Team with AOET staff
The New York Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) has selected the Presbyterian—New England Congregational Church (UCC) of Saratoga Springs as the 2016 recipient of the David G. Southard, Sr. Award for Excellence in Global Mission Work. The award will be presented at the Conference’s Annual Meeting on June 10 – 12 in Rochester, NY.
AOET Lira parents with seeds donated by Seeds for Peace
PNECC’s application was submitted by the Global Missions Subcommittee of the Social Concerns Committee, and highlighted the work of the congregation in the following areas:
- coordination of programs through the Global Missions Subcommittee;
- outreach to Uganda through AOET and exploration of Cuba as a new area of outreach;
- welcoming Nancy Tushabe and her family into the PNECC church family as Nancy prepares to launch “Nurses for East Africa”;
- annual Peace Fair and Peace Week in Saratoga Springs;
- speaking out on issues of global concern such as a 2012 Resolution to Prevent War with Iran and a 2013 Endorsement of a Peaceful Solution on Syria;
- making dresses for the Dress-a-Girl Around the World Project;
- substantial financial donations in response to global crises, including the current Syrian refugee crisis, the 2015 earthquake in Nepal and the 2013 typhoon in the Philippines;
- interfaith collaboration in support of global disaster relief, as in joint work with Temple Sinai and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to raise funds for Shelter Boxes;
- educational presentations by travelers and mission co-workers with experience in Israel/Palestine and South Korea;
- global education for youth by way of youth group trips to Europe every four years;
- ongoing financial contributions through One Great Hour of Sharing and the Heifer Project.
At Kagoma Gate mobile medical clinic
The full text of the award application can be accessed from a link at the bottom of the PNECC homepage or you can click here.
The Global Missions subcommittee is chaired by Terry Diggory, tdiggory@skidmore.edu; 518-587-3537.
After completing a career in university administration, Paul and his wife, Jean, returned to Paul’s hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY. His volunteer retirement job became assisting AIDS Orphan Education Trust-Uganda, primarily through finding sponsors for Ugandan children and leading mission teams to Uganda. He has been very supported by Presbyterian-New England Congregational church, with 84 members sponsoring 55 Ugandan children, and 41 members making a mission trip to Uganda, including 12 youth.
