Welcome to the July 2026 edition of Together, the newsletter of The Fellowship Community--a network of leaders and churches committed to faithful ministry by gathering, equipping and encouraging leaders in Christ-centered ministry.
It's been a big beginning to summer in the TFC world. So grateful to advisory board member Scott Mann for gathering and supporting GA commissioners for their two weeks of committees and plenaries in Milwaukee. Scott and I wrote a reflection of our time together, which you'll find below.
We continue to make progress on mission partnerships--and I'm leading a pastor vision trip to Egypt this fall. Please check it out and join us for an insightful trip to one of the most exciting areas of the world where the good news of Jesus is shaping and sending the church. This week I'll be at the New Wilmington Mission Conference where Anne Zaki, professor at the Evangelical Presbyterian Seminary in Cairo, will be the featured speaker and I will be leading one workshop on spiritual formation for missional living and participating in another with Don Dawson on the future of Presbyterian Global Missions.
And we are grateful for the support of the Leadership Pipeline announced in April at the National Gathering, and we are reaching out to new seminarians and pastoral candidates, as well as those interested in training, placing, and supporting new pastoral leaders. I'm having conversations with seminaries and colleges who are very interested in partnering with TFC to train evangelical Presbyterians. More to come in the months ahead.
I realized in Milwaukee last month that you and I live with a constant state of anxiety with GA every two years. One year in the anticipation of what's coming and one year in understanding what happened. That constant place of wondering, worrying, advocating, and defending issues that are front or back burner issues creates an exhaustion, a weariness. "How do I talk about that to my congregation?" Scott has a good word for us in the article we wrote together. But we also have each other to pray together, encourage each other, and remain faithful together.
If you or your session need help in this aftermath stage, please reach out to talk.
Remember what our friend Jerry Andrews always says: "We are better together than we are apart." It's true. Let's keep talking, praying and connecting with each other on regional calls, a quick text or a long phone call with a pastor colleague. As our other friend Paul always says: "Let us not become weary in doing good." Together in Christ, |
Mike McClenahan Executive Director |
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National Gathering Resources |
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Resources from the 2026 National Gathering have been posted to our website and YouTube channel.
Thank you to all who made the gathering a success! It was great to see so many of you, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2027! |
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Who's Next?
Ten years from now, who will be leading our churches?
Who will preach the gospel, shepherd congregations, plant churches, and mentor future leaders?
At TFC, we believe that answer begins today.
That's why we've committed ourselves to raising up and launching 250 pastoral leaders by 2036 while continuing to connect, encourage, and equip leaders serving across the PCUSA.
But we can't do it alone. We need the support of you and your congregation. Fill out the survey below and let us know about leaders with whom we need to connect. Let us know how you and your congregation can support this venture.
By the end of the summer, we also hope to raise $50,000 in new giving so that TFC can continue this valuable work of identifying and supporting pastoral leaders. Please join us today. |
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Reflections on General Assembly
Every General Assembly has highs and lows. The Fellowship Community was well represented at GA by Executive Director Mike McClenahan and Advisory Board member Scott Mann among other Fellowship-affiliated commissioners, delegates, and observers. We hosted a table with all other Presbyterian ministries and groups and gathered before and during GA for prayer, support, and resourcing participants.
TFC Executive Director Mike McClenahan and Advisory Board Member Scott Mann share their reflections on this year's General Assembly. |
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Join us in Egypt
Join TFC and Frontier Fellowship in Egypt this fall and see God at work through our ministry partners and learn how the Egyptian Church is leading frontier mission movements throughout Egypt and beyond.
- Enjoy the culture of the Egyptian Church while experiencing their prayerful and worshipful style.
- Meet local church leaders who are mobilizing their congregations to reach out to their communities and beyond.
- We will visit the major sights in Cairo and Luxor - Pyramids, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo, Cave Church, Valley of the Kings, Karnak, and more.
Led by Ethan Collins and Mike McClenahan, the trip take place September 27 - October 8. Scholarships may be available. See handout for more information. Deadline is August 7. |
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You have all have noticed that 40 is a very important number in scripture. Whenever it is used–and it is used a LOT–it means a really, really long time. When the Bible uses 40 it almost inevitably means there is a crisis, OR God’s people have a critical decision to prepare for, OR they have to learn something really important. 40 means: time to pay attention. Think about it. Noah in the ark, Israel wandering in the desert, Elijah journeying to the mountain, Jonah warning the Ninevites to repent, Jesus in the wilderness wrestling with the devil…whether 40 years or 40 days, it’s a long, long time.
TFC Board member Dan Baumgartner reflects on 30 years of ministry and reminds us to look for God. |
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Board Member Spotlight
Growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, as the son of Korean immigrants was both exciting and challenging. Just as I was becoming comfortable with my Korean Brazilian identity, I moved to the United States for college. While that began another journey of discovering my cultural identity, it was easier because of the rich diversity that defines American society.
During my senior year of college, after studying psychology, I sensed God's call to ministry. I began searching for seminaries and ultimately attended Princeton Theological Seminary, having been raised in the Presbyterian tradition.
My tri-cultural background has given me the privilege of serving in a variety of ministry contexts—as an associate pastor in Korea, a missionary in Brazil, and now as the pastor of a Korean American church in the United States.
I also had the opportunity to attend one of the first Fellowship Gatherings in Orlando, Florida, many years ago. I deeply appreciated the Spirit-filled worship, thought-provoking plenary sessions, and meaningful relationships built through small group discussions.
Welcome to the Board, Sung! Thank you for serving TFC! |
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Connecting Mission Leaders Conference
The Connecting Mission Leaders (CML) Conference brings together pastors, mission directors, lay leaders, and mission enthusiasts—providing opportunity for missiological reflection, worship, prayer, building relationships for new collaboration in mission, sharing best practices and more.
October 22-24, 2026 Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Houston, TX |
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Regional Connections Opportunities to Connect with TFC |
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Zoom Gathering Third Thursday of each month 10:00 - 11:00 am eastern |
| In-Person Gathering for DFW area leaders Third Thursday of each month 2:00 pm central |
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Zoom Gathering Second Thursday of each month 1:00 - 2:00 pm pacific |
| Zoom Gathering Third Thursday of each month 1:00-2:00 pm eastern |
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TFC is committed to helping churches find compatible leaders - and vice versa! To that end, we invite you to check out the "Find a Call" page on our website, where you can see a variety of open positions throughout the country. We have received quite a few new postings recently, so be sure to stay connected!
If you would like to post a position on our site, please send us an email. All positions welcome - pastoral, administrative, mission service, etc.
We are also looking for ways to improve this feature, so please think about how we might serve best in this area and send us any ideas or feedback. |
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Do you have an idea for a future story? Are you involved in a ministry others need to know about? Let us know, and we'll include it in a future month's Together!
Are you interested in learning more or becoming part of the Fellowship Community? Click here for more information. |
Thanks for reading and connecting with us. Reach out with any questions, and know that we are praying for you and your ministry. |
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Board Members Timothy Scoonover - President Cynthia Betz-Bogoly - Secretary Jim Witherow - Treasurer Dan Baumgartner Goodwyn Bell Paul Cunningham John Fullerton Eric Hoey |
| Sung Joo Jennifer Kenney Daniel Ko Tamara Mitchell Jeff Myers Matthew Pooley Clint Tolbert Jonathan Tony Jason Tucker Jill WIlliams |
| Staff Mike McClenahan - Executive Director Ray Garcia - Coordinator for Connections & Recruitment Andrea Hall - Administrative Coordinator Brittany Kirkpatrick - National Gathering Coordinator |
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