2008 Mission to the U.S.A. Program Will Host Mission Partners from the South Pacific Islands

Program Dates Are Oct. 1 through Nov. 12

Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

Mission to the USA is an opportunity for a particular congregation to host a church leader from one of these countries for six weeks as a Parish Associate on their church staff. They come to

• Educate members of participating congregations about another part of the world and the challenges facing Christians there,
• Provide a fresh perspective on the gospel of Jesus Christ,
• Help U.S. Christians acquire a deepened understanding of the global nature of Christ’s church, and
• Challenge U.S. Christians to greater faithfulness our own country.

They are not just guests or visitors. We call them “mission partners” because they are coming here as missionaries to us. As they share their stories of faith, these ecumenical partners will preach, teach, and become a part of the ministry and hearts of their host congregation, celebrating our oneness in Christ.

David Walter, Regional Liaison to the South Pacific for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) says, “These are people who live close to the land and what it provides. Vanuatu was named the “Happiest Country on Earth” by a British organization last year. This is because they use the land in such a way so as to cause minimal damage and have preserved their heritage.

“They are people who have learned to live at peace with each other. This peacefulness is not because of great governments but because their mindset is one of peace and reconciliation.

“You will find them all to be very devout. The kids in those countries know their Bibles. The churches in the villages are still the center of life in the village, much like it used to be in this country. This means that their faith permeates all that they do. Christianity is openly practiced in the islands.

“Despite the attempts to westernize the people by traders, colonists and missionaries there are a few villages in Vanuatu that live the way they must have lived 150 years ago. This will remind people here of the Native Americans and their struggles to maintain their culture.”

Two major issues the island people face are rising sea levels due to climate change and the effects of nuclear testing in the Pacific. Their denominations are challenged to work for global change so their islands and their people will survive.

For more information, visit Frequently Asked Questions About MUSA.

Click here to download an application form. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2008. For more information call or email the program coordinator, Karen Nottelmann, 616-455-4675, knottelmann@aol.com