Moving Forward
in Missions in the 1990s

The last decade at Central has been an exciting one for missions. In addition to the consistent support and care of our missionaries on the field, both locally and internationally, there have been a number of ways that Central has stepped out in new directions of faithfulness.

One significant direction was the Session's 1993 recommitment to a Missions Priority. Part of the fruit of that recommitment was to increase the missions budget to 1/3 of the total budget by the year 2000. It also included the provision that 10% of any capital campaign would go toward local and international missions. A small sampling of the fruit from this commitment includes the funding of new missionaries (like Karen Duncan) as well as a New Testament translation project and a Habitat for Humanity house in Baltimore.

Central also entered into a number of new partnerships this decade. One of these was the development of our sister church relationship with the Independent Presbyterian Church of Ipiranga, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While this is not just a "missions" relationship, it has led to cooperation in ministry and a beneficial exchange of people and ideas for both congregations since 1992. A second partnership involves our 1995 adoption of the (deleted) of Burma (Myanmar) as our Unreached People Group, who were visited by Ron Scates and elder George Pattee in 1997. We are now working in partnership with missionaries and other churches to reach the (deleted-group-name) with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In addition to these, Central continues to send its members, both youth and adult, on short term mission projects around the world. Destinations have included Mexico, Baltimore, Canada, Jamaica, Haiti, and Romania. The most recent mission team to Romania had participants that spanned the ages of 10 to 81, and included a family of four. In addition, members have been sent individually to more countries than could possibly be named.

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Finally, mention should be made of children and missions at Central. Here we have seen the development of multi-generational missions experiences, as well as the genesis of a new Children's Ministry initiative called M&M Kids, a fellowship for children interested in developing a greater heart and mind for missions.

Our Sister Church

When Oswaldo Prado, pastor of the Ipiranga Presbyterian Church in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was visiting Central for six months, Jerry Cooper suggested that Central and Ipiranga become sister churches. This was early in the 90s. Since that time we have had many wonderful connections, particularly in exchanging people. Several Central members have spent time in Sao Paulo. Ron Scates was a key speaker for a missions conference there in 1993. Central has benefited from Ipiranga visitors in Baltimore, including Stephanie & Larry K.. We have mutually enjoyed praying regularly for each other, a planned worship service annually using the same liturgy, jointly supporting missionaries from Brazil to other continents, and helping fund evangelical work in remote areas of Brazil.

Central is the Biblical voice in the liberal Baltimore Presbytery. The following appointments reveal God's sovereignty in all affairs:

• Jerry Cooper is the chair of the COGOS committee to re-envision Presbytery.

• Ruth Williams is moderator of Presbyterian Women for all Presbytery.

60's
Bill Kirwin
Dick and Barbara Dunkerton
Carl Rosenbloom
Sue Harris
Dick Bransford
Conrad Sauer

70's
Susan Crowell
Web Brower
Pam Patchen
Dean and Carol Jordan
Tom Pilsch
Dave Shrone
John and Mary Doerfer
Newt Hetrick
May Maddox
Ken Kudo
Jim Smoot
Gary Russell
Hal and Liz Leaman
Bruce Sewell

80's
Edna Zuraw
Mary Lou Wilson
Dick Taylor
Larry and Stephanie K.

90's
John Hankins
B. Wilson
Elizabeth Smith
Lois Sheeler-Duncan
Kim Turner
Steve Taylor
Buck Rogers
Karen Duncan
Dave and Jan Turnbaugh
Maggie Cho
Grace Shen

00's
Chris & Kay Smoes

Centralites who have done mission work abroad independently
Gary and Mary Margaret Goshorn, Murray and Dottie Smoot, Dave and Heide Hungerford, Jim Taylor, Frank Meeder, Andrew and Carolyn Brooks, Louis and Samia Elias, Dan Grabb, John Hankins

Seminarians
George Antonakos
Bill Delvaux
Tim Held
Philip Lambooy
Laura Nasrallah
Thomas Poehlman
Kyle Powderly
Johnny Sackett
Jonathan Smoot
John Yates

Many other missionaries and mission organizations receive support from Central.

Countries touched by Christ by Centralites, either here or there

China Taiwan Indonesia India Malaysia Thailand Ghana Cameroon Kenya Zambia Ireland Mexico Ecuador South Africa Bangladesh Pakistan Afghanistan Romania Russia Austria France Brazil Colombia Burma/Myanmar Yugoslavia Puerto Rico Haiti Nepal Ethiopia Peru Australia Jamaica, Canada New Zealand Scotland Germany Netherlands Philippines