Sunspots

Episode 2 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger series

As a young girl, Lynn Hargrove grew up in El Paso, Texas, long before she became the general presbyter for The Presbytery of New Covenant.  Listen in on this conversation with Border Ministry Coordinator Marta Pumroy about what she remembers of the past as we compare it to the current situation on the US/Mexico border.

This series was brought forward by the Synod Network for Dismantling Racism. You can learn more about N4DR on their website at N4DR.org.

Tres Rios Border Foundation, affiliated with Tres Rios Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is a nonprofit organization based in El Paso, Texas—just feet from the U.S.–Mexico border. Its mission is to inspire, equip, and connect  congregations “on both sides” of the border and beyond, fostering narrative change, systems change, and personal transformation around immigration and migration. Find out more at https://www.tresriosborderfoundation.org/home

An additional resource from the organization Women of Welcome entitled Using Your Voice: For Our Immigrant Neighborcan be found by CLICKING HERE. Women of Welcome is the group that provided the framework for the Soul Training study, “What the Bible Says About Immigration” conducted with members from throughout the Synod last Spring. Look for the ‘Bartlesville Immigration Bible Study’ episode of this podcast. 

Find out about the Dallas Women of Welcome Proximity Event on Thursday, August 14 at Preston Trail Community Church by CLICKING HERE.

Episode 1 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger series

Tres Rios Border Foundation partner liaison, John Nelsen, shares the history behind border ministry in the El Paso/Juarez region. In this conversation with Border Ministry Coordinator Marta Pumroy, John shares the current work that Tres Rios does in partnership with hospitality sites in the area focusing on changes that have happened in 2025. 

This series was brought forward by the Synod Network for Dismantling Racism. You can learn more about N4DR on their website at N4DR.org.

Tres Rios Border Foundation, affiliated with Tres Rios Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is a nonprofit organization based in El Paso, Texas—just feet from the U.S.–Mexico border. Its mission is to inspire, equip, and connect  congregations “on both sides” of the border and beyond, fostering narrative change, systems change, and personal transformation around immigration and migration. Find out more at https://www.tresriosborderfoundation.org/home

An additional resource from the organization Women of Welcome entitled Using Your Voice: For Our Immigrant Neighborcan be found by CLICKING HERE. Women of Welcome is the group that provided the framework for the Soul Training study, “What the Bible Says About Immigration” conducted with members from throughout the Synod last Spring. Look for the ‘Bartlesville Immigration Bible Study’ episode of this podcast. 

Find out about the Dallas Women of Welcome Proximity Event on Thursday, August 14 at Preston Trail Community Church by CLICKING HERE.

Emotional Spiritual Care - Texas Hill Country Flooding with Kathy Riley and John Cheek

SPDR continues to coordinate with and support all those involved with the Texas Hill Country Flooding relief efforts. Leaders from Mission Presbytery, First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offer the following updates and resources. 

Tim Hutchon, President and CEO of Mo Ranch has also provided the following update - Click HERE for the Facebook video.

Read more on how to help at: https://www.synodsun.org/post/responding-to-the-hill-country-flooding

Please keep all impacted by these events in your prayers, especially as the response transitions to long term recovery. Your continued prayers and support will be needed for years to come.

FPC/Kerrville Flooding Response Update with Jasiel Hernandez Garcia

SPDR continues to coordinate with and support all those involved with the Texas Hill Country Flooding relief efforts. Leaders from Mission Presbytery, First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offer the following updates and resources. 

Tim Hutchon, President and CEO of Mo Ranch has also provided the following update - Click HERE for the Facebook video.

Read more on how to help at: https://www.synodsun.org/post/responding-to-the-hill-country-flooding

Please keep all impacted by these events in your prayers, especially as the response transitions to long term recovery. Your continued prayers and support will be needed for years to come.

Hill Country Flooding Update with Kathy Lee-Cornell, Bobby Musengwa, Laurie Palmer, and Kathy Riley

SPDR continues to coordinate with and support all those involved with the Texas Hill Country Flooding relief efforts. Leaders from Mission Presbytery, First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offer the following updates and resources. 

Tim Hutchon, President and CEO of Mo Ranch has also provided the following update - Click HERE for the Facebook video.

Read more on how to help at: https://www.synodsun.org/post/responding-to-the-hill-country-flooding

Please keep all impacted by these events in your prayers, especially as the response transitions to long term recovery. Your continued prayers and support will be needed for years to come.

On this episode of Sunspots, we meet Tammy Stepka. Tammy is known by the folks at Grace Presbytery as the Office & Ministry Coordinator. In the Synod of the Sun we are getting to know Tammy as our new Interim Administrative Assistant. Tammy has served on the staff of Grace Presbytery since 2017 and joined our staff in January of this year. Tammy has a B.A. in Organizational Leadership and is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Garland.

Tammy talks about her role at Grace Presbytery, how so much of her Synod job is virtual when her Presbytery job is in-person, and what first brought her to the Presbytery and what brought her to the Synod.

In a conversation with guest host Kristy Rodgers, medical student Allison Mundy shares how a 2019 border encounter trip organized by the Synod of the Sun profoundly shaped her views on immigration. Motivated by Lyon College’s focus on service, the 12-hour journey from Arkansas to the border exposed her to the real-life struggles of migrants, highlighting the importance of empathy, dignity, and systemic advocacy. The experience continues to influence her work in medicine and her commitment to social justice, reinforcing the value of firsthand engagement in fostering deeper understanding and lasting impact.

On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Elizabeth Brinegar, Teaching Elder from the Presbytery of Arkansas and the returning Director of Operations for Solar Under the Sun.
Elizabeth is a familiar face in the Synod, having served six years as a Commissioner, was elected Moderator for 2019, was the Coordinating Team Chair, and served on the Search Committee for the Synod Leader.

Elizabeth discusses the mission and ministry of Solar Under the Sun, which is dedicated to providing clean, sustainable, and transformative energy to communities facing energy poverty. She reflects on her return to the role of Director of Operations, sharing the reasons behind her decision to come back. Elizabeth also addresses the evolving relationship between Solar Under the Sun and the Synod, particularly after the organization transitioned from being a Synod Network to establishing itself as an independent 501(c)(3).

To find out more about Solar Under the Sun and how you can get on board as a volunteer or bring your church to a Solar School:
https://www.solarunderthesun.org/

On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lisa Almon, Co-Moderator of the Hispanic Mission Ministry Network and hear about the Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today workshops. Lisa talks about how there was a need for training Commissioned Pastors and other Lay Leaders in Hispanic congregations and how the Holy Spirit guided some key leaders to create this series of six workshops.

Lisa describes the first five in-person training events that have happened over the Fall of 2024 and the Spring of 2025 and previews the sixth of these workshops that will take place at the HMMN Annual Meeting at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary on March 7-8. 

To find out more about HMMN and the Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program:
https://www.austinseminary.edu/lifelong-learning/programas-en-espanol/hispanic-ministries-mission-network

On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lindsay Freeman-McCarthy, Communications Contractor for the Synod. Lindsay is a 12th generation Presbyterian and daughter to two Presbyterian ministers. She’s an ordained Presbyterian Deacon and Ruling Elder, former camp counselor at Ferncliff, and was an active youth and young adult in the church.

While on a study trip to Spain and walking the Camino de Santiago with her mother, she meets a young Dutchman named Mitchell which led to her decision to move there instead of returning to the US. As she self-describes on her BlueSky account, she is now an American Girl who became Dutch by Way of Spain.

She once again became active in the life of the church when coming on board with the Synod. Lindsay assists with CSP, building websites for mid-councils and Presbyterian entities, as well as assisting Tom with mass e-mails, and creating beautiful social media.

To find out more about the Communications Services Plan: https://www.synodsun.org/csp