Extra Commitment Opportunities

There is a channel through which gifts can be designated for specific items that support the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s work around the world. These are called Extra Commitment Opportunities (ECOs). You can give directly to an ECO account online or by mailing your check designating the name and account number of the particular item you have chosen to:

PC(USA) Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Your gift will go directly into the ECO Account designated, and you will receive a letter indicating that your gift has been received and will be used for the purpose intended.

Below are some ECOs related to Sudan. For a complete listing visit Mission Funding's Web site and type Sudan into the search box.

Development

Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency

The Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency (PRDA) of the Presbyterian Church of Sudan serves the people of southern Sudan to bring opportunities for development help in farming, fishing and other self-help enterprises. It also provides short-term relief responses, although Sudan has been in a long-term relief crisis.

Disaster Relief

Disaster Response-Sudan

This account supplements the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering to enable a significant response for relief and disasters in Sudan.

This account supplements the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering to enable a significant response for families affected by the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is participating in the Darfur response as a member of an international alliance of Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox aid organizations from the United States, Europe and Sudan, ACT-Caritas.

Education

Bible School, Gerief West Building Program

The development of sound theological education is a high priority. The African church in the Arab parts of northern Sudan is one of the fastest-growing in Africa. The Bible School at Gerief in Khartoum Province has no buildings of its own but is using buildings belonging to the Conference Center. There are plans to erect a new building to house 25 students, a library, office, kitchen and dining room. This will also upgrade the training, making it a full theological school.

Lois Anderson Memorial Education Scholarships

This ECO provides scholarship money for students in Kenya and Sudan in memory of Lois Anderson, former missionary to Africa.

Evangelism

Anuak Bible Translation EECMY

The Anuak Bible Translation work has pushed forward but still has some of the longer Old Testament books to translate, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The Anuak church in Ethiopia is growing and demand for Scripture has increased. God has provided a well-qualified translation team. Gifts to this ECO will help complete the translation of the Bible for a growing group of Christians among a largely unreached people group, which extends from neighboring Ethiopia into Sudan.

Bible Translation for Unreached People Groups PFF

The Anuak people live in the savannah of Ethiopia and the Sudan. The New Testament has been translated into the Anuak language and an indigenous church has been formed. With support from this ECO resources can be produced and training for pastors and church leaders can take place.

The New Testament has been completed, but the entire Old Testament remains to be translated. Funding is needed for the ongoing salaries and training of indigenous translators. Many of the Murle have fled from Southern Sudan to refugee camps in Kenya, and one of these refugee camps is the current location of the translation effort.

Health

Health Work in Sudan 

Support public health programs and efforts to rebuild the healthcare infrastructure in war-ravaged southern Sudan.

Water for All

Without clean water, good health is impossible. In many parts of the world people suffer chronic and life-threatening illness and children die needlessly for lack of accessible clean water. Gifts to this ECO help provide technical assistance, equipment and training to develop sources of clean water in needy communities.

Women's Health International

In much of the developing world women's health is undermined by traditions and practices that leave women disempowered, marginalized and living in poverty. Gifts to this fund will support a range of programs, including health services, education and economic development that improve the well being of women.

Human Rights, Justice and Peacemaking

Resource Center for Civil Leadership—RECONCILE

Gifts to this ECO help support RECONCILE, which  was established in March 2004 and is related to the New Sudan Council of Churches. These Sudanese churches aim to help victims recover from the trauma associated with the 25-year civil war in Sudan. They also help to lead a process of reconciliation that will unite not only the Christians in south Sudan but other faith groups as well.

Mission Personnel

The Rev. Debbie Blane — Theology Lecturer, Nile Theological College

The Nile Theological College is an ecumenical theological institution serving the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church and others. It seeks to provide high-quality training and education in both English and Arabic for the churches in Sudan—principally in the north. The Rev. Debbie Blane, filling this position, will teach a range of theological subjects to students of pastoral ministry.

Since 2005 Debra and Delvin Braaksma have been working with victims of the Sudanese civil war through the Resource Centre for Civil Leadership (RECONCILE), related to the New Sudan Council of Churches. From their base in Kampala, Uganda, they train church and community leaders in trauma healing. One participant concluded, “Some say we must remove the so-and-sos for all they have done to us. But we cannot do that. The Bible says we cannot do that. It’s like removing our eye. We need them.” Debra writes, “ ... your support and prayers made it possible for RECONCILE to be in Anyidi with these dear people.”

Other Support

Association of Christian Resource Organizations Serving Sudan (Across)

Gifts to this ECO will help Across with relief projects in southern Sudan in areas ravaged by civil wars and people displaced by the wars. They will also provide project leadership in the areas of water, agriculture, cattle raising, food and community health.

Women's Work

Presbyterian Church of Sudan—Women's Work

This fund helps support the many projects of the women of the Presbyterian Church of Sudan. The funds are mainly used to help with their literacy, prison ministry and leadership development programs.