APRIL 2016
Dear Friends and Supporters of MA,

Increasingly, the consensus is forming that “Christianity is going south.”   No, it is not meant, as could be said about New England, that Christianity is in decline.   Nor is it meant that to find “Christendom (where Christianity represents the majority influence in geo-political-cultural ways) one should consider moving to the American South.

Rather, what is meant by “Christianity is going south” is that as the power and influence of Christianity is in decline in such northern hemisphere contexts as Europe and North America, Christianity is rapidly on the rise in such southern hemisphere contexts as Africa, Latin America, and Asia.  It’s what Philip Jenkins calls “The Next Christendom” and Mark Noll describes as “The New Shape of World Christianity” and Dana Robert writes in “Shifting Southward: Global Christianity since 1945”

And to be sure this is great to hear, at least in so far as the southern hemisphere is concerned.  But it begs the question, what kind of Christianity is emerging?   Read more...

Affectionately and Enthusiastically, 
 

 Rev. Dr. Preston Graham Jr.
 Executive Director, Mission Anabaino
 Sr. Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church New Haven


P.S. Church Planters: read more about our Annual Collaborative May 4-6 and attend our MA Recruitment Breakfast at this year’s PCA General Assembly in Mobile, Alabama!

Local Report: New Haven, CT

It almost goes without saying that women are integral to making church life possible. Our weekly and monthly activities, typically planned and executed by the ladies of Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill, continue to give our congregation meaningful times of fellowship and puts hands and feet to the missional and community “Total Christ” spiritual marks of our CPC church family.
 
Our ladies ensure each month that our congregation enjoys a fellowship meal after an evening service. These meal times provide an informal setting that helps bind us together. These same ladies will help to plan and prepare for our upcoming Sidewalk BBQs, the soon approaching “In His Midst” summer Park BBQs, and, yes a whole 6 months from now, the Hill Christmas Store (planning starts in July this year!).  Read more...
 

 Rev. Chip Anderson
 CPC in the Hill
 New Haven, CT

Global Report: Shaker Heights, OH

The Heights Presbyterian Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio began as a Bible study at the home of Mark & Marci Robertson in July 2015. Mark was called by Harvest Presbyterian Church (PCA) of Medina to plant a church in the influential Cleveland community of Shaker Heights/Cleveland Heights. Mark had previously served as Associate Pastor of Old Orchard Church (PCA) in St. Louis.  Mark obtained an MDiv from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, and a Bachelor's in Philosophy from Ohio State University, after having become a Christian in New York City 15 years ago under the ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. 
 
Mark and Marci are parents to Zoe (5) and Norah (3). The family moved from St. Louis to Cleveland in May 2015 to begin the work as a "parachute plant" under the care of Harvest Church. They began networking with people in the community and met several interested individuals over the following months, with whom they started the Bible study. The group continued to grow, they moved to a larger home, and then on to a church space at First Baptist Church in Shaker, where they currently meet on Sunday evenings. The first Bible study consisted of nine attendees.  The group now ranges between 30-40 on Sunday nights, with new visitors every week.  Read more...
 

 Rev. Mark Robertson
 The Heights Presbyterian Church
 Shaker Heights, OH