Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey

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Pastor's Pulse

by Paul Leggett, Pastor

Our Sixtieth Annual Missions Conference

May 2012

Easter is the foundation for Missions.  In all four gospels the message that Jesus has been raised from the dead is followed by a commission from the Risen Lord to take the gospel in word and deed to the entire world.  Each gospel has a slightly different variation but they all proclaim the same truth:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” – Matthew 28:19
“Go into the all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” –         Mark 16:15
“Thus it is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations” – Luke 24:46-47
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you” – John 20:21
This year we are celebrating our sixtieth annual Missions Conference.  We have been told that we have the longest running annual Missions Conference in the Presbyterian Church USA.   Each year however, the conference is new in that it presents fresh challenges and opportunities.  We are presently committed to supporting over thirty missionaries and mission causes.  Missions, however, involves participation.  This summer we are sending a group to Joplin, Missouri, to help with Tornado relief there.  This month we are also continuing to host a Saturday night dinner for MESH (Montclair Emergency Support for the Homeless).  Our missionaries in Peru, Dorothy and Alejo Quijada, were instrumental in a number of people from Grace Church going to Pisco, Peru, more than once to help with earthquake relief there.  I will be going to Pisco next month to lead a pastors’ conference.
On Sundays, April 29 and May 6, we will be having two outstanding preachers.  On April 29 we will have with us one of our local missionaries, the Rev. Jupiaci Gomes, pastor of a Portuguese speaking church in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  The following Sunday we will welcome the Rev. David Loleng, Associate for Evangelism for the Presbyterian Church USA General Mission Council.   Rev. Loleng is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and author of the Engage Online Training which assists churches in faith sharing, disciple-making and missional ministry.  Following the 11:00 a.m. service on May 6 we will have a special Missions lunch in the Fellowship Room.  In addition several of our missionaries including Bob and Judy Ambrosius and Tim and Naomi Cowley will be with us.
Plan to be with us for this exciting and stimulating week.