Dear friends: September 23
As Presbyterians, we believe the church is bigger than any one congregation, community, or country. We are a connectional church—part of a global body of Christ, bound together through relationships with one another and with our mission partners around the globe.
That means international mission is not simply about sending help. It is about being in relationship: listening, learning, sharing, praying, serving, and discerning together where God is already at work. Through the Presbyterian Church (USA), we have the gift of walking alongside partners who bring their own gifts, wisdom, experiences, and faith to our shared ministry.
In the next few weeks, First Pres will have opportunities to strengthen those relationships. Representatives from our church will participate in upcoming partner conferences in Cuba and Honduras, gathering with churches and organizations with whom we share long-standing relationships. We will also have a team learning how to install a water filtration system, gaining practical skills that can be shared in partnership with communities working to provide clean water.
These experiences remind us that we are connected—not just by geography or denominational structures, but as members of one body, with Christ as our head. When one part of the body gathers, learns, serves, or celebrates, the whole body is strengthened.
We are grateful for the many ways God calls us to cross borders, build relationships, and discover what it means to be the church together. What a gift!
Peace,
Robyn Michalove
Associate Pastor of Mission & Family Ministries
