Dear Friends,
As you know, we will celebrate the bicentennial of First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood NJ in 2023. As we prepare to mark 200 years of faithful ministry in this place, the Mission, Peace, and Social Righteousness Team (MPSRT) was given the task of recommending a new mission project to be launched in 2023.
Toward that end, the MPSRT twice met with representatives of the Outreach Foundation for the purpose of exploring possibilities for an international mission project. The stated mission of the Outreach Foundation is engaging followers of Christ for his work in the world, and its stated priority is helping the church live out its missional calling.
Since a number of First Pres members have roots in Syria and Lebanon, a mission partnership through the Outreach Foundation with a congregation (or congregations) within the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (Presbyterian) would seem to be a natural fit.
During one of our conversations with the Outreach Foundation, I was invited to participate in a mission trip to Lebanon and Syria – scheduled for October 11 - 25. And our Session has given its blessing for me to participate.
My purpose in going on the mission trip will be to get a sense of what a partnership with a Syrian or Lebanese congregation might look like by meeting and getting to know pastors and church leaders and by learning about their ministries. I will be visiting Syrian congregations and ministries in Latakia, Aleppo, and Damascus.
Below you will find links to the Outreach Foundation Home Page as well as its Middle East Page. If you browse the website, you will notice that this is a very Presbyterian organization, which is passionate about doing God’s work all over the world.
Please keep me in your prayers, requesting safe travel and a fruitful visit. Thank you.
Grace and peace,
Bruce