by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service
Mission Co-worker Dr. Farsijana Adeney-Risakotta helped create the House of Authentic Sense. (Photo by Kathy Melvin)
LOUISVILLE â Economic partnerships open the door for cooperation between Christians and Muslims through the House of Authentic Sense (HAS), Indonesiaâs only fair trade co-op. Like many countries, Indonesia needs development projects that are designed to empower society, especially women, minorities and disabled communities.
HAS was created in 2015 with the goal of becoming a social entrepreneurial unit that enlists Indonesian villagers, both farmers and artists, to create, market and sell products that help communities overcome poverty and achieve social equality.
by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service
Sarah Bleile gets ready for the Wednesday lunch at Okra Abbey in New Orleans, before COVID-19 changed the way meals were served. (Contributed photo)
LOUISVILLE â Sarah Bleile joined the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program in 2019 because she was looking for a challenge.
A challenge is just what she got.
She was in the middle of her YAV year when the pandemic hit the U.S. The YAV year came to a halt, but rather than returning home, she chose to shelter-in-place at the YAV house in New Orleans so she could continue to serve as a volunteer with several YAV partner organizations.
by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service
The Rev. Mark Adams, in the red hood, begins to gather participants at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by Jenea Sanchez)
LOUISVILLE â On a cool Arizona Sunday afternoon, mission co-workers Miriam Maldonado Escobar and the Rev. Mark Adams gathered with group of Christians on the border between Agua Prieta, Mexico, and Douglas, Arizona, for a prayer pilgrimage in solidarity with the âNot Another Footâ movement to call for an end of the massive border wall spanning the entire Southern border of the United States.
âWe come here today with groups all along the border who are calling out ânot another foot,â a call to halt the continued destruction of Godâs Creation,â said Adams. âAt this border between two nations we come together as a common humanity to join our voices and to commit ourselves to working for the day when walls will not divide us and where borders will be places of encounter and not d
by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE â Next month, World Mission global partner Confronti Magazine and Study Center in Rome will launch an English-language version of its magazine called ConfrontiWorld. Confronti in Italian means âdialogue,â and ConfrontiWorld is âthe world through the dialogue.â
âConfrontiWorld will be an important educational tool for Presbyterians to learn about a variety of issues ranging from the life of reformed minority churches in Southern Europe, migration and refugees, Â interfaith dialogue and inter-religious solidarity in the Mediterranean and important geopolitical matters in the area that lies at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe,â said Luciano Kovacs, World Missionâs coordinator for the Middle East and Europe. âIt will also give the opportunity to Presbyterians to be part of a larger communication network that will focus on issues that are important to justice-s
by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service
Paolo Naso, national coordinator for Mediterranean Hope, will be a featured speaker during Tuesdayâs webinar. (Photo provided by Mediterranean Hope)
LOUISVILLE â The Office of Public Witness, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Presbyterian World Mission will offer a webinar on the migration crisis in Southern Europe from noon through 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
During the webinar, participants will learn how non-governmental organizations and churches in Southern Europe are working together to welcome refugees facing xenophobia and racism. Theyâll also learn about new life-saving efforts such as humanitarian corridors, which can save many lives now lost in the Mediterranean Sea.