This blog post, written by Ashley H. Hostetter, Ruling Elder of Beulah Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, was originally used as a Minute for Mission. Whoever decided to make the Pentecost Offering a youth-focused gift really knew what they were doing. I can think of no better metaphor for a child’s potential than fire. A… Read more »
June 30, 2020
Pentecost Offering Sparks a Flame
This blog post, written by Ashley H. Hostetter, Ruling Elder of Beulah Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, was originally used as a Minute for Mission. Whoever decided to make the Pentecost Offering a youth-focused gift really knew what they were doing. I can think of no better metaphor for a child’s potential than fire. A… Read more »
Watch and download Matthew 25 – The church is not a building The work of the Special Offerings testifies to the idea that “the Church” is not a building, but something that arises from action. For the church to be the Church, we must open the doors to those in need — an understanding that… 
Right Here, Right Now Rev. Dr. David Gambrell spends of plenty of time with young people. He is a father of two daughters, he volunteers to teach confirmation classes at Highland Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky and he was one of the youth leaders who preached at the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium. He says Triennium… 
From Northern Ireland to Nashville Rev. Ashley McFaul-Erwin would not likely be a pastor for the Presbyterian Church today if she’d stayed in her homeland of Northern Ireland, and especially if she had never found the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. From Northern Ireland to the U.S. seems like quite a big leap, but it’s… 
Guest post by Clara Hare-Grogg, 2019-2020 Young Adult Volunteer The Philippines, where I served as a Young Adult Volunteer until being evacuated due to the global pandemic, is acutely vulnerable to disasters like volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and floods. Even everyday weather is notoriously unpredictable. The ability to deal with the unexpected has therefore embedded itself… 
Valued in this moment When Rev. Dr. David Gambrell was asked to speak at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT) last year, he knew it would be both challenging and extremely personal. “Not many preachers have the opportunity to address several thousand teenagers,” he says. “So I did this with a healthy dose of humility, fear… 
Guest post by Karl Graham, Westwood First Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH “Start children off on the way they should go and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 This is one of the scriptures that underpins our relationship with one of Westwood First Presbyterian Church’s longest-standing mission partners:… 
During this time of uncertainty and social distancing, engaging the children of your congregation with the four churchwide Special Offerings has never been more important. There are numerous ways children can connect with the Pentecost Offering, especially considering this Offering celebrates how God’s Spirit works in the lives of young people. We have a number… 
Making connections The second grader that Susan Byrne tutors at Willow Brook Elementary holds her hand the whole time they are together, working on building his reading skills. Can you just imagine how wonderful that connection must feel for both of them? “My little guy is just so delighted to have an adult paying extra… 
#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020, believing that generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. We are encouraging congregations to consider a #GivingTuesdayNow campaign for the Pentecost Offering, so that we can continue to support our young…