SPRING 2016
M M Missionary Messenger
How Can I Be Part Of A Missionary Story?
Stott-Wallace
MISSIONARY OFFERING FUND
CanYou Find
DORCAS?
She was well-known for doing good and helping out. Acts 9:36 The Message
This year we are studying the ministry of Dorcas from the New Testament and searching for women and men who are using their talents and abilities to express their faith and support the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church..
OUR MISSIONARY SUPPORT
Stott-Wallace
Pentecost Sunday May 15, 2016
MISSIONARY FFERING FUND By Lynn Thomas
Churches, Sunday school classes, youth/women’s groups or individuals can support a Cumberland Presbyterian missionary through the Missionary Support Fund, called the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering. The book of Acts say, that “She was well-known for doing good and helping out” (9:36). This woman made robes and clothing for the poor. This was a way to express her faith and this was notorious for the people around her. Many Cumberland Presbyterians have growth with the mission field in their minds. And many have been like Dorcas, doing and making with their own hands what they can do best to support missionaries and mission fields. Today, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is looking for Dorcas; women and men who can use their talents to support, especially a Cumberland Presbyterian missionary or be part of a missionary story. Our Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund is a way to support our missionaries and their families. Your financial support to the missionary offering responds to the urgency of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, keeps the missionary in the country of service, alleviates the stress and distraction experienced by the missionary of securing available funding to continue their ministry, and opens new horizons to support new missionaries and new mission fields. This is an invitation for your congregation to join with other Cumberland Presbyterian churches around the world this Pentecost Sunday on May 15, 2016 as we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. All contributions go to missionary salaries and benefits, that is, to directly support Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries. Giving to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund is easy and your participation will make a big impact on ministry. For example, if 500 groups (churches, Sunday school classes, individuals, like-minded “teams”) contribute $2,000 annually it will total one million! Send your contribution to Missions Ministry Team at 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016 any time throughout the year. Also, a donation can be done online at http://cpcmc.org/mmt/sw. MM
CanYou Find
DORCAS?
was well-known for doing good and helping out. Acts 9:36 The Message
is year we are studying e ministry of Dorcas from he New Testament and earching for women and men who are using their talents and abilities to express their faith and support the ministry of e Cumberland Presbyterian Church..
How does the Stott-Wallace MISSIONARY Offering Fund
Work? • ALL contributions are placed into this one account. If a specific missionary is indicated on the gift, that is recorded and the missionary notified. • ALL missionary salaries are paid from the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund, giving assurance to the missionaries that their salaries are secure and will not change.
You may earmark your donation for a specific missionary! • Anay Ortega (Guatemala) • Boyce & Beth Wallace (Colombia) • Carlos & Luz Dary Rivera (Mexico) • Daniel & Kay Jang (Philippines) • David and Sara Lee (South Asia) • Fhanor & Socorro Pejendino (Guatemala) • Jacob & Lindsey Sims (Brazil) • John & Joy Park (Philippines) • Patrick & Jessica Wilkerson (Latin America) S P R I N G 2 016
M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 1
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Missionary Messenger
Contents
page 11
Feature Stories 8-9
10
11
Women & Missions in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church A brief history of how missions have been greatly impacted by Cumberland Presbyterian women. Countdown to Being A Missionary The steps for a missionary to be sent into the field is like a NASA countdown. A New Day for Missionary Offering The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund supports all of our endorsed missionaries.
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14-15
16-17
20
Martha’s Bread Martha Chambers uses her gift of bread making to raise support for our missionaries.
Cross-Culture New Church Development and Exploration Initiative News Updates and information about our cross-culture ministries in the United States. 2016 Evangelism Conference A Cumberland Presbyterian Evangelism Conference is happening this year.
pages 14-15
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VISIT US ON THE WEB
http://cpcmc.org/mm
PERSPECTIVES /
Can You Find Dorcas?
To read the previous issues of the Missionary Messenger visit us at
http://cpcmc.org/mm/mm-archives
BIBLE STUDY /
Giving By Faith Versus Just Giving. S P R I N G 2 016
M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 3
PERSPECTIVES By Milton L. Ortiz
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CAN YOU FIND DORCAS?
To
find Dorcas we need to know a little about this wonderful disciple of Christ. Dorcas (Greek) or Tabitha (Aramic) or Gazelle (English) used to live in Joppa (present-day Jaffa, a port city on the Mediterranean Sea in Israel, surrounded by Tel Aviv). She lived during Peter’s time and is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (9:36-42). When Dorcas died, Peter went immediately and prayed for her and she came back to life. The news spread through the city and was a testimony for many to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
She was well-known for doing good and helping out. Acts 9:36 The Message
Acts also mentions that she was a good woman; well known for doing good and helping out. She made robes and clothing. Dorcas exemplifies the kind of Christian that expresses their faith by good deeds. We do not know if she donated what she sewed or if she sold it and then used the money to help the poor. We also do not know if Dorcas did her work alone or if she was part of a group (widows) that met to do the ministry together. What we know is that Dorcas was a woman who used her sewing abilities to make garments for the poor and became well known in the community for her acts of charity. What she did resulted in her being mentioned by name in the Bible.
Can you find Dorcas? It is not only the idea of finding Dorcas from the New Testament but to find Dorcas today in our churches. Those women or men who use their talents and abilities to express their faith and support the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Maybe you are asking yourself, “How can I be a part of a missionary story?” Well, giving to the missionary offering, which we call The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund is easy and your participation will make a big impact on a missionary’s life. There have been individuals who have used their talents and abilities to make bread or something else during the year to raise money for the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. Maybe you know how to do something that will help raise money for the missionary offering too. Or you can encourage your congregation, Sunday School class, women’s ministry or youth group to get involved. You can send your financial contribution to Missions Ministry Team at 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova TN 38016 any time through the year. You may also use your credit card or donate online at http://cpcmc. org/mmt/sw. MM
SPRING
2016
MISSIONARY MESSENGER {
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MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM OF THE CUMBERL AND PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH
ART DIRECTOR Sowgand Sheikholeslami
EDITORS Milton Ortiz ext:234 Pam Phillips-Burk ext:203 Lynn Thomas ext:261 T.J. Malinoski ext:232 Johan Daza ext:202
COPY EDITOR Jinger Ellis ext:230
8207 Traditional Place Cor dova, T N 38016-7414 phone 901.276.4572 fa x 901.276.4578 m essenger @cu m berland.org
PRINTER A1 Printing Memphis, Tennessee MEMBER • Associated Church Press
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Bible Study
Giving By Faith VERSUS Just Giving By LYNN THOMAS
“You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when our tithe as support for things we like does not show devotion and trust in God, it shows control and distrust. Where is our you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord faith? of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.” Haggai 1:9 ESV Church members should tithe and so should churches.
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aggai is confronting the Israelites about their misguided priorities. After being captives in Babylon and upon their arrival home they started rebuilding the temple of Jerusalem. It had been destroyed by the Babylonian conquest decades earlier. Rebuilding the temple said several important things: it showed their priority was worship, it demonstrated concern for things other than themselves, and it expressed their faith in God. After two years of rebuilding they became distracted, walked off the building site and put their attention on the things they felt were more important. They were not necessarily giving themselves to bad things, just not the right thing. What if our church members started acting like the people in the book of Haggai? What if they picked what was important to them and those were the only things they supported? “I like the youth program and the music, that is where my giving is going to go.” “I like Habitat for Humanity, that is where my tithe goes.” “I like the Baptist relief program down the street from my church, that is where I put my money.” All of these things are good but where is the faith? Giving to what we like and can control, is that faith? Every pastor and church leader teaches that we tithe to our church. Tithing is an expression of faith and devotion to God. If we pick what we want to support, we miss the point of the tithe. The tithe is a faith commitment to God, we trust God to guide the leaders of the church to use those funds to follow God’s will for our church. We do not pick church programs or individuals to support and call that a tithe. God will direct our church leaders and if they do not listen to God, God will deal with them in God’s way. The tithe is giving in faith, not giving to control. We trust God to influence leaders to use the tithe to fulfill our church’s call to ministry as a body. Giving
Local churches should model to the church members the very thing we preach. We tithe to the church as an act of faith and devotion, trusting God to lead our leaders. The tithe is an important way to have godly leaders, God protects those who trust God. God will not let God’s tithe be used in vain. How can a church tithe? Very simply by giving 10% of their income to Our United Outreach (OUO). Few Cumberland Presbyterian churches tithe; most support things. As Haggai asked, so why are you not prospering as a nation? Why do we not prosper as a church? Haggai explained because you turned your eyes away from building God’s house and focused on what you wanted to do. His charge to them was to invest in something outside of themselves, to tithe, to give first to God by giving to the temple. If we want a church that reaches the world for Christ, that has godly leaders that are growing in their faith, then our devotion to God expressed by our tithe brings God’s blessings. That was Haggai’s point about giving in faith and not just giving support to what we want to support. Haggai 2:8-9 says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.” Giving to what we want to support means we are in control. Giving and trusting God to be in control is faith. Faith leads to prosperity.
Reflection: If we give our tithe in faith, trusting God to guide our leaders to use those funds for God’s glory, what can we expect God to do so that our tithe is not given in vain? If we do not tithe and only support things we like, what are the consequences to our church? Good leadership is vital to the church, how can the tithe help our church leaders be what God expects them to be? MM S P R I N G 2 016
M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 5
Worship Resources for World Missions Sunday / By Pam Phillips-Burk
Acts of Corporate Worship Call to Worship
we let distractions keep us from stepping up and stepping out into We are here to worship our God in your world to share the good news spirit and in truth. of Jesus. We confess that we let fear May our singing and our praying be prevent us from going where you pleasing to God. call us to go: into the lives of hurtWe are here to learn more about who ing people, into communities that God is, and who we are called to be in are dangerous and unfamiliar, into the world. countries where people are differMay our listening and our respond- ent from us. Send your Holy Spirit ing draw us closer to our Shepherd. into our lives to blow away our fears We are here to commit ourselves to and hesitations. Renew a right spirit God and go where God sends us. within us as your faithful disciples. May our response to the Word com- In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pel us to go out into the world to pray. Amen. share the love and grace of Jesus Words of Assurance Christ with everyone we meet. Let us worship God with joy and Here is the good news: in Christ Jesus, thanksgiving! we have new life. When we acknowledge our human frailties and failings, Opening Prayer we are in a position to be raised up into Come to us now, Holy Spirit, and fall a new life, full of hope and great potenafresh on us. Speak to us in the music, tial. Rejoice in the fresh start that you the Word, the silence, and the sermon. have and make all your good intentions Fill us up with your love and passion. a reality today. Thanks be to God! Move us out of our routines and ruts Prayer of Dedication into your beautiful world so that we might fulfill our calling to be your We have much for which to be thankfaithful disciples. In Jesus’ name we ful, loving God. We bring before you pray. Amen. today our tithes and offerings, as well as our very lives. Use these gifts for Call to Confession your work both in this church and We have good intentions. We intend around the world. We especially ask to get involved in ministries here at you to bless the Cumberland Presbytethe church. We intend to reach out rian missionaries that will be receiving to a neighbor who is struggling with the benefits of the Stott-Wallace Mislife circumstances. We intend to give sionary Offering. May they be encourmoney to various outreach projects. aged by this act of support and love. We intend to mend fences and broken May lives be transformed through their relationships. We intend to do a lot of ministries in far-flung places. May your good things. But many times, our good kingdom grow and blossom through intentions go unmet. Surely, we have the work of your Holy Spirit and these some things to confess as we seek to gifts. Thank you for the faithful work live faith-filled lives. of missionaries both now and in the past. In Christ’s name we pray. Prayer of Confession Amen. MM We confess our good intentions, O For more worship resources visit our Lord. Help us to be more than just website at http://cpcmc.org/mmt/sw. good intentions. We confess that 6 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 016
Affirmation of Faith We believe that you have called people to serve you, O God, throughout all generations. You called Isaiah to speak your words; You called Ruth to speak up for your people; You called Moses to lead your people out of slavery; You called Mary to bear your own son; You called the disciples to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ; You called Dorcas to do good works and help the poor. We believe that you have called Cumberland Presbyterians to share your love and grace throughout the world to do good and help the poor. You called the early founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to go in a new direction and a new denomination was born; You called early missionaries to leave their homes and go to a new country to spread the gospel story; You called Buddy and Beverly Stott to go to Japan to serve you and the Japanese people, a work that was started 138 years ago; You called Beth and Boyce Wallace to go to Colombia to serve you and the Colombian people, a work that was started 90 years ago. We believe that through the movement of your Holy Spirit, you continue to call your disciples to go into the world, doing good and helping the poor. You call us to Guatemala, Brazil, Hong Kong, Cambodia, and the Philippines. You call us to South Korea, Mexico, and places yet named. You call us to schools, community centers, back alleys, and hospitals. You call us to places we cannot yet imagine. You call and we go. We believe that when you call us to go, you will go with us, faithful God. This we believe and upon this assurance we go. Amen.
Children’s Message
HELPING HANDS! She was well-known for doing good and helping out ! Acts 9 : 36 The Message
By JOHAN DAZA
T
here was a woman in the Bible named Dorcas, who was a disciple of the Lord Jesus. She is described as a well known person for doing good and helping others. In other words, she was always willing to serve God through helping people. How many of you are good helpers? Have you helped others in need? Are you willing to help others in different parts of the world? The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is looking for helping hands willing to assist our missionaries around the world to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to many people in need of love and a personal encounter with God. Dorcas, as a disciple of Jesus, offered her gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. As Christians, all of us have received the gifts of goodwill and help from others. There are some CP women’s ministries that have made bread to sell and raise funds for missionaries. A CP youth group in Kentucky sells soda cans to raise funds to pay for medical appointments for children in our CP clinic in Guatemala. Some CP churches support missionary work through special offerings, and many CP children’s ministries make special noisy offerings with coins to support our missionaries around the world. In the same way that Dorcas made a difference for others, we can do it too. We can join our efforts with many other Cumberland Presbyterian brothers and sisters to support our CP missionaries who are serving many people through bringing the love of God to them and proclaiming good news and a new life in Christ. Remember that God is more than glad to use your helping hands to help others! Let us pray: Dear God you are the greatest helper in the world. We are your children and we would like to do good deeds and help others. Help us to share your love and grace with others. We give you thanks for our missionaries and we ask you to help them through us and others to accomplish your call of proclaiming the good news of Christ to all nations. In Christ we pray. Amen! MM
2015 YOUTH
EVANGELISM CONFERENCE
IGNITE By T.J. MALINOSKI
The city of Louisville, Kentucky was ignited the last week in December with 100 Cumberland Presbyterian youth and adults attending the 2015 Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC). Cumberland Presbyterian youth from Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas came together to learn more about how they experience God in their own lives and to equip them to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Jeff Bethke, author of the New York Times best-selling book Jesus > Religion and It’s Not What You Think helped unpack the conference theme Ignite. Paige Clingenpeel, Director of Content at the parenting site TrendsandTeens.com led the participants through small group settings in discovering one’s individual personality traits to assist in understanding how to share one’s faith based upon one’s strengths and abilities. After being encouraged and equipped through the speakers, music, breakout groups, worship and fellowship, participants of YEC then engaged in putting their faith into action through several service evangelism projects throughout the city. Projects included volunteering at an inner city youth center, Ronald McDonald House, an elderly care center, and evangelism in the streets of downtown Louisville. YEC Ignite was the first Youth Evangelism Conference hosted jointly by the Discipleship Ministry Team and the Missions Ministry Team in six years. The 2012 YEC was cancelled due to a winter storm that knocked out electricity to the conference center and made travel difficult. For all the youth participants, this was their first Youth Evangelism Conference opportunity and are looking forward to the next one! A special thanks to the YEC planning team, the adult participants and the youth for making this the best YEC to date. YEC was made possible through your giving and support to the Cumberland Presbyterian Our United Outreach (OUO). MM S P R I N G 2 016
M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 7
WOMEN & MISSIONS IN THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Women’s Ministry By PAMPRESBYTERIAN PHILLIPS-BURK CUMBERLAND
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he Cumberland Presbyterian Church took its first steps into “foreign missions” just 25 years into its existence by calling upon presbyteries to form “auxiliaries.” This plan was modified the following year, forming a Foreign Missionary Society with the idea that this agency would become a partner in the ecumenical organization American Board of Foreign Missions 8 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 016
which deployed 694 missionaries during its first 30 years. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was instrumental in that great work. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church stepped out on their own in 1845 with the creation of a new Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions. It had a rocky start but eventually took off when the
Women’s Ministry CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN
Reverends J.B. and A.D. Hail presented themselves to the board as missionaries. It was in this new growth in Japan that missions and women began to be intertwined together. Like most denominations, the women of the CP Church participated in local church auxiliaries for the purpose of foreign missions which set the stage for the creation of a larger organization and work. A challenge to the women came from the Rev. A.D. Hail who encouraged them to join their efforts together and send out Cumberland Presbyterian women missionaries. The women of the Church responded wholeheartedly and the Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions was constituted on May 25, 1880. At that meeting, Miss Alice Orr offered herself as a missionary to Japan. When the Board met the following year, not one but two young women were commissioned as missionaries to Japan – Alice Orr and Julia Leavitt. They arrived in Osaka, Japan in November 1881. They were joined a year later by America Drennan. These three women laid the groundwork, alongside the Hail brothers for a lasting work in Japan. Today, Japan Presbytery numbers 12 organized churches and 2 mission points, with over 1100 members. The work of foreign missions was an uphill battle during the days following the union of 1906 with the Presbyterian Church (USA) where only a remnant remained of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Interestingly, almost all the leaders of the women’s work on the denominational level remained within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church! They continued to trust God with the details and committed themselves to the work. Reverend Gam Sing Quah approached the Board about going to China. The women did not think it prudent to start this new work because of a shortage of funds. Rev. Quah’s vision never wavered. Eventually, the women gave him permission to go trusting God for the financial support. Their decision created an uproar in the Church where many of the leaders felt the money was needed more at home in rebuilding the denomination. Once the steadfastness of the women of the church was evident, it resulted in much good work in China where today Hong Kong Presbytery numbers 10 churches, 3 schools and over 1300 members.
The ministry continued to evolve and change until 1965 when much of the work of the Woman’s Board of Missions was realigned to become the Board of Missions. The missions program would now look to the whole Church for support, not just the women. That brings us to where we are today. The Church had “career or staff” missionaries, meaning the Church fully-supported the missionaries’ salaries through Our United Outreach. Decreases in OUO giving placed those salaries in jeopardy. Eventually, staff missionaries were replaced with missionaries that served with other partnering organizations not unlike the roots of our earliest mission work. At the same time, missionaries were called upon to raise their own support before heading to the field. While this is a good practice, it also causes problems today when many of our missionaries are not from the United States. Fundraising is also disruptive to the work when a missionary has to leave for an extended period of time. A solution? The Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund, a missionary fund named after two long-time missionary couples – Boyce & Beth Wallace and Buddy & Beverly Stott. The goal is to fully fund staff missionaries by keeping missionaries on the field rather than trying to raise their support and to truly engage the whole Church in world missions. Here is the challenge: if 500 people/ organizations/groups contributed $2,000 a year there would be one million dollars available to spread the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. In this issue, you will read about how one woman has decided to raise her money. Martha Chambers is doing what women have done throughout our history. Early Cumberland Presbyterian women supported missions with their “butter and egg” money; money they earned by selling their eggs, milk, and butter. Martha’s Bread is helping to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Join in this beautiful legacy of work and become a part of this continuing story! Note: Much of this history was obtained from the excellent book written by the Rev. James Knight, The Hearth and Chalice, A Story of Cumberland Presbyterian Women and World Missions. MM S P R I N G 2 016
M ISS I O N A RY M ESS E N G E R 9
Countdown
TO BEING A MISSIONARY By LYNN THOMAS
B
ack in the glory days of the NASA program the television came alive with media coverage of the moon. Everyone watched with great expectation. The countdown was born becoming part of our common culture. Now there are countdowns for a lot of things: a championship, a political debate, a special event; and, it all started with the NASA countdowns. Becoming a missionary is like a countdown. Being a missionary is similar to other Christian vocations; it starts with a “call”. What is a “call”? It is a God given passion, a hunger to do something one believes God wants them to do with their life. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas called this grace, that is, a God given impulse God puts in the hearts of men and women. In the case of a call to be a missionary, it is a desire to leave one’s home, family, culture and move to a different culture to share the love of Christ. Missionaries go to the mission field because they want to go. It is a “call”. God gives them the “want”. God uses grace to motivate all of us to service, to fulfill God’s will by birthing passions in our hearts. Once the passion comes, the road to the mission field is no quick trip. On the other hand, without a God given passion, that is the “call”, no one would make it to the mis10 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 016
sion field. This grace, this “call”, this hunger is the start of the countdown. In the case of an aspiring missionary, the journey to the mission field starts with a call that leads to obstacles and challenges. The grace of God sustains them as they wait for the fulfillment of their call. Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries have to be trained to do what they are called to do. If they are going to plant new churches, they need to be pastors and have experience as a pastor. If they are going to teach, they need to be trained as a teacher and have experience teaching, it is not enough to just go. The passion
comes to be a missionary, then the frustration of waiting as one gains the training and experience needed. All Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries have to raise money to pay their missionary salaries and benefits. Many think that once the missionary announces they are going to the mission field the money will quickly flow in, that is often not the case. Most donors think a $50 or $100 one-time gift is sufficient. In reality, a salary for a Cumberland Presbyterian missionary family is more like three or four thousand a month; month after month.
Fundraising is part of the countdown. Once again it is grace, the “call” that sustains missionaries during this trying time of fundraising and waiting. A new missionary also has to wait for permission from the mission field, that is a visa, before one can move. The application for the visa and approval is also part of the countdown. The God given passion to serve on the mission field explodes in the heart of the missionary. Then the missionary has to endure training, fundraising, and government bureaucracy. It is the countdown but with a twist. One does not know when it ends. As often happens with NASA countdowns, they get within a few minutes of blastoff, only to have a problem and delay the launch. This is the case with every missionary. They wait and wait, thinking at each step maybe now is our time to go. This is why grace is so important, the passion remains, God’s call continues its work of assurance during the countdown. Inviting a missionary to your church, pastor’s lunch, area Cumberland Presbyterian event is not just about helping them gain the support they need to be a Cumberland Presbyterian missionary, it is about being an encouragement to them during the countdown. Making a commitment to support Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries is more than just money, it is a statement by the community of faith saying we are with you on this journey. The countdown allows all to focus on the blastoff and celebrate its success. The countdown is not just for the missionary but for all of us. We too share in the thrill of the blastoff and the success of the mission. MM
A New Day For
MISSIONARY
SUPPORT By LYNN THOMAS
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ne of the many stories told by our missionaries are about their travels in the USA visiting churches. In fact, just to have money to live they have to travel and ask for donations. Unique to being a missionary, unlike being a pastor, youth director, worship director, or associate pastor, they have to have donors to support them to fulfill their call. Until two years ago there was no missionary support fund and each missionary had to raise their own support. Our missionaries tell about waiting months, even waiting over a year trying to gain enough sponsors (donors) to pay their salary and benefits to be a missionary. That is a life full of financial uncertainty, and in reality a great deterrent to outreach and expansion. The Missions Ministry Team (MMT) realized this was not an effective way to do mission work. We started a new program to fix that problem for all of our missionaries. We now have a missionary support fund, all donations for missionaries go into that fund and its pays our missionary salaries and benefits. Rev. John Park left for the Philippines in January 2016 as a new Cumberland Presbyterian missionary. His wife Joy will later join him. Over many months he has been visiting CP churches in the USA promoting the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. This is what we call our missionary support fund. All missionaries now promote this missionary support fund. John tells stories about his visits to many churches. He tells about traveling
from Atlanta, where he lives, to CP churches near and far to tell them about the CP Church in the Philippines. He explained to these churches that in order for him to go to the mission field the MMT has to have new donors giving to our missionary support fund. Once a missionary goes to the mission field the support fund guarantees their salary while on the mission field. Obviously, the missionary support fund has to have enough money flowing in to assure all missionaries can be paid each month. Thus, new missionaries like John have to raise funds for the missionary support fund, which benefits all CP missionaries. In John’s case the amount of donations given in his name was not enough to cover his salary and benefits. The truth is that no Cumberland Presbyterian missionary has enough donors giving donations in their name to cover their salary and benefit package. Despite this, the MMT deployed John as a new missionary. John and Joy Park are taking a step of faith, as are we who are responsible for their welfare. Donations to the missionary support fund, the
Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund, supports all of our endorsed CP missionaries. It is the most effective way to support our missionaries. The MMT hopes new churches will become donors to our missionary support fund. The work in the Philippines needs John and Joy. Missions always comes to a point of risk and faith. It is now “our” responsibility as a Church to take care of our missionaries, no longer the financial burden to bear alone by each missionary. New missionary applications have arrived; God is calling men and women to missionary service in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The MMT plans to deploy new missionaries believing the CP Church will grow in its participation supporting missionaries. Pray for new donors willing to give to the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. It is an exciting time in our Church - CP expansion all around the world. We sent new CP missionaries to the Philippines, and new CPs are making application to serve in the future as missionaries. MM S P R I N G 2 016
M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 11
S E C ON D M I L E PROJ E C T S
WELLER COTTAGE THE NEED Just off Highway 321 in East Tennessee, twenty miles west of Gatlinburg near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stands a modest log cabin and a small adjoining house known as the “Weller Cottage.” This cabin and cottage play a vital role in the ministry of Reformed and Presbyterian churches in Appalachia serving as the headquarters of the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry. This unique ministry is shared by five Presbyterian/ Reformed bodies: Christian Reformed Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Reformed Church in America. There are several Cumberland Presbyterians who serve on the board. At a recent executive board meeting the position of “Church Relations Coordinator” was created and will be filled by the Rev. Lisa Peterson, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister who just moved into the area. Weller Cottage serves as a retreat center for Coalition for Appalachian Ministries (CAM) providing lodging for volunteers helping with the ministries of CAM and is also available as a retreat site. It is a great setting for individuals and small groups (youth groups, women or men’s fellowships, Sunday school classes) looking to find a quiet getaway place for study, fellowship or reflection. The cottage has three bedrooms and two baths, and can sleep up to 10 people (one queen bed, one double bed, two bunk beds, and two roll-a-ways). It has a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and wi-fi access. There is an outdoor pavilion suitable for picnic use. There is no rental fee, but donations are encouraged. To check on availability or request reservations visit the website at http://www.appalachianministry.org/Coalition_for_Applachian_Ministries/Reservations.html. There is an existing debt of $40,000 on Weller Cottage with the goal to pay it off in 2016. We want to help in that effort by offering this as a Second Mile project. When that financial commitment is met, CAM can look to grow and expand in new areas of education, advocacy, and service in Appalachia. The Appalachian region includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states stretching from the southern part of New York to northern Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. Forty-two percent of the region’s population is rural. A large percentage of Cumberland Presbyterian churches are located in this region. Consider “Weller Cottage Debt Retirement” when looking for a worthwhile ministry to support. MM
FINANCIAL DATA:
Amount Needed from Second Mile
$40,000.00
Amount Contributed to Date:
$
0.00
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please make check payable to the Missions Ministry Team indicating for project #34415 and mail to 8207
Total Amount Needed for the Project: $40,000.00
Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414.
DURATION:
CONTRIBUTIONS:
March 2016 – March 2017
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Contact: Pam Phillips-Burk at pam@cumberland.org (901) 276-4572 ext. 203.
S E C ON D M I L E PROJ E C T S Contributions for the following projects should be sent to the Missions Ministry Team, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016-7414 indicating on the check the project number:
the schools and the new Cumberland Presbyterian churches being organized in Guatemala and other locations in Central America. The creation of a unique Cumberland Presbyterian ministry called the Center for a Promising Future will be established to provide ongoing education about domestic violence, advocacy work, and the prevention of violence and abuse in Guatemala. It will also serve as a launching point for Choctaw Transportation expanding the ministry throughout Central America. Funding – Project #34403 Schedule: • First year (Convention 2016) - $5,000 – funds will be used Our Choctaw brothers and sisters need your support to to develop curriculum, provide resources, and transportation to replace their current vehicle with a late model SUV or minivan. implement the project during the 2015-2016 school year. The Missions Ministry Team calls upon you, your Sunday • Second year (Convention 2017) - $10,000 – funds will be School class, your youth group, your Women’s Ministry, and used to expand the program into more schools, to train local your congregation to take on this Second Mile Project to teachers and leaders to implement the program, and to begin help purchase reliable transportation for the Cumberland Presbyterian Choctaws. Your generous giving will help meet the setting up the Center. • Third year (Convention 2018) - $20,000 – funds will be used financial goal of $35,000.00 for Choctaw ministry, missions and to establish the Center in Guatemala and secure necessary travel. resources to plant this Cumberland Presbyterian ministry of The financial goal is $35,000. reconciliation and hope firmly in the soil of Guatemala and For more information contact: T.J. Malinoski at Central America. tmalinoski@cumberland.org, (901) 276-4572 ext. 232.
Mexico Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry – Project #34026 This project is designed to give financial assistance to the development of a new Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry group in Mexico. The vision is to send a group of women leaders from the United States and/or Colombia to hold training workshops/retreats, and to offer support to women in Mexico as they work to establish their women’s ministry. The project will also provide some “seed” money to get their “regional” organization up and running. The financial goal is $10,000 (2015) and $10,000 (2016). For more information contact Pam Phillips-Burk at pam@cumberland.org, (901) 276-4572 ext. 203.
Women’s Ministry Asia Immersion – Project #34027 This project is for the purpose of organizing an immersion/ work trip to Asia in 2017 for Cumberland Presbyterian women. The trip will be made up of representatives from Colombia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. The goal is for the women to travel to Hong Kong and meet for three (3) days for orientation and to learn about the Cumberland Presbyterian work in Hong Kong Presbytery. From there the group will be divided into two smaller groups, travel to either Laos/Cambodia or the Philippines and engage with Cumberland Presbyterian leadership in those countries in a children’s event or some other work project. The financial goal is $15,000. For more information contact Pam Phillips-Burk at pam@cumberland.org, (901) 276-4572 ext. 203.
2016 Convention Offering – Building a Promising Future – Project #34051 This project is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence in Guatemala through educational training in the schools, churches, and communities. Educational programs will be established in local schools and connections made between
Contributions for the following project should be sent to the Discipleship Ministry Team, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 380167414 indicating on the check the project number: Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference (CPYC) Scholarships – Project #33019 Funding to give scholarships to youth participants. Amount Needed: $6,000 For more information contact: Nathan Wheeler at nwheeler@cumberland.org, 901-276-4572 ext. 218.
Children’s Fest – Project #33020 Children’s Fest is a denominational event for children who have completed K – 6th grade. Since its beginning in the summer of 2014, Children’s Fest has brought together over 250 Cumberland Presbyterian children to experience worship, Bible study, service opportunities, and fun and fellowship – all created just for them! Children’s Fest is a one day event that brings children together from various churches and presbyteries along with their adult volunteers who also gain new ministry ideas and build relationships at the event. Your second mile gift will help fund scholarships for children and churches in need of monetary support to attend Children’s Fest and will also assist in keeping the registration fee at a reasonable rate for all Cumberland Presbyterian children to attend. Amount Needed: $1,800 For more information contact: Jodi Rush, jhr@cumberland.org, 615-415-9735
For more information about all of these projects go to
http://cpcmc.org/missions/2nd-mile.
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MARTHA’ S
BREAD By PAM PHILLIPS-BURK
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artha Chambers is a bread baker. Baking bread is her talent and gift. She finds joy and satisfaction in watching the dough rise, then in kneading the dough and getting it into her oven. In fact, you might say that hers is a spiritual gift. Martha has been able to use her gift for bread baking to further the good news of Jesus Christ.
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She comes from a family of Cumberland Presbyterian preachers, where she and her husband, Royce, have raised a family of CP preachers. Her father, Rev. Leo Smith was a CP minister in Arkansas. Her two sons, Nicholas and Jason, are both CP ministers. When her father died, Martha established a fund in Arkansas Presbytery to help support ministerial candidates. “Martha’s Bread” has supported seven candidates
was at work in the world through the gifts and ministries of Cumberland Presbyterian missionaries. And as always, Lynn gave the challenge – “if just 500 people or groups would raise just $2,000 each, the CP Church would have one millions dollars for our missionary work around the world.”
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with a $500 scholarship from Arkansas Presbytery as they prepared for the ministry. When the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund was introduced at Convention in 2012, the wheels in Martha’s head started turning to her breadbaking gift. Martha heard the challenge loud and clear – “if 500 people or groups raised just $2,000 a year, the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church would have one million dollars to support missionary work around the world.” Martha got busy baking bread and by the spring of 2013 she had raised $2,000 toward the effort. The story does not end here. That is usually how it goes with God’s story, like good bread it just grows and grows and grows. Martha attended the fall retreat of Arkansas Presbytery’s Women’s Ministry last October. Lynn Thomas, director of Global Missions, was there and spoke about how God
artha could have patted herself on the back and offered herself congratulations on a job well done!!! She’d done her part toward the effort. But no – just like any good bread baker, she got out her pans and accepted the challenge AGAIN! She is once again doing her part by raising ANOTHER $2,000 for the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund. By the time this article is printed Martha will have reached her goal again! Well done, Martha. You are an example of what one, faithful, visionary, gifted, bread-baking woman can do for the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is your gift? Where do you find joy and satisfaction? Can you use that gift and joy in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ? Martha found her way! If just 500 people or groups raised just $2,000 each, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church would have one million dollars to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the far-reaches of the globe. MM S P R I N G 2 016 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 15
Cross - Culture
New Church
Development and Exploration Initiative
NEWS By JOHAN DAZA
Maranatha CP NCD (January 2016 - December 2018)
Cross-Culture
Red River Presbytery approved a three year plan to establish a bilingual (SpanishEnglish) Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dallas-Fort Worth area. This ministry is led by Rev. Soledad Martinez, an American-Mexican minister originally from El Paso, Texas. Her love for the Lord and deep passion for evangelism are the reasons she is starting a new congregation. There is a core group of 30 people including children and youth. Rev. Richard (Rich) Shugert serves as the liaison between the NCD, the Red River Board of Missions, and the Missions Ministry Team.
NCDs
The following descriptions of new church development (NCD) plans reflect joint efforts between the Missions Ministry Team and different presbyteries in the United States. All of the cross-culture NCDs remain under the care of a particular presbytery. 2016 is the beginning of new NCDs and New Exploration Initiatives (NEI), and also the year of evaluation for some current NCDs that started in 2014.
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Comunidad Bíblica de Miami NCD (January 2016 - December 2018) Grace Presbytery approved a three year plan with the goal to establish a Spanishspeaking Cumberland Presbyterian church in Miami, Florida. This three year plan is from January 2016 - December 2018. Rev. Mardoqueo Muñoz is leading this new church development. Comunidad Bíblica de Miami (Biblical Community of Miami) has a core group of 40 adults that gather for worship on Sunday afternoon in the facilities of a Lutheran church. Rev. Wilfredo Mora is serving as a liaison between the NCD, Grace Presbytery, and the Missions Ministry Team.
Cross - Culture the care of Grace Presbytery. Ramón has a passion for planting churches and developing leadership. As a result, there is a new probationer and strong leadership within the regional CP women´s ministry. Rev. Eddy Jenkins, and Sue Rice are serving as the liaisons between the NCD, Grace Presbytery and Missions Ministry Team.
between the NCD, West Tennessee Presbytery Task Force, and the Missions Ministry Team.
Maranatha East NCD (January 2016 - January 2018) Revs. Lyvia and Alfredo (Fredy) Rincón are a bilingual (Spanish and English) couple planting a bilingual church in El Paso, Texas. This city is on the border with Juarez, México and there is a large MexicanAmerican population. Lyvia and Fredy have a passion for evangelism and leadership development. This NCD belongs to Del Cristo Presbytery.
Nación Santa Internacional NCD (January 2014 - December 2016) Rev. Ramón García and his family moved to Naples, Florida a few years ago with the vision from God to start a new church there. There is a core group of 55-60 people including children. This ministry is under
New Exploration Initiatives
Cristo Salva CP NCD (January 2014 - December 2016) Rev. Diann White and Lic. Carlos Solito are the planters of this Latino new church development. There is a core group of 55 people including children who gather in the facilities of a former CP church in Memphis, Tennessee. Rev. White is the first English-speaking minister serving a Latino ministry in the US. Rev. White preaches twice per month, leads Bible studies with junior high students, leads the Bilingual Christian Education Program for Sunday school and celebrates the sacraments. Lic. Carlos Solito who is originally from El Salvador, performs the main ministry of the NCD in Spanish. He preaches twice per month, leads the Bible study groups, leadership training and worship services on Saturday nights. Carlos graduates this summer from the Program of Alternate Studies (PAS) and serves the Lord with a passion for evangelism. Francia Ortiz is serving as an interpreter and liaison
A new exploration initiative (NEI) is a twelve-month Missions Ministry Team effort to explore geographical areas where a Cumberland Presbyterian presence may be formed. Two new exploration initiatives were started in 2015. As a result of this, one Korean ministry, and one Latino ministry are in the process of becoming new church developments under the care of two different presbyteries. A Latino new exploration initiative started at the beginning of this year near Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a Colombian couple. MM
Tip: Children of first generation immigrants are bilingual, and live exposed to two or more cultures at the same time. Ministering among them requires intentionality and skills to understand their needs within our different cross-culture congregations. Tip: If you feel a call from God to plant a new church, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach Rev. T.J. Malinoski at TMalinoski@cumberland.org, Rev. Johan Daza at JDaza@cumberland.org, or Rev. Lynn Thomas at lynndont@gmail.com.
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M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R 17
2016 Convention – Nashville, TN June 20-23, 2016
“So let’s go outside, where Jesus is…” Hebrews 13:13a
L
et’s GO to Nashville and renew friendships, learn about our common work together as sisters in Christ, and make new friends. Plans include a joint worship service with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America Missionary Auxiliary; a partnership with several agencies/ministries in Nashville that provide care for victims of domestic violence; Bible study; missionary visits; and lots more.
There will be hands-on opportunities to help make a difference in the lives of a lot people while we are in Nashville. How? We are partnering with several organizations that serve those who are victims of domestic violence. In addition, we are partnering with Sacred Sparks, a ministry to the homeless community of Nashville led by CP minister, Rev. Lisa Cook and Still Waters, a ministry with single parent families in the Murfreesboro area led by CP minister, Rev. Joyce Merritt.
Gifts-in-Kind (AAA, AA, D), cotton athletic socks We would like to shower our ministry Still Waters (single parent ministry – Murfreesboro partners in Nashville with lots of love. Their Presbytery) needs are listed below. Jean Crowe Advocacy Center (domestic violence) Granola bars, juice boxes, Folgers coffee, paper napkins, small stuffed animals for children YWCA (domestic violence) Shampoo/conditioner, African-American hair care products, towels, washcloths Sacred Sparks (homeless ministry – Nashville Presbytery) Granola/cereal bars, juice boxes, fruit cups, canned meats/beans (small pop top cans), packs of peanut butter crackers, gum/mint/candy, plastic spoons, Kleenex, Wet Wipes, Chapstick, bug spray (Deep Woods Off), trash bags (large), batteries 18 M I S S I O N A R Y M E S S E N G E R S P R I N G 2 016
Toilet tissue, paper towels, household cleaners, non-perishable food items
You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations: Sheraton Music City Hotel (777 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214, 615/885-2200) Reserve your room online at https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/cpc If you call the hotel to make a reservation reference “Cumberland Presbyterian Church” and date Room Rate - $145 plus tax. (Cut off date for reservations at this rate: May 18, 2016) Make your reservations EARLY as the hotel fills up quickly.
Return your completed registration form and a check payable to Missions Ministry Team to Convention Registration, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016. If you register after May 1, the Late Registration fee (an additional $15) applies. A packet of information will be sent to those who register by JUNE 1st. Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________________ State: __________ Zip Code: _______________ Telephone Number: ________________________________ Cell Number: ____________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ Congregation: _____________________________________Region: _________________________________ Credentials Information: Additional credential information will be taken at Convention. _____ Regional Delegate
_____ Youth Delegate
_____ This is my first time at Convention
Fees & Meals: Please indicate the number of tickets or fees you are paying in the blank in the left column; calculate the total cost in the right column.
_____ Registration - $30
$_____ (before May 1)
_____Late Registration - $45
$_____ (after May 1)
_____Regional Delegate Dinner - $25
$_____ (REGIONAL DELEGATES ONLY)
(The Evening Meeting will be Monday, June 20)
_____Luncheon - $36
$_____ (Thursday at 12:00 NOON)
_____If you attend One Day Only - $15
$_____
_____I would like to make a donation to the
$____ Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering Fund
$__________
Total
Convention Choir – we are going to have a Convention Choir and want you!
______ YES, sign me up! Please indicate the part you sing –
Soprano 1 _______; Soprano 2 ______; Alto ______; Tenor _______ I am interested in participating in an off-site “hands-on” project with ONE of the following ministries: (Wednesday afternoon, June 22)
_____ Jean Crowe Advocacy Center – deep cleaning project (10 people)
_____ YWCA – deep cleaning project (30 people)
_____ Sacred Sparks – project at the hotel – sewing, blessing bags (unlimited number of people)
_____ Still Waters – cleaning, organizing, gardening, mailing (30 people)
2016 By T. J. MALINOSKI
The Missions Ministry Team is thrilled to announce during the week of the 186th General Assembly June 19-24, 2016 in Nashville Tennessee, an evangelism conference is being offered for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Recognizing the need among Cumberland Presbyterians who are looking for encouragement and ways of empowerment to embrace and live out the call and role of being a disciple of Christ, the evangelism conference’s goals are to: equip individuals, congregations and leadership in sharing the gospel; offer empowering evangelistic methods and means that people can use within their church and in the community; and, embrace the call to share the gospel given to all disciples.
The
Evangelism Conference theme is based on Hebrews 13:13 from The Message, So let’s go outside where Jesus is, where the action is… Lay persons, ministers, church leaders and anyone interested in learning more about evangelism are invited to attend. The conference will open Sunday evening June 19 with a joint worship and praise service with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Monday morning, June 20 will offer a workshop rotation with an emphasis on evangelism. By the end of Monday afternoon, participants will have
the opportunity to attend all three workshops offered this year. For those unable to attend on Monday, Wednesday afternoon will offer an evangelism workshop summation plus an opportunity to join the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry in a service evangelism project in the Nashville area. The 2016 Evangelism Conference will be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel, 777 McGavock Pike Nashville, Tennessee 37214. For more information, please contact Rev. T. J. Malinoski, 901-276-4572 ext. 232 or at TMalinoski@cumberland.org. MM
WHERE IS DORCAS?
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM 8207 Traditional Place Cordova, TN 38016-7414 901.276.4572 For more information and resources visit our website at http://cpcmc.org/mmt/sw
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. ADDRESS CHANGE: send new address and label from a recent newspaper 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.
JESUS CHRIST
TRANSFORMS LIVES
Cumberland Presbyterian Church Missions Transforms Lives
Check out the new video telling the transformation story of Jesus around the world, working through the hands and feet of Cumberland Presbyterians. This video is appropriate to show during a worship service, Sunday school class, or in a women’s ministry or youth group setting. A great time to show it would be on Pentecost Sunday when the Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church! This Each church will receive a complimentary copy in the mail. You can also download the video at http://cpcmc.org/mmt/sw.
video will also be a great resource to show before or during the collection of the Stott-Wallace Missionary Offering.