Core Value:
Presence and Mutuality
Presence provides a bold vision of living in intentional, committed relationships, even through incredible challenges. Mutuality gives deeper meaning to our relationships, challenging us to walk in hope with others in God’s mission. As you’ll see in the following stories, presence has a powerful, and often unexpected, impact on all of those touched by the encounter. Remembering the core value of mutuality helps these relationships take root more deeply as we let go of “our” mission and start sharing in God’s.
The stories below are written by mission personnel and international partners to highlight this core value.
Presence
Manifesting God’s love by living in intentional, committed relationships
Empowering and Engaging Youth: A Story from Swaziland
Terry and Diana Hutter
Presence and Perceptions: A Story from Ecuador
Marilyn Cooper
Nuclear Disaster and Communities: A Story from Japan
Jeffrey Mensendiek
The Bench Under the Mango Tree: A Story from Ghana
Gary Luallin
Starpoint Reformed Youth Festival: A Story from Hungary
Szabina Sztojka and Rev. Balázs Ódor
Questions
1. How do we invite each other into relationship? How do we receive that invitation?
2. How do we approach the give and take of mutuality with grace and authenticity?
Mutuality
Waking in hope with others in God’s mission
Strengthening and Empowering our Partners: A Story from Argentina and Paraguay
Amelia Casillas and Pedro Carlo Muniz
Positive Mutuality
Joel Cooper
Acompañamiento: A Story from Chile
Elena Huegel
A Story on Partnership: A Story from the Congo
Jean Pierre Djimbonge Weye
Cooperation and Partnership: A Story from Hungary
Szabina Sztojka and Rev. Balázs Ódor
Partners in Learning: A Story from Chile
Rodrigo Martínez
Questions
1. What does "being present" with others mean to you?
2. In our everyday lives, what are different ways to be present with one another?
3. What are the challenges and gifts when living in intentional, committed relationships?
4. In a world of vast inequality as well as cultural and geographical difference, how can we be authentically present with others?
