Getting Ready For #Abide2019

It is not too late to register for the 2019 General Assembly in Des Moines, IA. You can participate in up to six different workshops, help out with local missions, hear inspiring music and sermons, have a little fun in an escape room or with the local “Good Times” committee and get a handle on what Disciples are up to across the globe.

Your registration covers the regular workshops and exhibit hall access. Children and youth alike have structured activities and there are local missions to participate in as well. You can get ready for the event with eight Bible studies that focus on the theme text of the 2019 General Assembly.

Registration: https://ga.disciples.org/registration/
If you have already registered for GA and would like to adjust you registration to add meals or change education choices, you can re-enter the registration system with your code and make those adjustments.

MissionFest! applications are still being accepted from congregational leaders. Fore more information about MissionFest! or to fill out an application, click here.

Housing Options
For housing options, visit https://ga.disciples.org/housing/ The Upper Midwest region in matching up General Assembly participants with alternative lodging stays via their website. Please Contact the regional office directly with any questions.

PSWR Leaders
The PSWR is proud to present three leaders at the 2019 General Assembly! Ruben Del Pilar will be one of the preachers, Belva Brown Jordan will be Moderator Elect and Bill Bailey will be the Parliamentarian.

Pre Assembly Trainings

DSF Discover is thrilled to provide TWO trainings will prepare you for GA 2019 Resolutions. For more information about these trainings, visit our CEU page.

Additional Workshops
If you have already registered, you may not be aware of two Sunday workshops and one on Monday that were recently opened. On Sunday, Transgender 101 and Trans People, Human Stories will be offered consecutively. On Sunday, Refugee Simulation will be offered, followed by a Q&A session with Disciples Home Missions Refugee and Immigration Ministry. On Monday in the second session, The State of Engagement in Your Church, a workshop on church management software by Blackbaud will be offered. For more information about educational workshops, click here.

Young Adults
Young Adults (ages 18-35) will have an opportunity to have some guided conversations on tough topics during the General Assembly. For conversation topics, click here.

PSWR Reception
On Monday, July 22, the Region will be hosting a Reception at 8:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Room EIC 308. Find the complete Reception Schedule here.

Post-Assembly Event
Disciples Public Presence and other justice organizations in the Church are organizing an action at the Iowa state capitol on Wednesday, June 24, around noon. Boxed lunches are available for purchase. For more details about this event, click here.

For more information about General Assembly 2019, visit https://ga.disciples.org

PSWR Welcomes Paul Turner of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Next month, our region has the opportunity to hear about what is happening in Democratic Republic of Congo.  Paul Turner has been working as Mission Co-Worker, serving with Global Ministries of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) & United Church of Christ partner, Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo (CDCC).  His role was to consult with various CDCC departments on a growing portfolio of development activities such as micro lending, agriculture, clean water, healthcare, vocational training & income generating projects.  His current work involves management consulting for a CDCC operated social enterprise selling eyeglasses to support the establishment of an eye care center at Bolenge Hospital.  He also supports the Women’s Vocational Center with recruitment & planning, and the health department’s partnership with Disciples4Water.

He will be visiting our Region May 1-31, 2019 and available to make presentations to your congregation in a variety of ways.  During this time he will be based in the LA area.  Global Ministries requests that a receiving congregation provide meals for the time he is with you and/or hospitality, as needed.  Please contact Susan Richardson (see below) right away to request a date and time during for him to present to your congregation, organization, ministry meeting, etc.  After his years serving in the Congo, he has much to convey to our Region.

Contact Susan Richardson at  kymomcat@aol.com  or (510)506-2590

From the PSWR Global Ministries Committee

Our Summer Camp Program Needs YOU!

Summer is Almost Upon Us!

The Camp Ministry Committee is so excited for summer camp and we are currently looking for volunteers!

Whether you are returning as a volunteer or you’ve never been to camp, The Camp Ministry Committee wants to prepare you to serve well by providing top notch volunteer training. Our Camp Leadership Training will take place on Saturday, June 8th, 9 am - 5 pm at Loch Leven Camp and Conference Center with guest camp expert, Jim Cain. We will cover the camp basics as well as empower you with the tools and resources to be prepared for camp in a leadership role. (Download the event flyer HERE.) All 2019 summer camp volunteers are required to attend this training day. REGISTER HERE FOR THE TRAINING

If you are interested in any of the Volunteer positions (Director, Chaplain, Keynote, Counselor, Musician, Health Care Manager, Loch Leven Programming, etc), for this year or even next winter or next summer, please take 5 minutes to fill in this application. If you know someone who has Camp or Educator experience, please send them this link as well!

Camp Leadership Application: http://bit.ly/CampLeadershipApp

For those who have never been a part of volunteer Camp Staff, here are some benefits of coming no  to Camp!

• By gaining first hand experience at camp, volunteers will foster the leadership skills that companies and other organizations are looking for. For example working as part of a team, problem solving, building communication skills, and demonstrating a strong work ethic. 

• Letters of recommendation by camp directors/leaders are sure to provide specific examples of skills that will be valued by prospective employers and/or universities.

• In addition to creating vast numbers of alumni over decades, camps draw employees and leaders from across the country and around the world, making them a great networking opportunity for connections beyond the boundaries of camp.

• Camp often provides a global experience without the expense of long-distance travel; it is not uncommon for Campers and Staff to be from a variety of places and cultural perspectives from around the US and World. 

• You get to keep any additional training you may acquire (like CPR, First Aid, and activity specialist certifications) that may also help you land a job at home or school working in a wide range of settings.

The Camp Ministry Committee is looking forward to your participation this summer! If you have any questions, please email us directly at: pswrcampministry@gmail.com

Blessings,
The Camp Ministry Committee

To learn more about the Camp Ministry Committee and it’s updated core values, click here.

Mile Marker #112: Spring's New Life

By Rev. Don Dewey and Rev. Susan Gonzales Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

“I am about to do a new thing;
 now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:19a

Driving almost anywhere here in Southern California one can’t help but notice that Spring has arrived! Thanks to all of the early rains we had the mountains and hills are alive with color and as green as they can be! It is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. Even as I walk around my yard, flowers are blooming, roses are budding, bees are buzzing, and hummingbirds are flittering here, there and everywhere!

All of these are the annual signs of nature’s rebirth. It is no wonder that the early Christian communities placed the Resurrection stories of new life in the Spring cycle. Though here in Southern California it is somewhat hard to fully appreciate the warm sunshine of Spring as much as others across the country who endured a harsher winter, we none-the-less welcome the fresh signs of new life emerging around us. 

As we travel around our Region, Susan and I are privileged to not only see the beauty of nature coming alive, but we also experience where new life is emerging amongst God’s people. We celebrate the new life happening at South Pasadena Christian Church where a new bilingual Bible Study in Spanish and English is being developed. This congregation is now tri-lingual with English, Korean and Spanish!

 We celebrate the new hope growing in our youth and young adult ministries as they take seriously the call to serve and lead in their churches. Recently, many of them participated in an Anti-Racism training designed specifically for them in order that they may be more effective and inclusive in they work to transform our churches and communities.

We give witness to new life happening in congregations that have recently called new pastors who together will create the next chapter in their faithful service: FCC Honolulu who has called Rev. Rae Karim and FCC Burbank who has called Rev. Brandan Johnson. 

We also give thanks to pastors recently ordained: Rev. Beth McQuitty and those who celebrate significant years of faithful service: Rev. Bob Bock, 50 years and Pastor Victor Ortega, 30 years!

We are grateful for the work of our Hatchery ministry who just held an amazing two-day retreat with over 30 pastors and leaders attending, becoming Spiritual Entrepreneurs. Learning skills for listening and discerning where God is calling us next in order to continue God’s mission and ministry in the world, and developing new ways of guiding the church in creative and innovative ministries to reach future generations.

Easter is just around the corner and most of our churches will be full or increased as others come seeking to experience and discover new life again. This is a wonderful time in the life of the church to once again celebrate the promise that God has the last word, and that word is LIFE! This is our hope and our joy.

In my office I have a small figurine of Saint Frances of Assisi. It always reminds me of his peace prayer that is familiar to many and so I want to share it here:

Lord, make me an instrument

of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred,
let me sow charity;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; 

and Where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand; 

To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

As we continue on our Lenten journey to Easter I hope this will be our prayer. Part of this journey is letting go of those things that keep us from fully experiencing the new life God has for us. May we know this peace and experience the beauty of Spring within anew!

Together on the journey,
Don and Susan

Rev. Angela Whitenhill Teaches Clergy How to Avoid Burnout in Ministry

“Running the Race and Finishing Strong: How to Avoid Burnout in Ministry” was a two-day seminar presented by Rev. Angela Whitenhill, Mental Health Initiatives Manager of the National Benevolent Association on Friday, March 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Co-sponsored by the Pacific Southwest Region African-American Convocation and the NBA, and held at Abundant Life Christian Church in Los Angeles, this Wellness Seminar was designed for clergy and lay leaders to consider ways to navigate clergy work/life stress and to achieve balance and wellness for the long haul of their vocation. 

It provided an opportunity for self-reflection in order to examine the unique challenges of those in ministry. Additionally, it addressed the importance of being intentional about self-care and mental health and the negative consequences we suffer when we neglect these aspects of our lives. Due to an overwhelming demand for Rev. Angela’s return, we are hoping to present this seminar again in the very near future. 

Dr. Joi Robinson, 

Seminar Coordinator