The Presbyterian Church (USA) faces a missionary sending crisis. The number of PC(USA) missionaries continues to shrink at a time when global partners are telling us that more are needed. Efforts to reverse the decline have not succeeded. Therefore, The Outreach Foundation and Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship announce today that we are joining in a strategic alliance for the purpose of sending missionaries.

A task force comprised of staff and board members will work to put in place the people and systems needed to support an efficient, flexible and creative mission-sending operation. In cooperation with global partners, we hope to appoint new missionaries during 2006.

Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship originated in the former United Presbyterian Church in the USA (UPCUSA) 25 years ago with a focus on stimulating ministry among people groups where there is no church. The Outreach Foundation was formed 27 years ago in the former Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) to help expand its Christ-centered evangelistic mission work at home and abroad.

Our two mission organizations share a passion for the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. We have cooperated in various ways in the past, including last October’s conference “From Everywhere to Everyone: the New Global Mission.” Increasingly, our staff members find themselves working with each other in connecting Presbyterians to God’s mission. Now, after much prayer and discussion, we believe God is leading us to a new initiative for engaging Presbyterians in sending missionaries. The Outreach Foundation already has domestic and international missionaries in the field, and we will build on that foundation as we move forward.

We remain grateful for the work of the PC(USA) mission offices and staff and will seek to work collaboratively with them. We have been loyal supporters of the mission of the PC(USA), raising millions of dollars for it. We pray that their efforts will continue to bear fruit, and we will continue to support them. Still, we are convinced that more is needed.

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