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Engaging in God’s Mission
Welcome to MissionCrossroads of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)! With this site, the Equipping the Church for Mission Involvement (EMI) office seeks to bring Presbyterians together as branches of the same vine, connecting people with resources and tools for engaging with each other and with God’s mission in the world.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NRSV)

God Calls Us
Our mission is God’s mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the whole world. God invites us to collaborate with God in this mission, and calls us wherever we are, whoever we are.

"As disciples of Jesus Christ, each of us in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is sent into the world to join God’s mission. As individuals and as a church, we are called to be faithful in this discipleship. Our mission is centered in the triune God. Our mission is God-called, Christ-centered and Spirit-led. Our mission is both proclamation and service; it is the reason the church exists." -Gathering for God’s Future, p. 1.

How Do We Engage?
When we enter into mission we cross borders - geographical, socio-economical and cultural. As Presbyterians, we cross these borders by engaging in God’s mission through partnership. In partnership, we are made one by the saving love of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. “The ‘where’ and ‘how’ and ‘with whom’ of mission is God’s initiative, sovereign action, and redeeming grace. The message we are called to bear is the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.” We are called to bear the Good News by making disciples, demonstrating God’s love through worship, fellowship, prayer and service with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and by participating in God’s activity in the world through acts of compassion and justice.

"The practice of partnership guides our whole connectional church. It guides us
individually as members, officers, and pastors. It guides us collectively as
congregations, presbyteries, synods, General Assembly ministries, and related
institutions.

"In doing mission in partnership, we seek to be guided by certain principles:
1. Shared Grace and Thanksgiving.
2. Mutuality and Interdependence.
3. Recognition and Respect.
4. Open Dialogue and Transparency.
5. Sharing of Resources."

As partners in God’s mission, we know that God’s grace and love is made manifest to our brothers and sisters in other places where we may feel called to serve. Through the discipline of partnership, we know we must listen first and receive the rich wisdom of our brothers and sisters in these places. Through partnership, we are able to see the unique contexts from which we come as well as those of our brothers and sisters. We can recognize unhealthy dynamics of power and dependence, and enter into healthier relationships of “mutual service” and “mutual renewal”, recognizing God’s shared grace for us as equals at God’s table.
Presbyterians Do Mission in Partnership.pdf

Join Us to Learn and Connect!
Use MissionCrossroads to find and share resources about mission engagement and connect with other Presbyterians who are passionate about God’s mission in the world! Send messages to other members. Enter the forum to start or reply to a discussion. Add photos and videos from a mission endeavor. We hope you will join us on MissionCrossroads to get involved and nurture our connections as Presbyterians engaged in God’s mission.

• Becoming Missional through the Global Church
Becoming Missional through the Global Church.pdf

• Christians and Muslims as partners in mission
Christians and Muslims as Partners in Mission.pdf

• The Mission of the Church
Mary Mikhael, President, Near East School of Theology
missionofthechurch.pdf

• The New Face of Mission in Africa
Skit New Face of Mission in Africa.pdf

• Our Confessions – God’s Assurance
Cláudio Carvalhaes
Our Confessions God’s Assurance.pdf

• Plenary Presentation – Thursday, 22 October 2009 "Going Deeper: The Power of Presbyterian Mission in Jesus’ Way” Hunter Farrell
The Power of Presbyterian Mission in Jesus’ Way.pdf

• Reformed Principles for Social Witness, Public Responsibility and Social Justice Advocacy
Reformed Social Witness Principles.pdf

• Resources for engaging your church in world mission
Mission Resources Worksheet.pdf

Books and Articles on Mission Engagement and Partnership
• Partnership Resources Hand-out rev 2007.pdf
• Book Review -- Boundless Faith: The Global Outreach of American Churches book review_boundless faith.pdf


Mission Networks
• Guidelines for Mission Networks
These guidelines explain the definition, constituencies, staffing, services and purpose of the relationship between Presbyterian World Mission and Mission Networks. world mission.pdf
• 2009 Mission Network Meetings
Find when and where each Mission Network is meeting during 2009. To request editing of this document or addition of information email missioncrossroads@pcusa.org.2009MissionNetworkMeetings.xls
• Characteristics of Network Weavers
A link to a list of several traits that help facilitate the building of mission networks within the PC(USA) model.

Engaging in Mission
• El Poder de las Manos Vacias
Hunter Farrell examines how the mission worker should put material wealth into perspective when visiting third world countries. He reminds us that the mission worker may be the one to receive “gifts.” manos vacías.pdf
• Churches Retool Mission Trips
This article examines mistakes made by well-meaning Presbyterians on short term mission trips and presents new approaches for more meaningful missionary work. retool mission trips.pdf


Partnership
• Create a Partnership Covenant or Agreement Together
The purpose and characteristics of an effective partnership in mission is examined. create a partnership.pdf
Why Partnership-Partners as Mentors_H Farrell.pdf

The Art of Networking
Mission Networks that Work_WM Advocate Gathering.pps

How to Ask Sessions to Give to Mission
How to ask sessions.pps
It is time to rehabilitate missionary.pdf
Funding of PCUSA Mission Coworkers.pdf


Share the Contemporary Mission Story in Your Presbytery
How to get the most out of a mission speaker.pdf
how_to_connect_short_version.pdf
TALKING POINTS -- World Mission Challenge 2009.pdf

Presbyterian Church (USA) Resources for Mission Involvement
GOOGLEMEAMISSIONURLlist05-09.pdf

Rafting Together: Creative Approaches to Mission Interpretation
2009 WMG Rafting Together Crossroads 51309.pdf

Faithful and Effective Short-Term Mission
Partnership Resources Hand-out rev 2007.pdf
Please also refer to Resource Library below under the section "Engaging in Mission"

God's Mission and Our Participation
Koll WMA Theology of Mission Workshop Outline.pdf
Assessing Your Congregation's Global Mission WMA.pdf
Discerning a Congregation's Call.pdf

Encouraging Missional Churches
Encouraging Missional Churches.pps

Coming Back Home to Share: Engaging Presentations
engaging presentations.pps

Crossing Borders: Interfaith and Intercultural Engagement
Interfaith Toolkit Flier.pdf