Moderator- General, Presbyterian Church of Australia
(Rev) David Burke
Dear friends in the PCA family,
I write to commend the PresAiD Easter 2025 appeal which supports a new college vehicle for Talua College in Vanuatu and a building project in Timor Leste.
Why PresAID? All help is given in the name of the Lord through reputable partners and with nothing deducted for publicity and admin costs. That’s right – nothing!
How does PresAID help? I will focus on one of the Easter projects, namely refurbishment of the Presbyterian Church buildings in Dili, Timor Leste.
Last week I was in Timor Leste for a teaching week being conducted in those buildings.
About 35 people attended multi-level classes directed at the general Christian public; pastoral candidates; and professional development for pastors. This is a huge step forward for the Timorese church. It replaces reliance on expensive overseas seminaries which may leave graduates not fit for purpose in Timor.
Male students sleep on a concrete floor in the vestry. Females are crammed like sardines to sleep on thin mattresses on the floor of a single room in the adjoining Manse. And I do mean sardines! The church kitchen is good for washing up but has no facilities to cook onsite. Put simply the present buildings hinder the program to train local gospel workers. The funds allocated from PresAID will enable a purpose-built dormitory to be constructed on top of the existing church building and will provide an enhanced kitchen with onsite cooking.
Timor Leste is a place where a little goes a long way. Last Sunday I preached at a small church in Simpang Tiga. (Google it!) The local pastor is raising funds to build a Sunday School hall for just AUD1,500. All you get for that in Australia is that an architect lifts their pencil!
This is our opportunity to give from our plenty to make a strategic difference in gospel work in poor countries where we have strong mission partnerships through APWM.
Before I left Dili last week the Timorese moderator asked me to thank the PCA family for standing alongside them through APWM and past PresAID appeals. He also gave thanks for the present appeal.
You can read more about PresAID and find details of donations at https://presaid.org.au.
In Christ,
David Burke
4th April 2025