HERE’S A STORY ABOUT THE NUMBER This is the number of African American Teaching Elders (Pastors) we had in the PCA in 2015. At that time we had 4,784 Teaching Elders total. We didn’t even break 1%. (In addition, only 10% of this number represents Korean/Korean American and .8% Latino TEs.) This fact is what
47
JDOYDQL]HG PH WR DFWLRQ GUDIWLQJ WKH Č´UVW LWHUDWLRQ RI what became the PCA Unity Fund. I was motivated for our GHQRPLQDWLRQ WR UHVHPEOH WKH &KXUFK LQ KHU JORULČ´HG VWDWH DV described in Revelation 7:9, â€œâ€Śa great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne‌â€?
We have only 55 African American Teaching Elders in the PCA right now. This number means that the status quo is not working. It’s a call for a paradigm shift – a redemptive paradigm shift.
55
41
Because
of
the
PCA’s
Unity
Fund,
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seminary tuition subsidy recipients are FXUUHQWO\ JHWWLQJ ȴQDQFLDO DQG PHQWRULQJ help to become Teaching Elders.
And
they’re not just African American. There are Asian
American
and
Hispanic
American
recipients as well, meaning that as new as the Unity Fund is, it is already making a redemptive paradigm shift.
THE FUND IS STILL IN ITS INFANT STAGES, AND WE DESIRE TO DO MUCH, MUCH MORE. 2019 marks the first year that full-time development work will be done to realize the unity fund’s potential for the gospel. Let’s all pray for God to bless us and provide funding for us to continue this gospel initiative!
UNITY FUND PROCESS 5 FUNDING PLANKS $200,000 Primary Annual Budget $5M Endowment
SEMINARY TUITION SUBSIDIES TO APPROVED REFORMED SEMINARIES GENERAL ASSEMBLY SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENABLE PRESENT MINORITY RULING AND TEACHING ELDERS TO ATTEND GA AS COMMISSIONERS SALARY SUBSIDIES FOR CHURCHES/CHURCH PLANTS TO HIRE A MINORITY TEACHING ELDER FOR TWO YEARS GRANTS FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH TO EXPLORE THE ROLE THAT MINORITY REFORMED THEOLOGIANS/PASTORS HAVE PLAYED IN THE PAST SUPPORT FOR MINORITY SPIRITUAL LEADERS FOR MINISTRY WITH RUF, MTW, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, AND COUNSELING
RELATIONAL NETWORK
Relational Network
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Connecting recipients to recruit, help educate, and train promising candidates for ordination and other ministries. Financial Support Providing the funding necessary to JLYH TXDOLȴHG PLQRULW\ OHDGHUV WKH
HIGH STANDARDS
resources and tools they need to thrive in the PCA. High Standards Upholding the PCA’s strict standards to qualify as Ruling and Teaching Elders to avoid compromising quality for quantity.
TARGET ETHOS
To move toward resembling the Church in her glory: “…behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…” Revelation 7:9
To find new and/or deeper ways to love our neighbors as ourselves: “…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39
COMMISSION
To expand our ability to take the gospel to all the people living in our country: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19
https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift2/?giftid=AE094E8D4BE44C3 Please consider donating online or by mail to Mission to North America PO Box 890233 Charlotte, NC 28289-0233
with the designation “PCA Unity Fund.”
www.pcamna.org/unity-fund
REV. SCOTT BRIDGES PCA Unity Fund Development Coordinator
sbridges@pcanet.org 301.974.7935