On October 23, Bethesda Covenant Church will join churches from across the nation to celebrate United Nations Sunday. UN Sunday is traditionally celebrated on the Sunday closest to the establishment of the UN in San Francisco on October 24, 1945.
This year Bethesda will explore the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how the Evangelical Covenant Church is working in the Congo to achieve them, specifically through the Paul Carlson Partnership. To aid us in this connection we have the privilege of hearing from Dr. Alynne MacLean. Dr. MacLean is a Christian, lover of chemistry, and the founder of a non-profit organization called Science with a Mission (SMI) where science is used to help those in the Developing World. She also is a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church executive board. The Paul Carlson Partnership has assisted SMI by allowing her to join one of their trips to the Democratic Republic of Congo. While there, she delivered thousands of malaria and typhoid diagnostics to the doctors at Covenant-sponsored clinics. In addition to medical work, PCP is working to strengthen the infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings, etc.) and improve the school system. “The need is great,” she says, “but God is greater.”
As Christians we are people who bring good news to the poor (Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61). This good news can come in the form of prayers and those prayers can lead us to ask what we may do. The Covenant Church has been asking this question and has founded the Paul Carlson Partnership as part of their answer. The Paul Carlson Partnership is an international aid and development organization honoring the life and spirit of missionary doctor Paul E. Carlson, who served the people of northwest Congo in 1963-64 and was killed by rebel soldiers after returning from safety to continue his healing work. Working together with local leaders and people, the Partnership develops projects, programs, and facilities for medical services, public health services, child welfare services, community development activities, education, and research. Through all of its activities, the Partnership seeks to assure the ongoing witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ which characterized the life and death of Dr. Carlson. The Paul Carlson Partnership is committed to serving the poorest of the poor in three areas of urgent need: health, poverty, and education. For three years the focus is on the Democratic Republic of Congo, helping the people to rebuild following the devastation of civil war.
MDG #1 seeks to cut in half extreme poverty in the world by 2015. Currently we are very far behind in this goal throughout the world. There is more to be done to bring good news to the poor and as Christians our faith compels us to do our part. We invite you to come and hear Dr. MacLean speak on October 23, but also to come and find yourself in the presence of our God through song, prayer, and fellowship. Come and find yourself connected, challenged, and compelled at Bethesda Covenant Church’s celebration of UN Sunday.
To download a flyer for this event, click here.
