Rev. Donald Marsden
Associate Director
 |
Contact Information 508 Cokesburg Lane |
BACKGROUND AND CALL
Donald grew up attending a Presbyterian congregation in Connecticut. Although involved in his church youth group, and identifying with the Christian way of life, he had only the foggiest, agnostic notion of God. That changed in the summer of 1976 when God grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and became very real to him. Donald sensed God’s call to faith and to ministry in the Presbyterian Church. Life has never been under control since.
SERVICE
Even before he came to faith, Donald became involved in mission work– repairing homes and teaching gymnastics to children in rural Maine through church summer youth trips. After college he spent two years serving in youth ministry with German youth in West Berlin, Germany, visiting with Christians behind the iron curtain in East Germany, Poland and Russia. Following graduation from Princeton Seminary, Donald was ordained to the gospel ministry. He and his wife Laurie served thirteen years in two congregations in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Marsdens were then called with their three children to serve as missionaries of the PCUSA in Russia from 1997-2008. In Russia Donald focused on training Russian church leaders for ministry and publishing books for children. He also travelled with Harold Kurtz to visit the nomadic reindeer herding Nenets in Siberia, the Roma in Ukraine, and thus was introduced to the work of frontier mission.
MINISTRY FOCUS
In PFF Donald focuses on helping congregations become involved in outreach to the Arssi Oromo of Ethiopia. He also has relationships with mission workers in West Africa, Russia, Siberia, Hungary and Ukraine. Donald works with congregations all over the United States, but especially in Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New England.
HOW DONALD CAN HELP YOUR CONGREGATION
- preaching biblical messages on frontier mission (especially from the books of Luke, Acts, Matthew, Jonah, Psalms and Daniel.)
- leading groups to Ethiopia, (and possibly West Africa, Siberia and Ukraine.)
- helping small churches find their role in frontier mission
- speaking with children about mission and helping congregations involve children in mission.
- consulting with mission committees and sessions about their congregation’s strategic involvement
- teaching classes and seminars on a variety of aspects of frontier mission including such questions as….
- How has the world of mission grown more complex and how can we best participate today?
- What is Islam and how can Christians share their faith meaningfully with Muslims?
- Does frontier mission have to be overseas or is there a frontier mission at my doorstep?
Donald writes “God has led me to follow and serve Jesus Christ in ways I never expected. The call to be a pastor, to eleven years of mission service in Russia and Siberia, to serve with PFF – all of these have come to me as total surprises. Sometimes I have responded reluctantly to God’s call, sometimes enthusiastically. In our highly complex, fragmented and violent world it is a privilege to serve with PFF seeking to be a part of extending good news to all ethnic and religious groups in the world. I am grateful to God to be in partnership with so many wonderful people who make this possible.”
Write or call Donald to be included on his monthly prayer letter or newsletter list.
Email: DonaldMarsden@pff.net
Phone: 804.432.5654