pm.
Most of the public sessions will be streamed live via this website. All public session proceedings can also be followed via live Twitter feed @pciassembly using the hashtag #PCIGA18.
Details of each day’s business of the 2018 General Assembly can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/GA18 along with the resolutions and reports before the General Assembly contained in the Blue Book. The General Assembly closes tomorrow, Friday, 8th June.