UCC Synod delegates commemorate 200 years of mission

From Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>
Date Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:40:02 -0700

Synod delegates commemorate 200 years of mission


Written by Diane Weible and W. Evan Golder
July 4, 2011
General Synod 28 marked the end of two years of celebrating the 200th anniversary of America's first foreign missionary society by showing delegates a special video, "200 Years of Mission," and planting a crepe myrtle tree at First United Church of Tampa.
In addition, a time line display in the exhibition hall traced the history of mission from the famous "Haystack Meeting" in 1806. Then, five students at Williams College, Massachusetts, took shelter under a haystack during a rainstorm. Joining in prayer, they pledged themselves to volunteer in mission.
That led to the formation in 1810 of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission, a historic predecessor to Wider Church Ministries.
The video featured seven young adults involved in mission today: Charu Vijayakumar and Betsy Sturbens, two missionary interns working with the Young Adults Service Program; Max and Richard Brooke, twin brothers who traveled around the country documenting volunteers working to help others; Ellen Channel, a missionary in Durbin, South Africa; Aaron Wiggins, a missionary in Fiji; and Patrick Bentrott, a missionary in Haiti.
"That vision of mission initiated 200 years ago by five imaginative young people is carried proudly forward by young people in this church today," said Synod Moderator Jim Robertson. "Imagine what's possible for the next 200 years."