A Tradition of Mercy

Every year a few weeks before Easter, Tenth launches its Easter Sacrificial Offering (ESO) campaign. The ESO benefits five projects that provide help and encouragement to the some of the poorest people around the world. This tradition of mercy predates the memories of most members at Tenth. But where does it come from? And what has made it such a longstanding tradition?

Arguing there is no futility in mercy, the Global Outreach Commission at Tenth authored a blog entry in 2016 describing the decades-long impact of Tenth’s ESO. In it, they trace the origins of the ESO to the late 1940s, where an interdenominational response to the horrors of World War II was launched. Since then, Tenth’s ESO has supported relief efforts that helped people going through civil wars, political unrest, famines, refugee crises, and epidemics. This tradition, however, has roots that go much further back in history to the period of the New Testament Church, with one example being the Apostle Paul referring to the contributions churches in Macedonia and Achaia made to the poor in the church at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26-27).

Following that example and keeping the decades-long tradition, Tenth’s ESO this year will go to long-term efforts by five of our global partners serving the Church and its mission in poorer areas of our world. This year’s ESO will support projects in Asia, Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia.

On a hilly Asian terrain, a congregation comes together to construct a church building. No outside labor is needed; they only rely on the materials, strength, and talents their Lord has given them. Conflict in the region has now added a more pressing need. Multiple children have lost their parents and are now being cared for by the ministry run by our global partner. The same ministry also supports schooling for many young local students who need a safe place to live while attending school. This year’s ESO will support efforts to care for these children and to build two dormitories to provide safe housing for young students.

Our global partner with an eye care patient.

In an African nation, patients in need of eye screening and care wait to be seen by medical providers coming to their remote areas to provide. In addition to eye care, they hear the good news of a great physician who restored sight to the blind and who redeems our whole being. These outreaches are costly. The needed eyeglasses, medications, and surgeries are even more so. This year’s ESO will support such a life-changing ministry that will continue with biweekly eye outreaches providing physical healing and spiritual hope to those in need.

In another African nation with great physical and spiritual need and where the Church forms a tiny fraction of the population, a mission hospital stands equipped to provide good multi-specialty medical care in a resource-poor environment. But this hospital also shares the good news of Jesus with those who have not yet heard his name. To help in this mission, training native Christian doctors is essential. The hospital is launching a one-year training program that would immerse a local doctor in multiple specialties. With the support of the ESO, the hospital can cover a salary and housing costs, helping a local doctor serve the community with clinical skills and a strong gospel witness.

An architectural rendering of the seminary building to be built.

There is always a need for well-equipped pastors whose doctrine and training will determine how they will care for the Church. Santiago Theological Seminary in the Dominican Republic provides students from Latin American countries with a high level of theological and ministerial competence to take on this calling. To meet increasing needs, the seminary is constructing new classrooms and spaces for students. Through supporting these construction projects, the ESO will help create a better learning environment for the future leaders of the church in Latin America.

The nearly-complete sanctuary of Los Olivos.

The final ESO project is closest to home. Tenth has been supporting a church plant in a poor neighborhood in Colombia over the past few years. The congregation at Los Olivos Church now meets in a temporary classroom-like space but are eagerly anticipating completing the construction of their sanctuary. This year’s ESO will support efforts that will bring the sanctuary one step closer to completion.

With Easter a few weeks away, please prayerfully consider supporting these ministries through the ESO. You can give online here.

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in its entirety or in unaltered excerpts, as long as you do not charge a fee. For Internet posting, please use only unaltered excerpts (not the content in its entirety) and provide a hyperlink to this page, or embed the entire material hosted on Tenth channels. You may not re-upload the material in its entirety. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Tenth Presbyterian Church.