The four core values of the North Carolina Synod are: Christ-centered, Generosity, Relationship, and Reconciliation. Into these faithful priorities, we invest what God has first given us: ourselves, our time, and our possessions. In August, by the Spirit’s leading, we are sending out a cohort of four pastors from our synod to be welcomed by Lutheran Christians in Papua New Guinea, our global companion in ministry. They will offer themselves, their time, and our collective synod resources in building relationships around the world.

Pastors Emily Harkins, Cassie Overcash, Ethan Overcash, and Julie Tonnesen will join representatives from three other ELCA synods—Virginia, Central States, and Northwest Lower Michigan—which are also global companions with Papua New Guinea districts (which are like our synods). These pastors were chosen, in part, because of their age. One of our goals is to develop and maintain relationships over years and across miles, so sending delegates in their 30s is a blessing in that regard.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) is growing, yet under-resourced. A piece of this conference of synods/districts is to discern where God may be calling the ELCA and the ELCPNG to work together on big issues like theological education, women’s roles in the church, and sharing resources. However, the primary goal in cross-cultural relationships is always accompaniment.

Learning to know each other, sharing Holy Communion, discovering commonalities, finding our way into new foods, customs, values, etc. from each other’s cultures—accompanying each other in ministry along the way in Jesus’ name—that’s the true goal of this trip. Pastor Julie Tonnesen hopes, “to experience kinship among the folks from the ELCA and the ELCPNG. It’s a powerful experience to be in relationship with folks whose day-to-day existence looks so different from my own, yet we think about and worship God in very similar ways. It reminds me how big God is.”

Traveling to an exceptionally remote part of the world (by canoe over open water to some areas) can come with some trials. Pastor Cassie Overcash is ready to be both challenged and blessed. Her prayer is to be flexible and patient when things aren’t as expected and to be quieted internally by a stretch of time away from the “world where my phone never stops ringing and emails never cease!”

Pastor Ethan Overcash is preparing himself for “an experience that challenges, teaches, and humbles me as I experience a culture I do not understand.” He mostly looks forward to “breaking wide open my current understanding of being church together as I walk with these siblings in Christ in Papua New Guinea.”

The travel piece of the budget for this trip was funded by a grant from the synod’s Michael Peeler/Virginia Casey Fund. We give thanks to God for such generosity and stewardship of resources.

Please keep these travelers in your prayers from August 11-27. Include them in your prayers of intercession on Sunday mornings and whisper their names to Jesus as often as the Spirit moves you. God is up to something here.

Want to help support our Lutheran siblings in Papua New Guinea? Faithful folks in the Yabim district of PNG are seeking the following items: new or gently worn clergy shirts and collars, pectoral crosses, stoles, paraments, and altar crosses. Please drop them off by Wednesday, August 7, to the synod office so that the the synod’s delegation traveling to PNG can deliver them while they are there.

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for a follow-up story this fall sharing these pastors’ experiences of developing relationships for the sake of the world God loves.

Pastor Emily Harkins The Dwelling, Winston-Salem
Pastor Cassie Overcash  Assistant to the Bishop, NC Synod
Pastor Ethan Overcash  Emmanuel, High Point
Pastor Julie Tonnesen  Associate University Chaplain and LEAF Campus Minister, Elon University