More than 500 Presbyterians gathered in St. Louis in November 1997 at the Congregations in Global Mission conference (sponsored by the Worldwide Ministries Division of the PCUSA). Participants shared their experiences and discussed the current and future directions of PCUSA global mission. During the conference, participants completed a questionnaire describing the extent and nature of their congregations' involvement in mission activities. Here are highlights of the results from this gathering.
Participants were presented with 18 different global mission activities reflecting the breadth and variety in this area and asked to indicate those in which their congregations participate. On average, each respondent indicated congregational involvement in six different activities, although the congregations of 17% of conference participants are involved in ten or more. At least half of respondents report that their congregations: occasionally have speakers or other programs about global mission (70 percent), have had individual members from the congregation travel outside the U.S. for short-term learning or service (69%), include mission concerns in the programs of the church (58%), pray for and/or financially support PCUSA mission workers serving overseas (53%), and have had groups of members serve outside the U.S. (52%).
When asked to identify the types of global mission activities in which their congregations have directly taken part or supported financially in the previous two years, four areas stood out: construction/renovation (58 percent), health and medical care (58%), disaster assistance (54 percent), and children and youth (51%).
In what areas of the world are these congregations involved? As the figure shows, all areas! The specific countries in which the largest percentages of conference participants report involvement are: Mexico (26%), United States (13%), Kenya (11%), and Guatemala (9%).
Large percentages of participants (at least 60%) reported awareness of the three PCUSA validated mission support groups: the Medical Benevolence Foundation, the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, and the Outreach Foundation. Far fewer (less than 40%) are actually involved with these groups.
Finally, participants were asked to list the ways in which involvement in global mission has influenced the congregations themselves and the communities they have served. A mix of physical, material, and spiritual changes was mentioned. The most common outcomes for the people served were: personal connections with others; improvements resulting from construction, renovation, and education projects; and evangelism/faith sharing. The most common outcomes for those serving on mission projects were: learning about other people, countries, and faiths; increased interest in mission activities; and awareness of the oneness of Christians around the globe.
Note: Because responses come from conference participants only, these findings should not be taken as representative of all PCUSA congregations. Rather, they apply only to those individuals who were involved enough or interested enough in global mission to spend the time and money required to attend this conference.
For more information about the conference or about international mission projects, contact Jo Ella Holman, Associate for International Involvement Experiences at (502) 569-5261.
Email the author: Deborah A. Bruce
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