1001 New Worshiping Communities travels to Puerto Rico with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
by Beth Waltemath | Presbyterian News Service
Through a collaboration between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and 1001 New Worshiping Communities, church planters and spiritual leaders visited Puerto Rico in June to learn about ongoing efforts to rebuild after hurricane disasters. 1001 New Worshiping Communities leaders recognized many commonalities with pastors in Puerto Rico, including the necessity of bivocational calls and a need for community engagement and the work of healing and relief.
“One of the many ways spiritual formation occurs is through relational service to others,” said the Rev. Jeff Eddings, associate for Coaching and Spiritual Formation for 1001 New Worshiping Communities. At the invitation of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Eddings and the Rev. Nikki Collins, director of 1001 New Worshiping Communities, decided to gather a group of leaders to travel to Puerto Rico to help with hurricane relief work and learn about Puerto Rico and the Presbyterian churches there in an ongoing effort to build community among leaders. “We came to listen, learn, and serve,” said Eddings. “Our trip helped us understand the challenges the local Presbyterian churches faced in their context and gave us a framework to appreciate the work that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been doing in Puerto Rico.”
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