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The Presbytery of Huntingdon
Pennsylvania
Huntingdon Presbyterians pause in their work of gutting a house during a mission trip to New Orleans. Photo by Doug Friant.
"You must be Christians.” Something other than the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance T-shirts identified the members of the Presbytery of Huntingdon as Christians while they worked in the devastation in New Orleans. Thirty-eight men and women from ten churches gathered to live out their faith by cleaning up yard debris, cutting tree limbs, removing stumps, cleaning furniture, and removing drywall, insulation, and flooring from homes damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Ranging in age from 14 to 80, their faith showed through willingness to do whatever their brothers and sisters needed to rebuild shattered lives and dreams. They came together as a group committed to share God’s love with the people of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in tangible and concrete ways, stepping out in faith to make a difference in people’s lives, and grow in faith and awareness of God.
As they met the people of New Orleans at worksites and in grocery stores, their gratitude was overwhelming. “You must be Christians” they were told again and again. The Rev. Doug Friant said that to be able to share hope with folks who are at the end of their own resources was a gift to all those who participated. These small churches came together to do what few of them could have managed on their own and, in faith, experienced the depth and breadth of God’s gracious love in Christ Jesus.
The Presbytery of Huntingdon has 50 churches with 6,648 members. Camp Krislund is within the bounds of the presbytery.
Presbytery Staff
Rev. K. Joy Kaufmann, general presbyter
Marie Carlson, office assistant
Elder Elizabeth Armstrong, treasurer
Elder Joann Kimmel, mission treasurer
Rev. Lynn L. Illingworth, pastoral care consultant
Elder Dr. Virginia F. Rainey, stated clerk
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Michelle Avery, GAC
Karen Babik, BOP
Gracious and giving God, we wonder at times what difference we few can make in a world so large and so broken. Fill us with your grace that we may continue to see beyond ourselves to be your ambassadors, to take steps outside our comfort zones, and to respond to your call to heal your world in whatever ways we can. In Jesus’ name and through his grace, we ask this. Amen.
Ps. 46 or 97, 147:1–11
Ps. 27, 93, or 114
Isa. 52:3–6
Rev. 2:1–7; John 2:1–11
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