Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church Beholding God, Pursuing Godliness, Proclaiming Christ.

Presbyterian Missionary Union Update

It is the hottest day of the summer in Cincinnati, the very atmosphere is muggy. We walked outside last night and Bonnie said, "Why do people pay to go to a sauna?"

The yearly meeting of the full Presbyterian Missionary Council, began Wednesday morning in the gym of the Grace Bible Presbyterian Church. Pastors and elders, all members of the council, from Florida, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Alberta, Canada, and Washington were in attendance.

Reports were received from the President, the Reverend Morris MacDonald, and the Field Director, Dr. Len Pine.

No missionaries were on hand this year, but elaborate reports are submitted from each missionary and reviewed by the board. One new missionary was received and three church plants, in various stages of development were reviewed. The plant in Idaho was approved pending action on the part of the NW Presbytery. We look forward to seeing this work up and running before the end of the year.

We received reports from Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Bolivia.

A revamping of the PMU day to to day operations was reviewed and adopted as well.

The board, with joy, approved the marriage of the Rev. Mark Baldwin to Wiwin Sunarto of Singapore and Dr. Pine will be traveling to Cambodia to perform the ceremony on October 22, 2010.

The council received a detailed report on the Team Timothy to Bolivia and considered the next team outreach--to Cambodia.

The council has more opportunities than ever before, but due to financial restraints was forced to reduce its 2011 budget by more than $25,000.00.

This the council 25th year of operation and though expenses have been cutback, activity has not. The board is implementing new ways to do its work to remain lean and productive. More missionaries are being applying, international training is continuing, church plants are being developed, and new works explored.

You can read the Olympia BPC's take of the meeting here.