Mission Conference Day of Prayer Open to Public

The public is invited to attend the New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) Day of Prayer from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 19, in the Witherspoon Room of the McKelvey Campus Center on the Westminster College campus.

The Day of Prayer, a long-standing tradition for the conference staff in preparation for the week's events, is expanded this year in response to a new spark of mission fervor.

At a World Mission consultation in Dallas, an "Invitation to Expanding Partnership in God's Mission" was signed by all 64 mission leaders attending. In conjunction, the Presbyterian Church (USA) World Mission Unit has retooled to become more responsive to grassroots mission efforts (http://www.pcusa.org/worldmission/). The plan is to increase the number of full-time missionaries from 196 to 215 in 2009.

The Rev. Dr. Joan Gray, immediate past moderator of the PC(USA), will lead the Day of Prayer and will be joined by the Rev. Dr. Donald Dawson, NWMC director, and the Rev. Linda Ruby. The Lord's Supper will be celebrated at 11 a.m.

Dawson said, "The mission initiators at the Dallas meeting committed to help move the PC(USA) forward to greater mission involvement. The shared commitments in this statement begin 'As we move forward together in God's mission, we commit ourselves to calling the church to ongoing intercessory prayer for God's mission...' This Day of Prayer is one of the efforts that NWMC has made as part of our commitment."

"Prayer is the most important thing we do in our service to God," Dawson continued. "Prayer prepares us to be used by God and opens the blessings of God upon all we do. Again and again NWMC leaders have seen the power of prayer and can testify to the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of individuals and the influence and vitality of the conference."

"We hope many will join us this year to seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the conference and in all the world," Dawson added. "We need everyone's prayers joined with the NWMC staff to seek after a new day in Presbyterian mission involvement. Even if you cannot be present, we invite you to pray with us during this time for God's work in the world."

Contact Dawson at (412) 362-5610 ext. 2149 or e-mail ddawson@pts.edu for more information.