ENCORE ISSUE

Feature Article

Missionary in our Midst

The United States Is a Mission Field
It's true-the United States is a mission field. For discerning Presbyterians, a second truth follows-to meet the challenges lying at our doorsteps, we need and can count on the help available through the church worldwide. For many Presbyterians in Pittsburgh, the Very Rev. Dr. Silas and Margaret Ncozana embodied that help. African by birth, Presbyterian by tradition, spiritually perceptive, educationally equipped, articulate and personable, they were already well known across our community and thus the perfect choice to be missionaries to our corner of the United States.

To understand what prompted our one-year "Mission to the USA" program, it's important to understand Pittsburgh Presbytery's international partnership with Malawi and our long and positive history with the Ncozanas. In 1991, as general secretary of the Synod of Blantyre, Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian, Silas played a key role in formalizing the partnership between his synod and Pittsburgh Presbytery. Initially, these two bodies seemed unlikely partners, holding only two things in common-Christian faith and a debt to the Church of Scotland for their religious origins. Being guided, however, by the words and vision of the apostle Paul-"that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Rom. 1:12)-the partnership took root, grew and made an astounding difference on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

--William Paul is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He retired after serving 19 years on the staff of Pittsburgh Presbytery in the area of mission interpretation and stewardship.

To learn more about Pittsburgh Presbytery's "Mission to the USA" program, contact Rev. Dr. William M. Paul, 732 Jefferson Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15229; pghpauls@attbi.com.

What Is Your PW Doing?

Horizons is looking for more unique stories of mission to share in future issues. What is your PW doing to support the mission of the church worldwide? Send the details---who, what, when, where, why and how-to Leah Bradley, c/o Presbyterian Women, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396; fax 502/569---8085; Lbradley@ctr.pcusa.org.

Please include photos if possible (these will not be returned to you) and contact information (your phone, fax, email, mailing address) in case we have questions. Due to the large volume of mail our office receives, your submission may not receive a personal response. If your contribution is published in Horizons, we'll send you two complimentary copies of the issue featuring your article as our way of saying thanks.