Dear Edgeboro Friends & Family,
Where is the summer going? VBS, Synod, Camp, and vacations are all in the rearview mirror and now we look ahead to August. There are two things, out of many, that I wish to highlight that will be taking place at Edgeboro in August.
First, we look forward to our decades-old tradition of the Ice Cream Festival, which will take place on Monday, August 20th. I hope to see you there! And if you are able and willing to volunteer your time on that day, or donate food for the event beforehand, your help would be greatly appreciated! Sign up in person on the sheets that are located in the back of the sanctuary, or contact the church office and we can add your name to the sign-ups for you.
And now, the second highlight: The seminary is relaunching an international Moravian student program, providing tuition, housing, and healthcare for an international Moravian looking to complete a Master’s degree. This year’s student is the Rev. Paul Silwamba, a Moravian pastor from Zambia who is pursuing a Master’s Degree of Theological Studies.
Paul will be here for two years on a student visa, meaning that he cannot work a job off-campus. Knowing this, Edgeboro Moravian Church has accepted the invitation to support Paul in a number of other ways while he is here during his studies, mainly by providing income for groceries and other living items ($100/week), transportation, a church home, and a social network.
This will be a congregational effort to welcome him into our church family and support him through his studies. Here are a few ways that you can help do that: Put your name in the rotation to give him a ride to the store or to church during a particular week, take him to a local event/attraction; sit by him in worship; invite him over for dinner; or make an extra offering to the church to provide for grocery expenses.
The seminary semester begins on Monday, August 27th, meaning Paul will be arriving very soon! As we look forward to getting to know Paul even more after he arrives, get to know a little bit more with the profile below.
Paul’s Profile
Name: Paul Silwamba
Home Country: Zambia
Occupation: Pastor (ordained in 2007)
Reason for Coming to Bethlehem, PA: Pursuing a Master’s of Theological Studies (2-year degree) from Moravian Theological Seminary beginning in the Fall of 2018
Quote from Paul: “Pursuing this Master’s Degree will position me to become more effective in standing in the gap between the rich and the poor who are underprivileged of God’s unconditional love. With a Master’s Degree…I will be able to increase in knowledge and wisdom to provide a vibrant voice for the voiceless and undermined faithful people of God.”
Brothers and sisters, may this month be blessed as we together do the work of ministry and live lives of faith, love, and hope.
Serving with you,
Pastor Dan