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Welcome
to the web site of the Synod of Living Waters, a mission arm and
governing body of the Presbyterian
Church (USA). We serve 12 presbyteries in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Our
mission is to witness to Jesus Christ in partnership with our presbyteries,
their 753 congregations and the General Assembly of the PC(USA).
The
Peace of Christ be with you.
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 Presbytery
of Transylvania |
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Clergy
Families Gather for Mutual Support
Even
as they work with people on a daily basis pastors and commissioned
lay pastors often feel isolated and alone. Few church members
understand the pressures our church leaders face: the sorrow
associated with membership loss; the inability to meet the
spiritual needs of every member all the time; the demands
of sermon preparation and administration; and the guilt that
your time with church business tears the pastor away from
her or his family. Clergy spouses understand and share the
same feelings. In addition they know the guilt of competing
with God for the attention and time of their spouse. In Transylvania
Presbytery an effort is underway to help our clergy families
find fellowship and support from one another. Our new General
Presbyter is working with the clergy in our districts to
create this kind of fellowship. Pastors and lay pastors in
District 5 (the region around Hazard, KY) gathered recently
at the Hull Presbyterian Church in Hazard, for an evening
of conversation. By the end of that gathering they had covenanted
with each other to continue gathering on a regular basis
both clergy and spouses with no agenda other than caring
for each other. Similar gatherings are being planned in each
of the presbytery's seven districts.
ARMSS
The
Rev. Dr. Jack Haga, who is Honorably Retired, leads ARMSS
(Association of Retired Ministers, Spouses and Surviving
Spouses) and graciously shares their stories and his photos
with us. We appreciate Jack’s work and dedication to
our retired ministers. At the Presbytery of Transylvania
we are honored this group shares their stories with us and
we are equally honored to share it with you. Their ministries
should never be forgotten.
Ken
and Marge Rasmussen have let their light shine all over the
world, and now they are letting it shine in Harrogate, Tennessee
where they reside on a beautiful hilltop. Their story is
another of the inspiring stories of service of the retired
ministers and spouses of Transylvania Presbytery. Ken began
his mission work with a three year term as a building missionary
in South Sudan while Marge was going to nursing school at
Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
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After
returning from South Sudan he finished his third year of seminary
and served as Assistant Pastor in Butler, PA while he and Marge
got their papers in order to return the South Sudan for a four
year term as evangelistic missionaries. Ken then entered Med
School at the University of Maryland at Baltimore from 1957-1961.
This was followed by a three year resident and intern program
in Denver, CO. Ken and Marge then served a three-year term
as missionaries in Ethiopia at the Jean R. Orr Memorial Hospital
Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia. Then Ken served in private practice
in Cartridge, NY. The Rasmussens then moved to Louisville,
KY so Marge could enhance her biblical studies. They did a
great deal of work in setting up clinic among refugees. They
worked in Thailand with Cambodian refugees, in northeast Sudan
with Ethiopian refugees and in northwest Sudan with misplaced
refugees from southern Sudan.
After returning to the States, Ken served in Emergency Room at Middlesburg,
KY (1980- 1988). Ken also served as an interim pastor of the Pineville
Presbyterian Church. Ken and Marge really enjoyed their work with the
Mobile Mission Assistance Program. MMAP is a group of Christians who
have their own RVs and who are self supporting. They travel all over
the North American Continent doing three week projects on churches, camps,
children homes and other similar ministries. Members work a minimum of
4 months a year, and three weeks of the month, four days a week, seven
hours a day for no pay. Their most valuable contribution is a life dedicated
to Jesus and the skill of applying the teaching of Word of God to every
situation. Ken and Marge worked on twenty-nine different projects with
the MMAP.
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Transy
has a Committee
for You!
Transylvania Presbytery has active committees. To highlight two of them
for you - The Social Witness and Mission Committee in conjunction with
our Christian Formation and Discipleship Committee host a Mission/Education
conference every year. The location and topic varies each year, but always
offers a variety of interesting workshops for everyone. The conference
is usually in August and this year First Presbyterian in Hazard, KY will
be our hosts. Two of our guests will be The Rev. Wayne Gnatuk, Associate
for Church-wide Relations, PC(USA) doing a workshop on Self Development
of People and The Rev. Mark Koenig, Coordinator for the Presbyterian
Peacemaking Program will conduct a workshop on communication in a multicultural
community.
Learn
more about us through visiting our Website: www.transypby.org and
also check out our Burnamwood Camp and Conference Center
Website: www.burnamwood.net.
We have two dedicated directors of the camp who work tirelessly
to make sure every camper has a positive and enjoyable experience.
The camp is open year-round for retreats too.
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