CROSS-CULTURE IMMIGRANT

The Cross-Culture Immigrant ministries focuses on congregations, new church developments, and new exploration initiatives in the United States whose primary language is not English. Ministry opportunities among cross-culture communities in the United States are open to us as Cumberland Presbyterians and MMT is willing to provide resources and support to presbyteries, and churches open to the Holy Spirit to start new cross-culture ministries in the country.

Cross-Culture Ministers Regional Meetings – The 2016 retreat was in November near Tampa, FL. The MMT believes it can help expand opportunities for Cross-Culture ministers and ministries to create networks and work together in order to bring their spiritual experiences and insights to the larger Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Liaison Model Used in Cross-Culture Settings – The MMT and some presbyteries are promoting a liaison model that may support the cross-culture work in some geographical areas in the United States. There is a liaison-consultant serving in West Tennessee Presbytery, a Japanese ministries consultant in Louisville, KY, and a Latino liaison serving in Miami, FL through Grace Presbytery’s Board of Missions. We are grateful for Rev. Dr. Yoong Kim, our Korean consultant, who served in this position for 15 years. Cross-Culture New Exploration Initiatives – The MMT is constantly exploring new geographic areas where a Cumberland Presbyterian presence may be formed. The goal is clear: to see if a group can be gathered to worship and glorify God with the potential to become an organized Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the past, these explorations initiatives were called “Mission Probes.” At this moment, the Missions Ministry Team is using the term “New Exploration Initiatives” to refer to those initiatives, rather than calling them mission probes. Currently, there are three new cross-culture exploration initiatives. The CP Church needs ordained ministers, laypersons, and members willing to become church explorers and have the passion to share the good news of Christ with people from different cultures, who speak different languages, and represent communities in our denomination. We are in need of people led by the Holy Spirit and willing to plant multiple ministries with a Cumberland Presbyterian identity to glorify and serve God. PAS Cross-Culture Track – New cross-culture probationers from different presbyteries took classes during the summer 2016 PAS classes. Some of the students also took classes at Beth-El Farm Workers ministry during a weekend retreat led by the MMT. New cross-culture probationers have been included in some presbyteries around the United States.