SHADYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

On Sunday, January 25, 2009, Shadyside Presbyterian Church had the pleasure and honor of commissioning one of its own, Nathaniel “Than” Veltman, to missionary service with the
PC (USA) in Ethiopia.

Than first started attending SPC in January 2007 and became a member soon after in March 2007. Than came to Pittsburgh by his intentions to study at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, where he focused on international development. While both studying at Pitt and attending SPC, Than began to shift his focus from working with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) toward mission work. He explains the shift as resulting from seeing the “concrete” – and often impersonal – programming that NGOs offered and preferring the “abstract” – and relational – format of missions work. Than applied for an open PC (USA) position in Ethiopia in March of 2008 and began a long discernment process that ended in November 2008 when he was offered a call to missions work, which he accepted. Than graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in December 2008 and left on February 2, 2009 for Ethiopia.

Than’s early interest in missions, which began after meeting a missionary to Nigeria, continued to deepen during his undergraduate years at Calvin College, where he received a Bachelor’s of General Studies with a focus on international development. While at Calvin, Than traveled to Africa on two separate occasions: the first time for a three-and-a-half month cross-cultural immersion program in Ghana, and the second to work for four months with an NGO in Malawi.

Than’s position has a three-year minimum commitment, but he is hopeful that the partnerships he forms can be mutually beneficial and that the commitment might be extended for a much longer time. He desires to see Shadyside support him prayerfully and by staying in touch through e-mail with encouraging letters. He can be reached at thanveltman@gmail.com.

Read regular updates from Than on the blog he maintains at http://thanveltman.wordpress.com/.