Honorary Growing Together in Mission Campaign Chairman
Rev. Dr. William H. Craig
Pastor Bill Craig was among the pastors that chartered our Presbytery and embodies much of what makes us a vibrant community of faith. His longstanding commitment to Christ’s mission reflects the themes of our strategic direction, goals, and the Growing Together in Mission campaign”
Rev. Dr. Juan J. Sarmiento, Executive Presbyter.
About
Bill Craig grew up in Belen, NM, a small railroad town 31 miles south of Albuquerque, NM. He often says that his one claim to fame was that he was born on Labor Day in the parking lot of St. Joseph Hospital in Albuquerque.
After earning BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State, he served two years as an officer in the US Army Ordnance Corps. Bill came to Southern California to work for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 1957.
Bill had committed his life to Christ during his senior year of college and made Hollywood Presbyterian his church home, where he met his wife Polly in the College Department. Sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left JPL and began seminary, graduating from Princeton Seminary in 1963. The former Los Angeles Presbytery ordained him at the First Presbyterian Church of Burbank, where he served as an Assistant Pastor for five years before being called as pastor of Sherman Oaks Presbyterian Church for ten years and then back to Burbank as Pastor for another 21 years.
He earned his D. Min. Degree from Fuller Seminary in 1983. Bill is Pastor Emeritus of FPC Burbank and has served in the San Fernando Presbytery as Moderator, Chair of the Committee on Ministry and the Personnel Committee, and, twice, delegate to the General Assembly. He was chair of the commission to form the first Korean Ethnic congregation in the Presbytery. Following retirement from full-time ministry, he served part-time for another ten years as Parish Associate at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church. Bill and Polly have two sons, Steve and Scott, both pastors, and are blessed with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They reside at Monte Vista Grove Homes, our Presbyterian retirement campus in Pasadena, where they continue volunteering.
Growing Together in mission
Abiding Calling in Changing Times
This year we celebrate 55 years of God’s faithfulness through the faithfulness of a group of people that make up the San Fernando Presbytery. The Growing Together in Mission Campaign presents us with the opportunity to highlight what the Spirit is doing in the world today as we see new pastoral leaders serving with us, as we address the food insecurity crisis in our region, and as we partner with the Church through life-changing causes in more than eight different countries throughout the world.
Play Video
Sign up to receive updates:
Campaign Overview
FAQs
1. What is Growing Together in Mission (GTM)?
GTM is a collaborative campaign to engage as many people as possible within our Presbytery in prayer for, involvement in, and support of efforts that bring us together in the pursuit of our Presbytery goals of church vitality, increased participation in worship, and engaging our diverse communities.
2. When does GTM begin and how long will it last?
We project a launch date of June 15. The campaign will end at the November 28 Presbytery meeting in Westlake Village, during which we will celebrate the results.
3. What specific efforts will be included?
• Support to people experiencing food insecurity in our communities (North Valley Caring Services);
• Scholarships for new leaders seeking to serve more effectively with our Presbytery (Cyclical and Bridges);
• Mission Co-workers supported by the Presbytery (Niger, Lebanon, Egypt, Indonesia, Colombia, Germany)
4. What will people in our churches and New Worshiping Communities (NWC's) be invited to do?
• Participate: Individuals and the churches/NWC’s that opt-in will be invited to cook meals for the North Valley Caring Services (NVCS) outreach program, serve in food distribution, be companions to new leaders, and/or communicate with Mission Co-Workers.
• Pray: Weekly prayer updates will be distributed among the participating churches and NWC’s.
• Give: Individuals, churches, and NWC’s can use the Presbytery’s online donation system (through the Presbyterian Foundation) or mail in their contributions. We are also providing special banks for worship spaces and homes to collect donations. The Presbytery office will not deduct any administrative fee.
5. Who will be in charge of implementing GTM?
The campaign will involve a broad group of individuals and committees:
• Juan will provide leadership for the campaign, David Derus will coordinate it and Deborah Kusin will report to the Property & Finance Committee
• Each participating congregation will have a responsible person or “Champion”.
• The NVCS PartnershipTask Force (under Communication and Church Support) will identify someone to coordinate the efforts to combat food insecurity.
• Evangelism and Church Growth will confer with the Committee on Preparation for Ministry to identify a way of coordinating the scholarships.
6. How can I contribute financially?
Here are some ways to make your gift:
• Regular Mail: Send a check to the Presbytery of San Fernando, 125 S Louise St, Glendale, CA 91205, with a note saying “Growing Together in Mission”
• Using a computer: Go to www.sfpresby.com and click on “Donations and Payments” in the upper right corner. Select Growing Together in Mission and follow the prompts.
• Using a smart phone: Text 844 504-2515 and follow the prompts. You will find step by step instructions here.
7. How will the Distribution of Funds be:
Up to $55,000 of the total amount received will be matched up to $55,000 split in three equal parts (Food Insecurity through NVCS, Pastoral leaders in the Presbytery needing support to fulfill denominational requirements and PCUSA Mission Co-Workers) and made available in February 2024.
