FALL 2021 / NO. 3
2021
LOAVES
& FISHES
Haiti Hot Lunch Program
2021
Loaves & Fishes
Proverbs 31:20 ESV
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
By Lynn Thomas
F
all is a time of celebration, thanksgiving, and giving. One of the ways we as a church express gratitude for God’s many blessings is through our annual Loaves & Fishes Offering for those in need. This year the offering will go to feed children in Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Haiti. One hundred percent of the funds donated to the Loaves & Fishes Offering will be used to fund a children’s lunch program for the next two years. The World Bank ranks Haiti 170th out of 189 countries with respect to development. The poverty rate is nearly 60% of the population. The World Bank reports 44% of all Haitians live in rural areas and two thirds of the poor live in rural Haiti. Did you know all six Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Haiti are in rural areas? Because our churches are in rural areas and seek to meet both the spiritual and practical needs of those in the countryside, all our churches have schools located on the church’s property. As a result, the churches,
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM 8207 Traditional Place – Cordova, TN 38016-7414 For more information and resources visit our website at https://cpcmc.org/mmt/loaves
The Virtuous Church through their schools, have access to hundreds of children. The Haiti Council of Cumberland Presbyterian Churches, which consists of all six Cumberland Presbyterian pastors and selected lay leaders, will use the Loaves & Fishes Offering to help fund feeding programs in our Haitian churches. The churches will select the children who will receive meals which will be prepared at the church/school and the children will be fed on-site. Proverbs 31 speaks of the virtuous woman. We often think of this chapter in reference to mothers and wives. But we can also look to these verses to help us understand the work of the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ, the hands and feet of Christ in our world. We are asking Cumberland Presbyterian churches around the world to open their hands to the poor and reach out to those in need. The virtuous church is faithful to Christ, imitating Christ by sacrificial love for others. By giving to the Loaves & Fishes Offering, you can open your hand to children in Haiti.
Fall 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 1
Contents 6 A Burning Desire To Share The Essence Of God's Love 8 Tiempes de Fe 10 The CP Work In Haiti 14 Native Americans And The Cumberland Presbyterian Church 17 Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry
Missionary Messenger FALL 2 021
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Loaves & Fishes Offering HAITI HOT LUNCH
FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 3
PERSPECTIVES by Milton L. Ortiz
“Manje”
Is How You Say Food In Haitian Creole
“Li lonje men l’ bay pòv. Li pran ka malere.” Pwoveb 31:20
As
we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church prepares also to express our gratitude to our Lord and Savior through the Loaves & Fishes Offering. This year’s offering will be used to fund our children’s lunch program in Haiti for the next two years. In this issue of the Missionary Messenger, you will find information and pictures of our six Cumberland Presbyterian churches, their leaders, schools, and hot lunch programs. There is also a very interesting article, called “A Burning Desire to Share the Essence of God’s Love” will introduce you to four worshiping communities which originated from the constraints and difficulties which come with the field of new church development. In November we celebrate Native American Heritage. The article “Native Americans and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church” provides information on how to celebrate our relationship with the Choctaw nation. Also, you will read about a mission trip to Camp Israel Folsom (Choctaw Presbytery) by 23 skilled workers that completed several much-needed repairs to the camp. You will find exciting news of new Cumberland Presbyterian outreach with Hong Kongers in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Hispanics in Davie, Florida. Also, find the announcement of missionary Reverend Socorro Delgado Pejendino returning to Guatemala to continue her mission work after the death of her husband, missionary Reverend Fhanor Pejendino. Amid Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry news, you will read about Convention, our scholarship recipient, and the resignation of Reverend Cardelia Howell-Diamond as Coordinator of Women’s Ministry. We give thanks to the Lord for Cardelia’s ministry with the Missions Ministry Team. Thanks for reading the Missionary Messenger and supporting our ministries.
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MISSIONARY MESSENGER
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Art Director Sowgand Sheikholeslami ext:211 Editorial Director Milton Ortiz ext:234 Publications Manager Matthew Gore ext:221 Associate Editor Jinger Ellis ext:230 Contributors Johan Daza ext:202 Kristi Lounsbury ext:263 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Milton Ortiz ext:234 Lynn Thomas ext:261 8207 Traditional Place Cordova, TN 38016-7414 phone 901.276.4572 fax 901.276.4578 messenger@cumberland.org VISIT US ON THE WEB cpcmc.org/mm To read the previous issues of The Missionary Messenger visit us at cpcmc.org/mm/mm-archives Member • Associated Church Press Made Possible, in Part, By Our United Outreach.
BIBLE STUDY
A Model Of A Faithful Believer By Milton L. Ortiz
Rejoice and Reflect Today we are reflecting on a verse from Proverbs … She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20 ESV
Loaves & Fishes is a denominational annual offering of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The offering is used to support food programs or programs related to the wellbeing of people in need. This year’s offering will be used to support six (6) hot lunch programs for school children in Haiti. As a Church we unite in this endeavor together. This Bible study is designed to help you explore a passage of scripture as it relates to this year’s Loaves & Fishes Offering. King Lemuel starts the last portion of his oracle, taught by his mother, asking the question, “An excellent wife who can find?” Then, as an acrostic poem, he expresses his mother’s description of an ideal wife in terms of values and character. Sharing food with the poor and needy is one way to show kindness. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Corinthians 9:6) Many times, we see our relationship with God as an individual relationship between God and self; a “Jesus and Me” mentality. But Christianity is a communal, corporate relationship between God and an assembly of believers. In the Old Testament, Israel was God’s wife and, on many occasions, that relationship was not without the realities of marriage. There were times when it looked like the relationship could end up in divorce. In the New Testament, the Church is now presented as Jesus’ bride. An engagement where we, Jesus’ fiancé, are in preparation for that day. To be ready implies many things, much like the many months a young fiancé today would expend in preparation for her wedding day. We, the believers, prepare ourselves individually and corporately for that day when we will be united with Jesus. Preparation does not only imply how we live our lives and how we serve Christ in this world as individual
believers, but also how we, the Church, present ourselves collectively as Christ’s bride-to-be. King Lemuel’s mother wanted to be sure that her son had an idea of the values of a wife: she does her husband good, works with her hands, brings food home not only to her family but to those under her care, knows how to make a profit, takes care of her own needs, gives to the poor, and reaches out to the needy; she is a strong, creative woman and knows how to relate well to others; she is welleducated and well versed, a woman who is always praised by her family and community. Who can live up to this image? No one! But it is an ideal, a vision, a goal. The Bible defined “poor,” with few exceptions, as economic or material poverty. The poor and the needy are those with insufficient food or who cannot afford the necessities of life such as housing, food, clothing, or medical care. It might be well to remember one of the first requests at a denominational level of the New Testament Church, was during the first Council in Jerusalem, Paul said, “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” (Galatians 2:10). Ask How can you support individually or together with your church, Cumberland Presbyterian children in Haiti through the Loaves & Fishes Offering? Prayer O Lord, having heard about the children in our schools in Haiti, I pray for them; for their well-being and for the food they will receive to nourish their bodies. I pray for their parents and extended families as well as the church leaders who provide loving care and protection of them. I also pray for those that will support financially this offering. Amen. FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 5
A Burning Desire to Share the Essence of
GOD’S LOVE By T. J. Malinoski
It
Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee. “The Community Table self-identifies as misfits looking for a home in a traditional church desperately seeking a community of faith,” says Cardelia. What started as the desire to find a place to worship, led to meeting in people’s homes, to the shared space at Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The pandemic moved the group to weekly online gatherings which expanded their worshiping community beyond the Huntsville/Madison area of Alabama. Now, The Community Table alternates between in-person and online worship to enable the worshiping community to continue their meaningful expressions of praise and affirmation of God’s presence.
is Monday afternoon, just hours before the group gathers online. The video link has already been emailed and final preparations for the evening’s worship on the biblical figure Joseph is looked at once more. Depending on the Monday, the group gathering tonight will range from five to twenty-five including elementary age, teenagers, their parents, and adults. It is among these weekly gatherings that people celebrate the sacraments, hear, and study the scriptures, pray, and converse on committing oneself to God. Cardelia Howell-Diamond has led this worshiping community for almost three years worshiping with people from
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MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
“misfits looking for a home in a traditional church desperately seeking a community of faith”
“There are people who desire community and are not comfortable in a traditional church and they need a space to experience God where they feel comfortable.”
Strewn across the kitchen table and on the surrounding floor are packing materials, sandwich bags, and labels. Pat Pickett organizes small wooden crosses, sand, painted hearts, vials of water, and other articles carefully placing them in boxes for the post office. Each finished box has a destination in Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee for those who have joined a Lenten worshiping community. This group is made up primarily of Cumberland Presbyterian ministers, students, and their spouses looking for a deeper understanding of the season of Lent and Easter. “I wasn’t ready to retire and wither away,” says Pat about leading a worshiping community. “I have a burning desire to share with people the essence of God’s love.” The Lenten worshiping community’s genesis was in Cheatham and Robertson counties in Tennessee several months earlier. Pat was leading a multi-cultural, multi-generational worshiping community who took turns hosting worship in their homes. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the group gradually dissolved due to health concerns and limited technology to continue online. Pat calls 2020 “a crisis of maintaining relationships” and by the end of the year the collected interest to keep the worshiping community together waned. What grew from this experience was a new worshiping community consisting of a new set of people with a focus on the seasons of Lent and Easter. Now, Pat is currently gathering another worshiping community with the focus on faith and Alzheimer’s Disease to worship, pray, and experience “walking a loved one through Alzheimer’s.”
T
he emphasis on worshiping communities originated from the constraints and difficulties that come within the field of new church development. In the traditional methods of church development, variables before even beginning include securing leadership, sustainable funding, identifying locations for long term growth, and goal-oriented plans. The primary and expected result is to have a growing, healthy, self-sustaining organized church in just a few years. Even in the best of circumstances this is a challenging task. Instead of focusing on achieving an established church, a worshiping community focuses on answering the question, “can a new space be created for people for the purpose of worship, study, prayer, and fellowship?” The foundation of a worshiping community is Christian worship as described in the Confession of Faith, which is proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrating the sacraments, reading, and hearing the scriptures, praying, singing, and committing life and resources to God (CoF 5.14). More concretely, a worshiping community’s purpose is three-fold: for those who do not know Jesus Christ, for those who want to know Jesus Christ, and for those who already know Jesus Christ and are seeking a community with which to worship. “Worshiping communities provide a freedom and the ability to adapt as new circumstances arise and explore different and new ways to engage others in and through worship.” A worshiping community can take on many shapes and sizes, meeting weekly or monthly, with family, friends, and neighbors in a living room, a sanctuary, or online. In many ways, a worshiping community resembles the early Church which both loved Jesus Christ and sought to know his ways. In a similar vein, a worshiping community has the characteristics of the early beginnings of the congregations of which we may already be a part.
“Pat was leading a multi-cultural, multi-generational worshiping community who took turns hosting worship in their homes.”
I
n the bluish glow of a computer screen, the clacking of keys being pressed type out this week’s devotion and prayer. A paragraph and its font are adjusted to fit nicely on the Scattered Seeds Worship webpage and an image of a lamb is added to correlate with the devotional theme. Abby Cole-Keller started an online worshiping community last year with a weekly focus of providing calls to worship, prayers, scripture, and theological reflections. “There are people who desire community and are not comfortable in a traditional church,” Abby says, “and they need a space to experience God where they feel comfortable.” Scattered Seeds Worship is a hybrid of website worship and online gatherings for those “who are seeking worship for the sake of worship and conversation.” Scattered Seeds Worship primarily includes people from the United States, Ireland, Canada, and the United Kingdom who utilize the written worship on the website and attend with others on online gatherings. “Leading a worshiping community allows me the freedom to experiment and be led by the Spirit to share the Gospel without the constraints and boundaries of one location.”
W
orshiping communities provide freedom and the ability to adapt as new circumstances arise and allow exploration of different and new ways to engage others in and through worship. They provide spaces where people may be more receptive to hearing the Gospel and be in conversations about God and how faith journeys may be enriched. The question is, can we be a people who are creating new spaces for persons to gather for the purpose of worship, study, prayer, and fellowship? Some Cumberland Presbyterians are already engaged in worshiping communities as both leaders and participants. There is both a need and plenty of space for new worshiping communities in your neighborhood, community, and realms in of which you are a part. The criteria and qualifications needed are a love for God and a burning desire to share with
people the essence of God’s love. For more information about worshiping communities contact T. J. Malinoski at tmalinoski@cumberland.org or 901-276-4572 ext.232.
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MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
Tiempos de Fe B y R e v. J o s é Te j a d a and Rev. Sandra C a s t e l l a n o s Te j a d a
The Reverends José and Sandra are members of Grace Presbytery. They serve in South Florida in two different ministries, Naples NCD and Davie NCD.
We
are pastors José and Sandra Tejada. We come originally from Medellin, Colombia, where, by the grace of God we developed different church planting efforts. We arrived in South Florida in 2015 with our three children. Like many missionaries, we suffered the impact of the process of adaptation. In those days, we received a fraternal greeting from the Reverend Milton Ortiz and his wife Francia, whom we know, from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Manizales, Colombia. They asked us about our purpose in Florida, and then Milton, on behalf of the Missions Ministry Team, proposed we start a New Church Development.
Johan Daza. As a result of his call, he invited us to be part of the Cumberland Presbyterian family. We took several months to understand and receive confirmation from God and in 2016 we agreed to begin a new exploration with the Missions Ministry Team office in the area where we lived.
Stunned by our situation of cultural insertion and adaptation, we took a time of prayer and personal fasting. We asked God if He wanted us to be in this country, and on the last day of fasting our cell phone rang, and it was Pastor
It has been almost two years since we started meeting and during the pandemic, we met a family that opened their home for a new group. Anointed by the Lord, they invited people to come to the parking lot of the place where they
8 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
We tried to open a church in different ways, and it was frustrating not to see the fruit we expected. In 2018 we moved north of Miami to the city of Davie, in Broward County. We faithfully invited and gathered some people in a prayer group at our home. As our time allowed us, we pastored them, but our group was not growing, and it was not as stable as we wanted. We were surprised by the patience and love that Johan and Milton had waiting for the development and growth of a ministry there.
(Times of Faith) New Church Development Good News From Davie, Florida
usually do their shopping. Since then, the group began a dynamic growth to the point we have five different gatherings every week in different houses, and two more were started during this past summer.
determined that it is time to believe, to wait in God, to return home, and be consistent and solid in what God promises us.
Families thirsty for God’s Word and longing for His Presence have come. When we started growing numerically, we prayed to God for a place to begin to congregate together and we found a beautiful church to rent in Sunrise, Florida. On May 1, 2021, we began worship services every week. Even amid a pandemic we had 50 people attend our first gathering. Today, we have couple’s meetings, discipleship, fasts and prayer gatherings, and soon we will be baptizing the new believers.
Who would think during the pandemic it was God’s time for us to see the fruit, after the dedication and faithfulness we sowed all these years? Psalm 126:5-6 says, “The tears we shed when we sow the seeds will return to songs of joy when we harvest the wheat.” (Translation from the TLA in Spanish). Planting new churches have painful, desertic and exciting stages, because they are full of experiences where we are exposed before God´s presence. God is always willing to teach us new things. For that reason, we trust and believe that we are witnessing the growth of a dynamic and permanent congregation.
Our vision, with God´s help, is to open more house groups with the families that are currently attending. We want to form new leaders, who can be moved to serve in the ministry according to their call. Tiempos de Fe (Times of Faith) is the name of the congregation and have
We thank God for His powerful support, Grace Presbytery, and the Cumberland Presbyterian family in general for their patience, for taking care of us, and for believing that church planting is possible. It is possible to see new beginnings! FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 9
THE CP WORK IN B y Ly nn L . T h o mas
The following is a directory of CP
churches and pastors in Haiti. All these churches have schools. The pictures
reflect the amazing progress that has
been made over the past years as donors
and work groups have helped build these
churches and schools. After a multi-year process of church development all the
churches are now organized CP churches. The six CP pastors pictured have spent
years in preparation to be CP ministers and over a period of time all were
ordained by Hope Presbytery. This year’s Loaves & Fishes Offering will be used to help these CP churches, through their schools, feed children.
10 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
Lexi Cumberland Presbyterian Church– Pastor Smith Fauvelt
Dufour Cumberland Presbyterian Church – Pastor Jean Joab St Louis
Evangelical Church of Mache Kabrit – Pastor Evetuel Theissaint
Evangelical Church of Gris-Gris – Pastor Kemson Lundy
Evangelical Church of Nan Akou – Pastor Sheslair Georges
Evangelical Church of Saint Jules – Pastor Eddy Edouard 12 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
NEW CP OUTREACH IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND By Lynn Thomas The political climate of Hong Kong resulted in the migration of many Hong Kong people to other parts of the world. In 2020 one of our pastors in Hong Kong, the Reverend William Yeung, retired from his ministry in Hong Kong and decided to move with his family to Taiwan. Rev. Yeung was able to gather other Hong Kong people who had migrated to Taiwan and started a Cumberland Presbyterian worshiping community in his apartment. The Missions Ministry Team (MMT), working with Rev. Yeung, hoped this exploration initiative might lead to forming a Cumberland Presbyterian church in Taiwan. However, Taiwan declined to grant residence visas to Rev. Yeung and his family. Because the Yeungs
could not get visas to live in Taiwan, they had to look for a new home and the Taiwan outreach ministry was closed. As is often the case in ministry, one tries new things and sometimes they do not work out. The United Kingdom (UK) opened their doors to Hong Kong people wanting to immigrate to the UK. Rev. Yeung and his family decided to move to the UK and arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland in early 2020. Many other Hong Kong people also moved to Edinburgh, as well as other British cities. The UK is granting refugee visas to Hong Kong people. The MMT asked Rev. Yeung to explore the possibility of forming a group in Edinburgh. He contacted
Hong Kong people in the area amid the pandemic. He was able to find a place to meet in a Presbyterian church in Edinburgh. On May 2, 2020, Rev. Yeung held his first worship service. There were about sixty Hong Kong people in attendance. We are all excited about this first step. The MMT is working with Rev. Yeung to determine if new church development among Hong Kong refugees in Edinburgh is possible. We are excited about what is happening – so far – so good. The MMT, with the help of Rev. Yeung, is looking at other cities in the UK where we might form groups of Hong Kong people using Hong Kong leadership. Please pray for our mission exploration initiated in the UK.
REV. SOCORRO DELGADO PEJENDINO By Milton Ortiz
On February 2, 2020, while visiting Colombia, South America, Fhanor Pejendino died of COVID-19. Reverends Fhanor and Socorro Pejendino were Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Socorro, after spending time with family and friends in Colombia, decided to return to Guatemala and continue her mission work. Socorro returned to Guatemala the 26th of April 2021 and has resumed her work as a missionary. Currently, she is the only ordained Cumberland Presbyterian pastor working with the different churches and missions there. Socorro reports she is adapting to her new life and feels God’s presence and strength as she returns to mission work. She will be in the United States during the month of July to visit with her son and his wife. In August she will return to Guatemala to resume her responsibilities. We are all grateful to Socorro for her commitment to missions and sacrificial service to our Lord. FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 13
By T. J . Malinoski
Native Americans And The Cumberland Presbyterian Church
As
the days get shorter and the cooler temperatures begin to greet those in the Northern Hemisphere fostering introspection and reflection, the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar is November. (Ironically, the word November is derived from the Latin word novem meaning the number nine.) In the United States, the month of November is designated as the Native American Heritage month to celebrate the traditions and contributions to the world by Native Americans. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the designation Native American includes all native peoples of the United States: American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans. Native American also includes persons from Canada First Nations, indigenous communities in Mexico, and Central and South America who are United States citizens with estimates upwards of 1.9 million people. 574 federally recognized tribal nations reside, work, study, worship and fellowship in the United States and its territories with over an additional 300 tribes not yet officially recognized. A federally recognized tribal nation is a Native American tribal entity that has both its sovereignty and a government-togovernment relationship with the United States. This includes inherent rights for self-government for its citizens and lands and having 14 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
protections, services, and benefits in their relationship to the United States government. The relationship between tribal nations and the United States has a long history with official alliances dating back to the Continental Congress with their first written treaty; the first of many to be written and later broken.
T
he relationship between the Choctaw nation and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church also harks back to a time when the United States and the denomination were just newborn fledglings among a people who have inhabited the “Americas” for eons. In October 1818, the first missionaries of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Reverends Samuel King and William Moore, were commissioned by Elk Presbytery. King and Moore spent six months among the Choctaw nation marking, what the author of The Gospel to the Choctaw Claude Gilbert writes as, “the beginning of a ministry and friendship between the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Choctaw people that continues to this day.” Reporting back to Elk Presbytery and the newly formed Mission Society, Rev. Robert Bell was commissioned as a missionary in 1819 with both the Choctaw and Chickasaw in a relationship that lasted for years enduring the hardships of removal from what is now known as Mississippi, through the Trail of Tears and Death and relocation to Oklahoma.
C
umberland Presbyterians celebrate the traditions and contributions of Native Americans on a special Sunday. To remember the hospitality of the Choctaw to the first Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries and for all the Native American ministries and leadership shared with the Church, General Assembly designated the third Sunday of October as a time to lift up the men and women who are and have been part of this denomination. There are many available resources to celebrate and learn more about Native Americans. Where possible, try to locate resources and information created and written by Native Americans. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (www.bia.gov) provides general information and links to tribal nations. www.nativeamericanheritagemonth. gov has resources from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian and National Archives including films and online events available to the public. There are many works by Native Americans that have earned the accolades of Emmys, National Book Awards, and Pulitzer Prizes. Developments in ecology, sign language, history, politics, medicine, and the scientific community are all being enhanced by Native Americans. Join with all Cumberland Presbyterians on October 17 and during the month of November to celebrate the cultures and heritage of Native Americans.
Mission Trip To Camp Israel Folsom By Kristi Lounsbury
Friends in Mission, a group usually called to rebuild following natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes, travelled to Camp Israel Folsom (Choctaw Presbytery) near Broken Bow, Oklahoma, the week of Memorial Day, 2021. Ollie McClung, Jr., and Richard Dean led the group of 23 skilled workers to complete several much-needed repairs to the camp. The group divided into teams based on their skills and abilities. There were three who cooked. Several painted and cleaned. A group worked diligently on getting the bathhouse renovated by installing a new roof, shower walls, toilets, and fixtures. Another group worked on electrical outlets in the main building and electrical issues throughout the camp. Fixtures were repaired. A picnic table built. Security lights, fire extinguishers, and more were installed. On Thursday evening, members of Choctaw Presbytery were invited to
join the group for a meal, with worship following. Reverend Kim Moore, pastor of Mount Sharon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, led the group with a message and shared communion. Those in attendance from Choctaw Presbytery expressed their deep appreciation for the work completed during the week. Many thanks to those who gave of their time and treasure. The repairs took a talented group of volunteers as well as funding to buy supplies. The donations given to support this trip by several individuals and churches were very much appreciated. The camp still has a lot of work to be done. If you feel led to bring a group to the camp for a work trip, please contact Kristi Lounsbury at klounsbury@cumberland.org. The camp is also in need of a caretaker. If someone is interested in camp ministry in Choctaw Presbytery, please reach out as well.
FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 15
REVEREND CARDELIA HOWELL-DIAMOND RESIGNS AS COORDINATOR OF WOMEN’S MINISTRY By Milton Ortiz
Rev. Cardelia Howell-Diamond’s passion for the denomination’s broad spectrum of ministry will be missed. Cardelia spent nine years working with the Ministry Council’s Missions Ministry Team, first as an elected member then as Coordinator of Women’s Ministry. As Coordinator, Cardelia has given leadership and stability to Women’s Ministry during a challenging time with the COVID-19 pandemic by creating an extra year of online Bible Studies and resources. Cardelia assisted the Women’s Ministry Executive Committee in developing plans for the annual Convention and all related resources and recognizing, developing, and supporting women’s ministry in the global Church. We are sorry to lose Cardelia’s insights, empathy, and integrity. We wish Cardelia every success in her future endeavors.
GIVING NEWS/Second Mile Project for Missions Clergy Crisis Fund - Project #35004 This past year was one of challenge, hardship, and struggle for many people, including our Cumberland Presbyterian churches and pastors. We had to learn how to worship in a variety of different contexts and how to care for one another without being physically present. Most churches and pastors have met these challenges and more to continue to proclaim the Good News that Jesus is alive and active in our world. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken, and will continue to take, a huge toll on our pastors. Like their members, many pastors have been infected by the coronavirus. We have
FINANCIAL DATA:
Amount Needed from Second Mile: $20,000.00 Amount Received to Date: $17,150.00
lost a few ministers to the horrors of this disease. Some pastors struggle with personal finances as giving to churches has decreased. Some pastors are dealing with depression and anxiety related to living through and serving a congregation during a global pandemic. The Clergy Crisis Fund will be needed more than ever before in 2021. We began to see evidence of this in the last quarter of 2020, as we exceeded the Clergy Crisis Fund $6,000 annual budget by $1,500. We are appealing to the church to help provide additional funds for the coming year.
CONTRIBUTIONS:
Please make check payable to the Pastoral Development Ministry Team indicating for project #35004 and mail to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Pam Phillips-Burk at pam@cumberland.org, (901) 276-4572 ext. 203. 16 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
2021-2022
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Scholarship Recipient Sierra Nicole Keenan is the 2021-2022 CP Women’s Ministry/ Bethel University Scholarship Recipient. A native of McKenzie, Tennessee, Sierra is the daughter of Thomas and Charro Keenan and sister to three brothers. Sierra graduated from McKenzie High School in 2019. She enrolled at Bethel University in the fall of 2019, majoring in Psychology and is an active member of the Bethel University Renaissance Choir. She is a member of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McKenzie. The youth group, under Rev. Garrett Burns, was a big part of her life. She is also active in the West Tennessee Presbytery Church camps and in the Summer College Fellowship at the Milan Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Sierra recalls attending the women’s ministry group, “Sharing Sisters,” with her mom. She tells the story, “I started going when I was 11. We had a potluck every meeting. Me, a picky eater, had my mom bring chips and salsa to every meeting so I would have something to eat. The other ladies would take turns bringing chicken tenders and rolls so that I would have more to eat.” Sierra admits, “I enjoyed all of the women in my church allowing me to act like I was a grown-up and attend the Women’s Ministry Convention with them. The conventions were fun, however, as a kid I thought the hotel pools were the best part!” Sierra continued, “Attending the Women’s Luncheon was a
By Kristi Lounsbury
very cool thing for me to experience. I was always excited to see who got the scholarship. Knowing all those strong, spiritual women were supporting the scholarship recipient was so empowering and an experience I will never forget. Now, me being chosen brings so much joy to my heart.” Ms. Keenan concludes, “Words cannot express the gratitude I have for being the recipient of this scholarship. I am thankful for what the church has meant to me in my life, and I look forward to representing the women in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by continuing to participate in the life of the church.” This scholarship was established in 1976, in recognition of the service given by Beverly St. John, as the first director of Cumberland Presbyterian Women. It is awarded annually in the amount of $2,000 to encourage young women in their pursuit of ordained ministry as well as other positions in the church. It is the hope and dream of Women’s Ministry that more dedicated and capable young women will consider a vocation related to the church. If you would like to donate to this scholarship endowment, you can do that online or by sending your check payable to Missions Ministry Team to 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016. Be sure to indicate on your check that it is for the Women’s Ministry/Bethel University Scholarship Endowment.
2021 Women’s Ministry Officer Nominees Judi Truitt-Past President (Nashville Region/Tennessee Synod) Judi, a member of Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dickson, Tennessee, has served in a wide variety of ministries (teacher, VBS coordinator, music, women’s ministry, and youth/ children’s ministry). As an ordained elder, she has served faithfully in Nashville Presbytery and Nashville Women’s Ministry Region (as president). She has also volunteered in the communities where she and her family have lived in the areas of domestic violence, child advocacy, and women’s issues. Judy Miller-McGee-President (Murfreesboro Region/Tennessee Synod) Judy, a member of Banks Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Smithville, Tennessee, is the first ordained female elder in her church. She has been president of her local women’s ministry for more than 15 years. She has served in every capacity on the regional level. She is married to Lynn McGee. Judy works at the Dekalb County Clerk’s Office and is the owner of D’zigns Salon. She loves to travel with her Women of Faith circle of friends, which is a Bible study group of ladies from all denominations. Veronica Ent-President-Elect (Cumberland Region/Kentucky Synod) Veronica, a member of Garfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Garfield, Kentucky, has worked with CP Women’s Ministry for about twelve years. Serving as President of the Cumberland Region, she has enjoyed getting to know women
from all over the region, as well as having the opportunity to serve on the Presbytery Council. Even though Women’s Ministry is her passion, she has also served as SS teacher & Director of VBS. She is presently volunteering with a local “Sober Living Home” for women in her community. Lynnette (Lynn) Bray-Secretary (White River Region/Synod of Great Rivers) Lynn, a member of the Barren Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church, serves faithfully as a deacon and a youth committee member. She has also served in the role of VBS craft facilitator and the role of local CPWM president. Within the Arkansas White River Region, Lynn is currently the region secretary and was previously the region president, as well as a leader planner for the CPWM retreat. Lynn is employed at a local college as the Administrative Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. Sarah Reyes-Secretary-Elect (Red River Region/Mission Synod) Sarah, a member, and Minister of Music at St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church, serves on the Worship Committee, the Preschool Board, and is an elder. Having loved this church since she was a child, her favorite memories were attending church camps in Red River Presbytery and CPYC. Sarah has taught music in public education for fourteen years and is the mom to a son and daughter. She led the Women’s Ministry Convention music in 2018 and 2019. FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 17
But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. Isaiah 40:31 NET 18 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
Convention began with several hugs and “I’ve missed you” during the Regional Delegate Luncheon and Meeting. Presided over by Sondra Gould and Christy Hood, the delegates voted on which projects to recommend for spring and the 2022 Convention Offering, as well as voting on the new officers elect.
RISE UP!
On
Tuesday, everyone gathered to begin the day with worship through song and sermon, based on Isaiah 40:31. Faye Delashmit and her crew provided beautiful music while Reverend Dusty Luthy brought a message of hope and renewal. Prayer stations were incorporated into our worship. That afternoon, the group was blessed to take part in three different workshops offered: Self-Care by Sherry Poteet, What’s Next? by Rev. Dr. Chris Fleming, and Rise Up by Alexis K. Brown. Wednesday morning brought another time of praise and worship with the music crew and a thoughtprovoking devotion by Savannah Lamb. A portion of the business meeting followed with the presentation of the recommended spring project: Multi-generational CPWM in Brazil and the recommended 2022 Convention Offering: Mental Healthcare for Cumberland Presbyterian Ministers & Probationers. The fall project remains the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund which supports the Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries endorsed by the Missions Ministry Team. The projects were approved. See the article in this issue for details. The Convention gathering had the pleasure of hearing Reverend Lisa Cook of Sacred Sparks Ministries talk
By Kristi Lounsbur y
about her experiences with working with those experiencing homelessness in the greater Nashville, Tennessee, area. She also spoke of the blessing of being able to help with the birth and placement of a child because of her ministry with Sacred Sparks. Wednesday afternoon the Convention had two service opportunities. The majority stayed on-site to paint blessing rocks and write letters to the missionaries. A small group joined with Repair Affair, a local nonprofit organization in Louisville which helps the elderly and differently abled persons with yard work and home repairs. Both experiences were equally rewarding. Denominational representatives from Bethel University (Dr. Walter Butler), Memphis Theological Seminary (Dr. Jody Hill) and Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home (Courtney Banatoski) also spoke. Each representative told stories of inspiration and hope related to their institution.
T
hursday morning, the Women’s Ministry Convention celebrated in worship remembering those who have come into our lives, blessed us, and gone on to their eternal home with a moving memorial service conducted by President Judy Miller-McGee. Presenting Memberships, Jamie Berkley and Cathy Littlefield gave thanks for those who have served God
faithfully and reminded those present how to honor our sister servants through the various memberships available. Finally, the Convention heard from the outgoing President Judi Truitt, before Cathy Littlefield (past-president) installed the new officers for 2021-2022: Past-President – Judi Truitt, President – Judy Miller-McGee, President-elect – Veronica Ent, Secretary – Lynn Bray, and Secretary-elect – Sarah Reyes. The Convention concluded with the annual luncheon. The local harpist, Luneita Cotton, played in the background while people enjoyed conversation. Missionaries the Reverend Patrick and Jessica Wilkerson brought those in attendance a moving message of their ministry in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many, many thanks to the host CP Women’s Ministry Committee from Cumberland Presbytery which provided gracious and generous hospitality. Their preparation and hard work were noticed and appreciated greatly. Many thanks to the Executive Officer Team of 2019-2021 and our videographer, who provided the Reverend Kristi Lounsbury much insight into both the bigger and smaller details and traditions to help make Convention a success following many changes since the last time together.
FALL 2021 MISSIONARY MESSENGER 19
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Projects and Offering The fall project for the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry remains the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. This fund supports the missionaries throughout the world who are endorsed by the Missions Ministry Team. Supporting the StottWallace Missionary Offering Fund allows the missionaries to focus on ministry and not raising funds. For more information regarding those in mission fields, please visit: cpcmc.org/global-missions-2/ The spring project for the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry approved during Convention is the Multi-generational Cumberland Presbyterian Women in Brazil project. The Cumberland Presbyterian women in Mata de Sao Joao, Brazil are a vibrant and promising ministry. Adult women, youth, and young adults are involved in ministry together, as well as in children’s ministry. Structure and financial support are needed to help the women’s ministry to continue growing as a strong movement in Brazil. The leader, Priscilla Cerqueira, has been meeting with women from the church and the community. Working with the community’s children has been the approach used to attract women. The next step will be developing leaders to broaden the scope of women, especially children and youth, participating in the ministry of the church and in new church developments. They seek to bring all women together, mother and daughter, to develop a holistic and multi-generational ministry for women which brings glory and honor to Christ and equips them to live out their call. The goal for this project is $20,000. The Convention Offering will fund Mental Healthcare for Cumberland Presbyterian Ministers and Probationers. Ministers can be considered “first responders” due to the nature of their work. They are often the first people called when there is a death in the family, a serious illness, a broken relationship, or another crisis. They are also called upon when there is a wedding, a birth, or a graduation. This type of close ministry results in joys, sorrows, conflicts, celebrations, and disappointments in the life of a minister and in the minister’s family. While this deep relationship has its joys, it can also have a negative impact on the minister’s health (physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional) and that of his/her family. The Pastoral Development Ministry Team’s mission is to “build and sustain healthy, effective ministers through connection with presbyteries.” One way the team does this is by sponsoring the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a free counseling service for ministers and their families. Presbyteries enroll their ministers and probationers, and the Pastoral Development Ministry Team (PDMT) secures a counseling service for the presbyteries. Gifts for this offering will provide a grant to each presbytery that enrolls all the ministers/probationers in the Employee Assistance Program, which provides important mental counseling service for the minister and his/her family members. The goal of the offering is $5,000. 20 MISSIONARY MESSENGER FALL 2021
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM 8207 Traditional Place – Cordova, TN 38016-7414 For more information and resources visit our website at https://cpcmc.org/mmt/loaves
Proverbs 31:20 ESV
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
POLICY: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER is published for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the Missions Ministry Team. Opinions expressed by the individual writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editors. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER does not accept advertising. ©2021 Missions Ministry Team ADDRESS CHANGE: Send new address and label from a recent issue to the Circulation Secretary at the address below. THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER (ISSN 08868344), (Publication permit number: PE14376) is published quarterly by the Missions Ministry Team of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, Tenn. The magazine is sent free of charge to each household in the denomination. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE MISSIONARY MESSENGER, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
2021 November 4-6
WHAT: A Leadership Training Event for Pastors, Elders, Youth & Children’s Ministers, and Congregations WHERE: Dyersburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Dyersburg, Tennessee Stream Online – All Worship Services, Keynote Addresses, and Several Workshops For those streaming – registration will be required along with the Registration Fee of $75 COST: Early Bird Registration $100 per person up until September 30. After September 30, Registration is $125 per person, includes fee & 2 meals. Onsite/Walk-Ins on the Day of Event Registration is $150 per person. Spouses/travel partners attending workshops and meals pay the full registration fee. Local people are welcome to join us for worship! HOTELS: Sleep Inn - $75, Hampton Inn - $89, Holiday Inn Express - $99 For TN registrants, you can use your church Tax ID form for tax-exemption. Ask for the “Cumberland Presbyterian Church” group. Cut-off date: October 21, 2021 REGISTER ONLINE – www.cpcmc.org/the-symposium