INTERNATIONAL MISSION

International Mission

The International Mission Committee envisions Immanuel as the one Body of Christ, undivided by race, culture, nationality, social class or economic status. We want to build relationships with other cultures in which we meet one another as equals and we learn from one another.

October 21, 2015:  Click here to watch a video on Students Helping Honduras; click here to read a letter from an Immanuel member regarding her upcoming trip to Honduras to set up a medical clinic assisting those in need of basic medical/dental care.

September 17, 2015: Click here to read a letter from Partner for Surgery discussing the positive impact of IPC's donations!

Values

  • We believe international educational and cultural exchange further ensures long-term relationships and understanding.
  • We believe if people can better understand other cultures, they are more tolerant and accepting of differences.
  • We believe that greater understanding between individuals and peoples, worldwide, reveals universal values and aspirations.
  • We believe we should express Immanuel’s tradition of social compassion through support for organizations that share our values.

 

InternationalMission-VolunteerOpps

We Do International Mission through:

Education

We offer cultural interchange in which the congregation can learn and share experiences with other cultures:

  • For adults, we offer lectures and discussions during the education hour in the
  • Current Issues class and special congregational forums on topics of global interest.
  • For senior high youth, we offer opportunities to participate in global mission trips as well as PCUSA-sponsored mission conferences in the U.S.
  • For children, we offer classroom activities through Immanuel’s Incredible Quest (IIQ) that focus on mission work and collections to provide support through such organizations as Heifer, the Copprome Orphanage in Honduras and Partners for Surgery in Guatemala.

Mission Trips

The Committee has coordinated trips to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru and is evaluating future trips to South Africa and Brazil. Since many in our congregation will not be able to travel, we encourage participation through in-house collection drives to involve as many as possible.

Partnership Development

Since 2004, we have either sent a group to Moyobamba, Peru or individuals from the Moyobamba Presbyterian Church have been hosted by our members and guests of Immanuel. In 2011-2012, we worked with and through Lutheran Support Services to sponsor an Iranian refugee family who has relocated and settled in Northern Virginia.

If you are interested in serving on our committee or would like to recommend an organization, please contact Bev Merson or contact the church office for further information.

Here are brief statements about the PC(USA) Missionaries IMC has designated for Session Support this year:

Mark Hare & Jenny Bent (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/hare-mark/) Haiti & Dominican Republic - Marc assists a Haitian grassroots movement (Mouvman Peyizan Papay - MPP) whose goal is to help small farmers throughout Haiti increase food production and improve their lives. His wife Jenny has a ministry with Haitians in the Dominican Republic helping improve health conditions in company towns largely populated by Haitian sugarcane workers. Her ministry extends to seeking better relations between Haitian workers and the Dominican community.

Rev. Tim and Marta Carricker (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/carriker-timothy-and-marta/) Brazil - Tim and Marta help the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB) expand its mission outreach. Tim's work involves development, teaching, writing and consulting. Marta provides pastoral support to PC(USA) groups visiting IPIB outreach ministries.

Dennis and Maribel Smith (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/smith-dennis-and-maribel/) Argentina - Dennis serves as the PC(USA) regional liaison to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. He works to strengthen PC(USA) relationships with historic mission partners.  Maribel serves in ministry in the home and continues volunteer work treating post-traumatic stress and exploring alternatives to violence. IMC also helps fund Dennis and Maribel's programs directly.

Rev. Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson  (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/armstrong-sara-and-russell-edmondson/) Peru - Sara and Rusty serve in Peru as delegations and partnership coordinators. They host PC (USA) delegations and work with partner churches. They serve at the invitation of the Evangelical Presbyterian and Reformed Church of Peru and the Peruvian Evangelical Church.

Burkhard Paetzold (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/paetzold-burkhard/) Germany - Burkhard is PC(USA) regional liaison for Eastern and Central Europe and facilitator of work with the Roma people. He helps connect Presbyterians in the USA with partner churches and programs in the area which still suffers the effects of 50 years of Nazi and then Communist dictatorship.   Much of his ministry is with the Roma people who for centuries have faced poverty and discrimination.

 

InternationalMission-OrganizationsWeSupport

International Organizations We Support

Through Immanuel’s benevolence budget and our annual church auction we have been able to disburse funds and sponsor drives for needed goods for those with whom we are in partnership and have developed a trusted relationship.

KENYA EDUCATION FUND (http://kenyaeducationfund.org) – Provide disadvantaged students in Kenya, and their schools, with support and educational resources so that they may improve their communities and break the cycle of poverty in Kenya.

PRESBYTERIAN FRONTIER FELLOWSHIP (http://www.pff.net) – As part of God’s mission to the world, invite believing communities to engage people groups where the good news of Jesus and his kingdom is not yet known.

THE OUTREACH FOUNDATION (http://www.theoutreachfoundation.org) – Engaging Presbyterians and global partners in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

PARTNER FOR SURGERY (http://partnerforsurgery.org) - To connect patients in need of surgical care with the international volunteer triage and surgical teams that travel to Guatemala, and to educate and empower rural Guatemalans to advocate for vital health care services on their own behalf

GENOCIDE WATCH (http://genocidewatch.net) – Predict, prevent, stop and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder. We seek to raise awareness and influence public policy concerning potential and actual genocide. Our purpose is to build an international movement to prevent and stop genocide.

5 TALENTS (http://www.fivetalents.org) – Fight poverty, create jobs and transform lives by empowering the poor in developing countries through innovative savings and microcredit programs, business training and spiritual development.

STUDENTS HELPING HONDURAS (http://ceciskids.org) – End extreme poverty and violence in Honduras through education and youth empowerment.

PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT (http://partnersindevelopment.org) – Strives to help impoverished communities obtain independence and whole life improvement.

GLOBAL CAMPS AFRICA (http://www.globalcampsafrica.org) – Changes the lives of South Africa’s vulnerable children and youth by providing HIV/AIDS prevention education and training through high impact residential and day camp experiences and continuing education, equipping young people with the life skills that will support them in becoming safe and productive adults who have hope for the future.

SAN LUCAS CLINIC (MOYOBAMBA)– Established in 1866 the San Lucas clinic seeks to improve the quality of life of the nearby rural population by teaching and/or providing sustainable developmental processes which address deficient sanitation conditions, poor dietary and hygiene habits, unsafe living conditions and the need for environmental preservation.

ANNIE SOPER SCHOOL (MOYOBAMBA) - A private school established in 1990 the Annie Soper school strives to offer a high standard of grade and high school education based on a Christian worldview and available to both those inside and outside the Moyobamba faith community and particularly the poor.

HEART FOR MOLDOVA (http://russianchurchdc.org/ministries/heart-for-moldova) – Assist in helping orphans with their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Also, open the first Christian orphanage in Moldova.

PLOWSHARES INSTITUTE (http://plowsharesinstitute.org) – Mediation, consulting and facilitation efforts involving international conflict resolution.